"Running away isn't the answer."
"Stop telling me what to fucking do," I mutter, glaring at his hand on my wrist. "Let me go."
His expression hard, Troy doesn't release my wrist. I yank twice before his hand finally loosens enough for me to break free.
"You're stronger than this scared child routine," he grumbles.
"Yeah, I'm strong enough to tell you to fuck off."
I storm away from the table and make a shaky beeline to the bathroom. Crying before I get into the stall, I'm both pissed and hurt. Troy is too pushy while I'm too weak. He disappoints me as much as I disappoint myself.
My tears continue until I hear the door open and footsteps approach.
Knocking on the door, Saskia asks, "Are you decent?"
"I want to be left alone," I mumble, wiping my face with the toilet paper.
"Yes, I'm sure you do, but we're in a public place. There is no privacy here."
I open the door and frown at her. Saskia's expression is unreadable.
"Did Troy send you?"
"He is not my employer, Darla. No one is. Not even you."
Frowning, I walk past her and wash my face. "He's not my employer either."
"If you don't like him, I can tell Rafael to assign another person to watch over you."
Sighing, I stare at the blotchy face in the mirror. "I don't want to talk about it."
"I'm not asking to talk."
I sigh again. "Sorry."
Saskia checks her appearance in the mirror and wipes off a smudge of eyeliner.
"If Troy is harassing you, I have rope in the SUV to keep him out of your hair."
Smiling slightly, I shake my head. "He's not harassing me but thanks. I just wish I met him when I was stronger. The timing sucks."
Saskia gives me what I suspect is her attempt at a warm expression. "Life won't give you the right timing. I know this for a fact."
When I study her, Saskia shrugs. "My bad timing was a sweet German student. He treated me like his little pearl, but my career had taken off, and I needed to travel. Playing house with a handsome boy wasn't in the cards. We were so young that I didn't think time was an obstacle."
Saskia washes her hands and uses her damp hands to press down the wild strands on her otherwise sleek hair.
"He died in a motorbike accident while I was working. I often wish I had taken the summer to spend with him. Of course, there was no way to know how little time we had left."
"I'm sorry."
Trapped in a painful memory, Saskia stares at her hands for nearly a minute. "I've moved past that time, but I figured maybe my mistake might help you with your current situation."
I open my mouth to thank her, but Saskia is already moving to the door.
"Finish your meal. Wasting expensive food is a sin."
Nodding, I follow her into the hallway where Troy waits. Saskia keeps walking while I cross my arms and frown at him.
"If you're sick of being in the apartment, take a few days off," I tell him.
"No, but thanks for the option," he says, gesturing for me to return to the table.
"You work for me."
"Yes, ma'am."
Fighting a grin at his tone, I sit far away from him at the table.
"I only want to stay at the aquarium another hour, and then we leave."
"Yes, ma'am," he says, grinning as if he's won.
"I might need a break from your smug smile."
"No, ma'am."
"You're not funny."
"How come you're smiling then?" he asks, digging into his fish platter.
Poking at my food, I shrug. "The apartment makes me feel safe. I don't care if you think that makes me weak."
Troy scoots closer. "I don't think that makes you weak. I just wanted to pretend we were having a great first date."
"It's not really a date when it starts with a car chase."
A smiling Troy slides closer. "True, we'll need a real date where we aren't looking over our shoulders. I'll be real charming on the date too. Sweep you off your feet until you're begging me to stop with all the charm."
Grinning wider, I can't stop myself from leaning against him. "I know you want things from me, but I might not be able to give them to you."
"That's not the problem," he says, pressing his lips against my temple. "I'm used to controlling a problem like this one. When I need to eliminate a problem, I eliminate it. I should be hunting down the guy from today, but I can't leave you. Whenever I'm away from you, I get a pain in my chest."
His need terrifying me, I ease away from Troy. "I'm not ready for all this."
"You underestimate yourself."
"I'm scared," I whisper.
"Of what?"
"Everything. Being with you. Having you away from me. Locke finding me. What happens when he's gone, and I can live my life?"
"Fear doesn't have to be a bad thing. You can turn the feeling into power by facing your fears."
"You sound like a self-help book."
"I know, but I need you to get healthy."
"So you can fuck me?" I mutter.