Page 123 of Truth

As I clung to Stephan, listening to everyone talk, one thing had become clear. My being here was dangerous for Stephan. Even his lawyer, a man he’d told me time and time again he trusted, had said so. I had to do what was best for the man I loved even if it would nearly kill me to do it. I’d lived through Ian’s torture—I could live with having my heart ripped out as well. At least he’d be safe.

Everyone was staring at me, which made me want to bury my head in Stephan’s neck and hide, but I knew I couldn’t. He’d given me so much. I could do this for him.

“Are you sure, Anna?”

Stephan turned me to look at him, holding my chin in his hand. “No.”

“Yes,” I whispered.

“It is the best way,” Oscar insisted.

“No!”

I heard movement behind me, but I couldn’t see. Stephan still held my face immobile. His hand flexed against my hip, and moisture began to pool in his eyes.

Cal stood. “I’ll call Jade. She can skip out on her afternoon classes and come over to help you pack.”

Several minutes passed as what I was doing started to sink in. My biggest fear had been his waking up one day and leaving me, and here I was, leaving him. Maybe that should have made it better... easier... but it didn’t.

“Give us a minute.” Stephan’s voice was commanding, and no one questioned him as each walked past us and followed Oscar up the stairs.

Stephan took my face in both of his hands and kissed me until my head was spinning. “Don’t go. We’ll find another way.”

“I have to.”

“No.” This time the word was soft, whispered, without any of the sting from before. He closed his eyes, and I saw a tear slip from beneath his lashes. “I love you.”

As he’d done to me so many times before, I reached up and wiped the moisture from his cheek. “I love you, too.”

We sat, unmoving, for what felt like forever. It was only the sound of the phone ringing that brought us back to reality.

Cal came down the stairs as the phone continued to ring. “Jade’s here.”

Stephan nodded but didn’t move.

Cal sighed and answered the phone. “Hello? Yeah. She’s expected. Mr. Coleman is busy at the moment. Fine. Hold on.” He walked over to us and handed Stephan the phone. “He says he needs to speak to you.”

Without taking his eyes off me, Stephan took the phone in one hand. “It’s fine, Tom. Send her up.” His voice sounded cold. Dead. So unlike the caring man I knew him to be.

He dropped the phone to the ground, not seeming to care what happened to it once it left his hand.

Minutes later, the monitor came alive, letting us know we had a visitor. Cal went to open the door since neither Stephan nor I had moved.

With Jade’s arrival, I knew I had to go pack my belongings, even it was the last thing I wanted. For the first time, I willingly and knowingly pulled away from Stephan. He let his hands fall limply into his lap as I stood and stepped away, causing my heart to break even more.

An arm wrapped around my shoulders, and I looked up to see Jade standing beside me. “Come on. I’ll help you get your things.”

We didn’t talk as we packed everything into the two duffle bags she’d brought with her. I doubted I would have any use for the fancier things, so I left them. The only person I wanted to dress up for was Stephan, so taking them would have been pointless.

When I had everything from my bedroom, I went into Stephan’s to gather what little I had in there. I slowly looked around the room, allowing the memories to come, and then my gaze fell on the bed where we’d slept. The bed where he’d taught me sex could mean more than pain and suffering.

I quickly turned away and gathered my things as tears began to fill my vision. I needed to finish before I lost my nerve.

Jade met me at the door and helped me put the last of my stuff in the bags. She hugged me and then stepped back as Stephan approached.

He placed a hand on each side of my neck, and I felt his collar pressing down into my skin. Leaning down, he brushed his lips across mine so softly I wanted to weep. I knew what I needed to do.

Reaching up behind my neck, I went to unclasp the collar and remove it. Stephan’s face fell. This was real, and there was nothing either of us could do to change it. He’d once told me that as long as I wore his collar, I was his and he would protect me. It was now my turn to protect him.

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