I grant him a brisk nod then watch as he storms out of Vinny’s place without a backward look, sprained wrist cradled against his chest.
Slowly, I release a breath.
It’s time to share everything with Belle. No more holding back. These feelings I’ve got for her might be tossed down the trash chute by the time I’ve finished, but at least I won’t have broken my promise to her.
She’ll be safe from Davis.
Even if she was only ever in danger from him in the first place because of me.
Grimacing at the thought, I limp out of Vinny’s apartment. My hip’s aching like a fucker from where I landed when Lucas dragged me down so I hobble as I climb the stairs.
Heading inside my apartment, I look at the sofa, expecting to see her there, the throw blanket tucked around her. Only, she isn’t. The TV’s still on though. With a frown, I switch off the unit and head to the bedroom, but that’s empty too.
It’s only after I check the bathroom and kitchen that I realize what’s happened.
She’s gone.
Fuck.
17
BELLE
“What’s wrong?Who is it? Is that Lucas?”
“Cade! I need to speak with you. It’s urgent!”
The loud pounding of a fist on the door makes my heart skip a beat as anxiety crowds me. I know the last four days have felt like a bubble, us just getting to know one another, hanging out with his family, fucking as if our lives depend on it. Only, I can’t help but feel as if that bubble is about to be popped.
“—that I will never let anyone hurt you. Not even my brother. Do you hear me?” Cade grabs my chin, forcing me to look at him, and I nod like a bobblehead.
“Why would you… Do you think Lucas will hurt me?”
And his beautiful crystal-blue eyes change. The pupils dilate. As his nostrils flare, he states, “There’s shit you don’t know about me. I can explain, but you need to listen to me, okay?”
“What’s going on?” I warble, panic setting in. As if he knows I’m two seconds away from freaking out, Cade kisses my cheek, but for the first time, it doesn’t soothe me. “I need to speak with Lucas. Wait for me and I’ll come back and explain everything.”
That’s when I want to burst into tears or throw the remote at the TV—what the hell is he hiding?
“You’re scaring me, Cade. What’s to explain?” A loud bang makes me jump as Cade removes me from his legs and stands.
“I’ll make this right, princess.”
“Cade!”
As he walks to the door, I hear him spit at Lucas, “Not here. Vinny’s.” And then he’s gone and I want to throw up.
No answer.
“What the fuck just happened?” I mutter to myself, bewildered and—stupid, stupid, stupid, Cindy—feeling oddly betrayed.
When I reach for the jeans he tossed on the floor earlier, I growl under my breath when I realize I’m shaking.
“Stop it!” I snap at myself before I tug on my tee and, after reaching for my phone, head out of the apartment.
Vinny’s—I heard him say that was where he was heading. That’s how bad this is—he went to his dead brother's apartment.
“Come back and explain everything to me? Fuck that,” I whisper, bolting down the stairs. I need the truth, not Cade trying to sugarcoat whatever it is that I know involves me.