Page 202 of Don't Leave Me

“I’ll call you guys in a bit. Keep me updated,” she wrapped my coat around her shoulders, then took my sunglasses and handed me hers. “Good thing I’m blonde again,” she smirked as she put the sunglasses on and walked out the door.

I turned to Michael when the door shut. “I’m so scared, Michael,” I admitted, my heart still feeling like I was getting punched in the chest over and over again.

Michael put his hands to my face and held me close to him. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Hana,” his eyes were intense and longing.

I quickly pressed my lips against his, the urge to touch him overwhelming, and he kissed me back so passionately I thought we were about to make love right there on Emily’s couch. But instead, Michael let go of me, took my hand, and guided me out the door.

* * *

I crossed my arms as we exited Emily’s apartment building, her coat and sunglasses partly disguising me as I pretended that the paparazzi would be waiting for my picture at any moment, keeping my head down. Michael quickly hailed a cab and opened the door for me, then rushed in beside me as he looked around inconspicuously.

“Jersey City, downtown,” Michael ordered the cab driver.

I kept my head down as the cab headed west.

“I’m booking a room downtown now,” Michael said to me quietly after a moment of looking at his phone.

I couldn’t believe I was actually sitting in a cab next to Michael - I looked over at him, taking my sunglasses off, wanting to see him with a perfect unobstructed view.

“I’ve missed you so much.” I felt a lump forming in my throat again.

Michael turned to me, his eyes kind but worried, as he observed me and took me all in. He put his hand to my thigh and squeezed gently; I didn’t want to tell him that it hurt – that Jack’s bruises were still healing.

“I’ve missed you, my sweet Hana. I’ve waited for this moment for weeks,” he responded gently, his accent making me swoon. I couldn’t believe I had almost forgotten it. I had stayed with a man that held me captive and threatened my loved one’s lives.What is wrong with me? How could I have stayed so long and loved someone who threatened this perfect being sitting next to me?

“You really should consider calling the police, Hana. We don’t know what he’ll do,” Michael said quietly, not taking his eyes off of me.

“Billie said they didn’t believe me. Why would they believe me now? There is literally no proof that he…” I trailed off, turning to the cab driver I was all too aware of. “I mean, I married him. I’ve had so many chances to get away and I didn’t. Why would they believe me?” I questioned angrily to myself.

Michael turned to look out the window. I could tell he was thinking of something to try to comfort me, but what could be said? I was right and there was no way to prove that I didn’t want a part in any of this. I was surprised that Michael and Emily even believed me.

“We will figure it out. There’s got to be something,” he said aloud, more to himself than to me.

I stayed silent as we sat in traffic to get into the Holland Tunnel, my mind still racing. Michael suddenly had his phone to his ear and glanced over at me.

“I’m calling Billie,” he explained.

I watched his beautiful face as he waited for her to answer. A few seconds passed by and I could hear her pick up.

“Billie, we did it. I talked to her and she’s leaving town with me. We’re heading to Jersey City to lay low. Emily suggested you stay with your parents for the weekend. We don’t know what Jack will do once he knows that she’s gone,” he explained quietly but the cab driver definitely had to be eavesdropping by now.

I could hear Billie pause and then start talking.

“Good. Emily is going back to Adam’s. She got rid of Hana’s phone so he can’t track her. She doesn’t know anything and neither do you,” he instructed, sounding like he was talking about some top secret mission.

I couldn’t believe Billie was part of this plan as well. She really was working that whole time to try to save me, even when I was so horrible to her.Why?Was I really worth all of this trouble? Was saving me really worth putting everyone’s lives at risk?

Michael hung up with her and put his hand back on my thigh, giving me a small smile, his confidence slowly creeping back – I knew he was trying to keep his cool before, but he was scared too. He knew what Jack was capable of. But I was still scared. I think I always would be.

“We’re going to be okay, Hana. I promise,” he nodded to me, still knowing how to read my mind.

I nodded back, giving him a small smile. I felt safe in his presence, that was undeniable, but knowing that Jack could possibly be following us, or following Emily, made my stomach continually drop.

I rested my head on Michael’s shoulder, and fifteen quiet minutes later, we were arriving at the Double Tree in downtown Jersey City. I still guarded myself like I was on the FBI’s Most Wanted List, not taking my sunglasses off even in the hotel lobby, and looked around, my eyes darting at every person that walked by. Michael guided me to the elevators and I calmed down a bit, feeling myself sigh with a little relief as he took my hand and squeezed gently. I looked up at him and he smiled at me again, probably in as much disbelief as I was. We got off on the 11thfloor and sure enough, Michael had booked us the largest suite there was with a view of the city. The sun was just setting and we could see it perfectly over the Hudson river. Michael closed the door behind us and I dropped my coat and purse on the couch, feeling my whole body ease up, my breathing now returning to normal. I turned around and could see Michael walking towards me, his eyes intense as he shrugged his coat off and threw it on the couch atop mine, then took his hands to my face and quickly, fervently pressed his lips to mine. My hands had a mind of their own as I searched around his chest, his abs, his back, ripping his button-up open and pressing my body onto his, searching for his hips with mine. Michael lifted my shirt up with one quick motion with one hand and started to unbutton my jeans with the other as I kicked my boots off and assisted him by pulling my jeans down, my hips and ass still hurting but I didn’t care – I needed Michael more than anything at that moment. I didn’t even realize that Michael was down to his boxer briefs until he took a step back to observe me, to take me all in, when his eyes stopped on my hips and widened with horror.

“Jesus Christ,” he muttered, taking a seat on the couch and getting a better view of my bruises. “He did this to you?” He looked up at me with wide, sad eyes.

I nodded, a lump forming in my throat. “I asked him to,” I said quietly, ashamed.

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