Page 31 of Tristian (The Doherty Mafia)
Being around Tristian Doherty was seriously dangerous. By now, the one thing I knew for sure was I’d never resist him. I’d already given myself to him in more ways than one. I’d never be strong enough to get over him.
Unless I removed myself from the picture.
He always fucked me, and then he left. It was like he couldn’t stand to be around me once he’d emptied his load in me.
And now I made the decision that I didn’t want to see him again.
It was going to be scary. It was going to be dangerous. I’d risk my safety and my life by running away again, but it had to be done.
I couldn’t be around Tristian anymore. Not while falling in love with him and losing my mind. I didn’t want to be used as his sex toy anymore. To be used and discarded as he pleased. It made me sick to my stomach. I was better than that.
And now I had a plan.
I’d finally come up with an idea for where I’d go once I managed to sneak out of the apartment.
I’d be taking a big chance, but I had to do something. Anything to put some distance between the Dohertys and me.
The only other person I knew who lived in New York was my friend from high school, Libby. We had never been very close. I didn’t exactly have close friends. Especially not after what Sonya had done to me. It was very difficult for me to trust someone who declared themselves to be my ‘friend’.
But Libby had always tried to keep in touch, even after her whole family moved to New York and I hadn’t seen her in years. She used to send me postcards and sometimes I’d write her back.
I remembered the address on those postcards from recent months. She had a new job in the city and now lived alone in what she had described to be a ‘tiny loft’. Which, she said, was the only thing she could afford in New York.
This time when I left Tristian’s apartment, I was prepared. I headed straight for the subway and before long, I was headed in Libby’s direction. I just hoped I had the right address and she’d be home.
Operating without a personal cell phone was difficult, but it had to be done. I had no other option.
While I rode the crowded subway, with people squeezing into me on all sides—I thought about how far I’d get from Tristian. Inching farther and farther away from him. Getting lost in the crowds of New York, just like I’d planned to.
If I kept my head down, even Aldo and his men wouldn’t find me. And maybe Libby was the only person I could trust now.
She was more than just a little surprised when she opened the door of her loft and found me standing on the other side. I held my breath, waiting to see who’d open the door. If anyone was even home.
I hadn’t seen Libby in person in years, but I would’ve recognized her anywhere. Frizzy red hair and narrow green eyes to match her narrow nose and freckles. She looked even taller now than I remembered her.
“Elsie Harlow! What the hell are you even doing here?” She pounced on me, pulling me into her bony arms.
“I’m really glad to see you, Libby, and I hoped I’d be able to crash here for a few days. Not very long I hope. I just…need a place to stay. I promise I won’t be a bother.” I was breathless trying to get all the words out.
She smiled at me and gave me a tighter hug.
“Of course you can stay here with me, hon! Oh my God, we’re going to have so much fun!” she squealed, clapping her hands excitedly.
I smiled as I was led into her apartment, but I wished I could also explain the truth to her. I wasn’t here to have fun. In fact, I didn’t know if I was even capable of it. I was just here because I needed to hide out and nobody in the mafia world would know to look for me here.
But I didn’t say any of that to her because I didn’t want to scare her. Instead, I just smiled and nodded. I was glad I managed to get away.
“It’s my night off, hon, and we should go out and party!” Libby declared when I came out of the shower.
I’d spent a long time in there, trying my best to get rid of Tristian’s touch and smell off me. But no matter how hard I scrubbed, trying to wash him off me, I still felt him there. Everywhere around me.
“I’m pretty tired, so maybe not tonight,” I said, to which Libby pouted her lips.
“Oh come on, Elsie! We haven’t seen each other since we were teenagers. And now we’re independent and adults, we have to make good use of this time.”
