Page 63 of Broken Promise
With a sigh of relief, I called a taxi and then walked to the address I’d given them. I could just download the Uber app or something onto my new phone, but I wasn’t taking any risks with my accounts or my emails. Rafe was good. Too good. As it was, he was going to find me soon.
I just needed to have a plan of attack before he did. And maybe, just maybe, I’d get lucky, and he wouldn’t find me. I just had to stay ahead of the game.
When my cab showed up, I gave the driver the address and slouched down. I couldn’t help but look up at the front of the department store, and then I saw him. Long, lithe movements. Focused drive, and determination in his stride.Rafe.
He was already on my tail. Dammit. No doubt, it would take him five minutes to find the phone. Another ten to get security cameras pulled up. Enough to see that I’d walked out maybe five minutes ago, so I had about a fifteen-minute lead before he started calling taxi companies. Fantastic.
I let the taxi drop me off at the library at U Penn. Then I called another taxi, which took me to the residential neighborhoods and dropped me off about five blocks from my friend’s house.
I took a back path through a neighbor’s yard and then through another. All I could hope for was that none of these houses had motion sensor lights.
When I reached Charisse’s house, I walked up to the back door and knocked. My friend opened the door with wide, surprised eyes. “Hey! What are you doing back here? I expected you to come to the front door.”
“Hey. Sorry. It’s a long story. Thank you for doing this.”
“It’s no worry. Richard’s on a business trip, and the kids are asleep. They’re going to be thrilled to have Auntie Diana here for a bit.”
I nodded my thanks. “You know I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t need to.”
Charisse frowned. “What are you talking about? You’re always welcome. Now, you want to tell me why you’re calling me in the middle of the night from a new phone number?”
It was only then that I let myself sag, and the first tears rolled down my face. “Charisse. I’m in so much trouble. And I have no clue what to do.”
And then my friend reminded me of why we were so close in the first place. She didn’t get angry or say I told you so. Charisse led me to the couch in the living room, put a comforting arm around my shoulders, and said, “Tell me what happened.”
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
Diana
Run. Run. Run.
I jerked awake with a shot of adrenaline in my blood. Immediately I checked my surroundings, looking for the exit. It took me several moments to realize where I was. Charisse’s place. I was in the same guest room I’d occupied while I’d formulated my plan for Rafe.
The sheets were soft, and the room smelled like lavender. The sunlight filtered in through the blinds, casting the room with a warm morning glow.
I scrubbed my hands over my face as the events of last night slammed into me like a tidal wave. Forty-eight hours ago, I’d been in Rafe’s arms, simultaneously loving being there and hating myself for wanting to be there. That connection I’d felt with him, the one that I’d loathed over the past month, was real. I’d fought it. I’d undermined it. And last night, I’d blown it up for what?
For absolutely nothing, that’s what. There was no family to protect. My father, my brothers, they were the ones the world needed protecting from. I’d lied, stolen, stalked, and cheated to avenge a man who had essentially sold me off. The bile threatened to rise in my throat again. I dragged in deep breaths to push it down.
Rafe DeMarco, he was one of the good guys, relatively speaking anyway. And to make matters worse, I’d fallen for him. Fallen for his laugh, his smile, fallen for the man that loved his family more than anything in the world. And in the end, I’d hurt him. I’d drugged him, fucked him, and then I’d hurt him. There was something so seriously wrong with me.
I dragged the covers off and after a quick shower, dressed quickly. I found Charisse in the kitchen, making breakfast.
“Morning, sunshine.”
I gave her a bright smile. “I see you’re still a morning person.”
“Are you kidding? It’s the only time I truly get to myself anymore. I’ve got two babies under two. I mean, dear Lord. I just finished feeding Jessica, and Braden will be up in an hour demanding something sugary like jam for breakfast, and I’ll have to do the mommy song and dance and at least negotiate some toast with that jam as well as fruit. My life is oh-so-fascinating.” My friend cocked her head and studied me. “How are you feeling? A bit better after a good night’s sleep?”
I nodded. “Thank you. I don’t know how to even say that properly. There are no words.”
“None are necessary. C’mon. We’ve been friends forever. So… What’s the plan? Besides let your friend make you breakfast and play with your niece and nephew?”
“Honestly, you don’t have to make me breakfast. I’m fine. I need to get on the road anyway. Rafe is good. I’m sure I was careless and sloppy somewhere, especially when I started letting my vagina do the talking, so I can’t guarantee you’ll be safe.”
“Stop it. You were running last night. I’m sure you didn’t really get that much sleep. I know you won’t stay, but at least get something to eat. The least I can do is feed you, because then you’ll be out that door and God knows when you’ll have a decent meal again. Now sit.”
I blinked away tears as I listened to my friend. After all, she was right. Last night was probably the most sleep I’d see in a while. Because no one knew I was here, it would be the safest I’d ever be. But I couldn’t stay.
