My gaze wandered, and it was then I noticed a missing tile in the fa?ade of the fireplace that I always thought was just a decorative listello. The three others were in place, but this one displayed a keypad. It had to be for the panic room. I knew the entrance was in his office but had never really paid attention to where.
I wondered why there was a trail into it or from it. Did he have the missing drugs in his possession? Here? And if so, what was he going to do with them? I didn’t like where my mind was headed. Had he left everyone in danger, including his daughter, for a profit? No, he wouldn’t. I pushed those dark thoughts away and wondered what the room looked like inside. I wondered about anything except what he was proposing, because what he was proposing to me—it didn’t sound so crazy right now, especially if he was involved with something illegal. Clementine would need me.
We both wanted something and his proposal was a way for both of us to get it. Most importantly, if I lived here, I could assure Clementine’s environment was safe. Of course, there were many other issues and I threw one out there. “I just bought a place of my own. What would I do with it?”
He set the rose down and fiddled with his mouse. “It was mostly my money. The rest of it was mortgaged. It’s not like you have money in it.”
“That doesn’t mean I want to let it go.”
“Well, you live in an area of high demand. We could rent it out in no time.”
My heart was racing. Was he going to catch me right now? Know what site I’d been on? I stood up. “I don’t know, Michael. I need some time to think about it.”
Michael lifted himself from the chair and circled the desk. He stopped directly in front of me and reached behind himself for the rose. With the stem in his hand, he offered it to me. “For you,” he said with a satisfied smile.
I took it and brought it to my nose. It smelled of his coercion and my discomfort, but that was okay, because what else did I have in my life? Did it really matter what price I had to pay to have Clementine a part of it? My initial thought was—no, it didn’t. Yet still, I couldn’t answer. The words were stuck in my throat.
“Take the week and consider my offer. We can discuss you being involved in Clementine’s life by moving in with me further next weekend. There’s no rush.”
I swallowed. “Okay.”
His grin felt more genuine as it softened. “Okay,” he agreed.
I turned to leave but twisted back. “Oh, Michael, Heidi called.”
His face froze on that grin.
“She asked if you could leave her final paycheck at your office and she’d pick it up in the morning.”
He nodded. “Of course, I should have thought of that.”
My nails were biting into my palms. “I have to run. I have a lot to accomplish today. But thank you for this weekend.”
“I enjoyed it too,” he responded, and went back to his computer.
I was breathing so hard my entire body was shaking as I started what had once been my sister’s car. As soon as I got out of the garage, I opened the window. The air was crisp and cool. I breathed in. I pushed the air out. My panic was mounting. I knew how to defend myself physically, but emotional warfare was nothing I was prepared for. Michael was using that precious little girl to get what he wanted, and what he wanted was me.
Michael just suggesting it sounded crazy enough, but me considering it was insane.
I plugged my phone in to charge and started driving. A few minutes later, the sound of my cell ringing broke my concentration. I looked down and saw blocked call. Fear seized me. I shoved it away. For the next five minutes it just kept ringing, but I refused to look at it again.
I feared who it was. Was it the same blocked caller again with some scary message, or was it Michael with more ways to make “us” work? I refused to look and hit ignore.
When I was far enough away from the house, I opened the window wider and tossed the rose out of it. With that anchor away from me, I let my mind go free. I’d held it tightly captive over the last two days and couldn’t stand it any longer.
Logan was gone from my life.
Sadness suddenly washed over me. I’d been alone for many years, but I’d never felt more alone than right now. I missed him desperately. I wanted to call him. Hear his voice. Feel his body against mine. Talk to him. Ask him what I should do.
Over the past two days I had saved my tears for late at night when I was in bed and wished I could feel his arms around me. The great loss of him in my life came barreling at me as I drove home. This time I didn’t try to push the tears away or keep my sobs at bay; the minute I let go, the memories of our time together flashed before me.