Page 159 of Chandelier Enthralled
She nodded. “Right. I checked his phone.”
“Texts?”
“She was listed under his sister’s name.”
That had hurt her—I could see it on her face.
“You called the number?” I asked.
“Yes, and his sister didn’t answer. The woman did.”
“Do you have any communication with him now?”
“Very little. Hugo is leaving my place.” She shrugged. “It hurts because it feels final, even though I know it’s over. It’s hard to explain.”
“I get it.”
“A part of me thinks I should forgive him. What we had was essentially fun and it made me feel alive, you know?”
“Oh, trust me, I know.”
She gave me a gentle smile. “Moving past what he did is impossible.”
The last time I saw Amelia, she’d been with three men—now that memory was best buried. Didn’t want to think of her that way.
“Come on.” Willa jumped to her feet and hurried over to the other side of the flower garden.
I got up and followed her, intrigued.
She plucked two lavender blooms and handed one to me. “Over here.”
We strolled over to the side of the pool.
“Let’s say a prayer for Amelia.”
Plucking the petals, I scattered them onto the water’s surface, offering a silent prayer, a hopeful thought that she had found peace—while quietly vowing her death would be avenged.
“Want to share your thoughts?” Willa wrapped her arm around mine.
I whispered, “May you rest in peace, Amelia. Even though I can’t change the past, I will spend my life making it right for you.”
A sharp reminder, as fleeting as a breath, that life could turn on its axis in a second, scattering all I knew into a haze of uncertainty.
“That’s beautiful, Greyson.”
Of course, it crossed my mind that this was also where Willa and I had made love yesterday for the very first time. And those cameras from up on that ridge might have covered that, too.
I turned to face Willa. “Maybe it’s best if you return to New York until after all this is resolved.”
She flinched. “I’m of value. I just proved that!”
“More than anything, I owe you a debt I may never be able to repay, but…” I looked down at the petals drifting aimlessly across the water, like fragile promises, and realized I couldn’t bear the weight of keeping her safe any longer. “We’ve witnessed how dangerous Jewel can be. Please, see the wisdom in allowing us to handle this.”
Willa’s eyes watered as though my words had hurt her to the core. “I have to go.”
“At least consider it.”
She gave a nod, refusing to look at me.
