Page 126 of Nothing to Fear

“Yes, you do. You do.”

When he tried to approach, she leaped back. “Please don’t make me call the cops.”

“Call them, I don’t give a shit, I’m not going anywhere.”

And they wouldn’t make him. Who would law enforcement send? Someone who owed the Breckenridges? Someone close to the family with their own agenda? Safety didn’t even exist in those paid to protect.

“Was it some kind of sick game? Another bet? Another deal?” This time as her eyes closed, her head went right. “Why did I ignore my instincts? God, I’m such a fucking fool. I deserve everything I get.”

“You’re not a fool and it was not a bet. Everything between us was real,isreal—”

“Don’t insult me,” she growled, her jaw so tight her lips hardly moved. “You got your kicks, now get dressed, and get out of here.”

“Cherry—”

“Get out! Get out! I don’t want you here! I don’t want you near me!” Tears burned hot like acid fueled by fury. Swiping up his hoodie, she threw it at him. “Take your shit!” Next was the tee-shirt, everything there, of his, his clothes, was thrown at him one after another. “Get out of my apartment! Out of my life! Take your money and your flirting and your goddamn—get out of my house, Breckenridge! Now!”

“Ba—”

“Everything! I want it gone! You gone! Take your cars and your drivers! Take your brothers! Your family! Your private dining! Get the fuck out of my life! I never want to see you again! Never want to see—”

“Savvy—”

“Do not call me that like you have any idea who I am,” she spat.

Except he did. He knew more of her than most people alive. He’d been twice the presence, the real, the oral, the physical, he’d had two sides to her. Reluctant to corner herself, she had no choice because she had to get her phone from the bed. Then it was three digits, she typed and turned the phone to show him.

“Get out,” she said again, showing certainty with her composure. “Or I will call the cops. I’ll call the media. I’ll call the goddamn—”

But no, she wouldn’t wait for him to acquiesce. His access, his money, it gave him rights and privileges not afforded to people like her. Opening her nightstand, she grabbed sweats to pull them on.

“What are you doing?”

“You don’t have to go anywhere, I get it, your power gives you—” She snatched a tee-shirt from a drawer. After putting it on, she picked up her purse from the floor. “I’ll never have access or freedom in the way a Breckenridge—”

“This is your place.” Was it really? It didn’t feel that way. When she stood, he opened his hands. “Okay, wait, I’ll go.” And that would be it. Over. “I get you need time to process this.” Was he really going to talk to her like that? Snagging a hair tie from the lamp, she put her hair up. “No…” He started to dress. “I’m getting changed, I’m leaving. Baby, I need you to understand, to know what I—”

“I don’t have to do anything,” she said, numb as she went to the stairs. “Get dressed and get out. Take the car, Ferguson, everything, I don’t want anything Breckenridge anywhere near me.”

And, God, she already owed them so much. Descending the stairs, she went through the door to the left, the bathroom, and locked the door. She couldn’t lose it, wouldn’t lose it, not until he was gone, until it was over. Over. They’d been promising each other forever not so long ago. Now it was… over. Resting against the vanity, she listened to his movement above, down the stairs.

Eyes closed again, breath held, she waited.

“I love you, Savanna Mayden,” his solemn voice came from the other side of the door. “Believe it or don’t, but I never meant to hurt you. I wanted you and I couldn’t give you up. I love you, Cherry.” Silence. Still, she didn’t breathe. “You know how to find me.”

Not that she would need to. His footsteps faded and the front door closed. Her knees buckled and she went to the floor with a wail. Over. Forever. Oh, God, what was left of her this time?

FORTY-ONE

NOTHING BRECKENRIDGE MEANT no job. God, she wouldn’t make rent if she didn’t find something, anything, soon.

Online, she scrolled through listings, sending her resume to anything even remotely suitable. Something had to work eventually. Fate hadn’t been her friend, what was karma going to say? Something in her favor, hopefully, maybe. Life didn’t work that way. Twenty-five years to learn that lesson. That was just fucking embarrassing.

Any time her phone rang, she grabbed it with hope some employer was getting back to her. Nothing yet.

Celeste, Yvette, Nessa, all of them called, but she hadn’t answered. Her resignation email was her final word, should be her final word. There was no way to explain it to them. She’d never get through the tale anyway, her shame was beyond stupidity.

Darroch Breckenridge? Any Breckenridge? What a complete idiot. That wasn’t her life. She’d known that and been seduced by… Well, he’d played it great, or she’d heard what she wanted to, felt what she wanted… Another lesson it took twenty-five years to learn. If something was too good to be true…

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