Page 43 of Bound To Me

It sounded like he was speaking to me from inside a tunnel. My heart felt like it was getting squeezed and crushed by a hydraulic press. How did this happen? He had lied to me this whole time. He knew Michael—he was fuckinghiredby him. To stalk me!Oh my God…

I immediately stood up, completely ignoring anything else Elliott was saying. I could never, ever trust him again. How could I? He was associated with the devil himself. How could henotknow? My legs began to move quickly, and I ran out the front door, barefoot in only a big T-shirt and underwear. Elliott called out for me but I ran faster down the hill of his street. If Michael was watching, he’d pick me up and kill me, I just knew it.Fine, just fucking kill me. I don’t have anything left in me to fight anymore.I don’t haveanyoneanymore.

“Please, Jacqueline!”

Elliott was right behind me; he quickly caught up with me and wrapped his arms around me from behind. I began toscream and kick as he lifted my feet off the ground, whispering in my ear, but I was too busy freaking the fuck out. He held onto me tight until I wore myself out—then I slumped into his arms and began to sob again. My tears fell onto his big forearms that held me tight.

“Why?” I asked between hiccuped sobs.

“If I let you go, please don’t run, baby. We need to talk, but not out in the middle of the street, especially if he’s around.” His voice was gentle and I felt his hot breath against my ear.

I began to laugh. All of this was absolutely absurd to me.

“You know, maybe that wouldn’t be so bad anymore. You and your best friend can fucking take turns torturing me.”

Elliott quickly let me go. I didn’t bother to move; I just stood there catching my breath, still shaking from my sobs.

“You really think I’d hurt you?” He sounded devastated. But so was I.

“No, but I also didn’t think you were fucking in cahoots with Michael, but here we are.”

We were both still standing in the street, my back against Elliott’s chest. He gently put his hands on my shoulders and I flinched; it broke my heart.

“I swear to God, Jacqueline. If I had known what he did to you, I would have fucking killed him.”

My heart was crushed. So what if what he was saying was true? He still kept a huge secret from me—what if he had more that he wasn’t revealing about himself?

“I need to leave. I can’t stay with you right now.” My voice wavered, tears still streaming down my face.

Elliott let go of my shoulders and gently turned me around. I couldn’t look up at him; I was afraid that I wouldn’t leave if I looked into his bright blue, kind eyes. That’s how he fooled me before.

“Take my car. Go where you need to go,” he said gently.

I immediately shook my head. “No. I’ll get an Uber.” I stepped aside to move past him and walk back up the hill.

“Baby, you’ll be safe here with me,” he said, close behind me.

“You’re not allowed to call me baby anymore, Elliott.” It pained me to say those words aloud.

“Please, Jacqueline. I don’t want you to leave. I want to talk about this.”

I kept silent as we walked up the steep hill. I was out of breath and shaking from the cold and emotional turmoil that ran through my body.

We walked into the house and I stormed into the room, grabbed my phone from the nightstand, pulled some pants on, and stuffed as many things as I could into a small bag. My only thought was to get the hell out of there as soon as I could. Elliott followed me to the front door and closed it with his palm as soon as I tried to open it.

I turned and glared at him. “Move.”

He clenched his jaw. “Jacqueline. Please. Who knows where Michael is? What if he follows you?” His eyes were soft despite the way he growled at me.

“I’ll take my chances. Now fucking move.” My heart raced as I locked eyes with him, refusing to look away.

He shook his head but removed his hand from the door and stepped back. I quickly opened the door and pulled up the Uber app, requesting a ride to the nearest hotel. A car was five minutes away. I sat halfway down the stairs that led to the street; I could feel Elliott standing at the open door, watching me.

“I love you, Jacqueline. Please…please don’t leave.” His voice cracked with his last two words.

I put my face in my hands and shook my head.

“Please, Elliott. Please leave me alone.”

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