Page 33 of Twisted Hearts

“I acted shocked. I tried to tell him I hadn’t heard from you and figured you were on your honeymoon. I tried to sound really concerned, but Klaus always tells me I’m the worst liar on the planet so I’m not sure how much he believed me.”

“But he wasn’t pissed?”

“Not at first…but there was something in his tone. Like he was trying to sound worried but was barely holding on to how angry he was.” She paused, and my feet stopped moving. I’d walk myself dizzy if I kept moving in this small circle, and her hesitation terrified me. “He scared me. Like, it was really scary.”

“Shit.” I rubbed fingers across my forehead to try to release the tension, but that was ridiculous. Nothing would soothe me until I could figure out how to get Daniel to back off and realize there was no way I was going to marry him.

“Have you talked to your mom?” Her voice went soft, like any loud noises would throw me into a tailspin.

I blew out a breath. “No. I’ve been putting it off, but maybe I should, at least to let her know I’m okay. Maybe she knows something…”

I ran a hand through my hair and had the sudden urge to close all the blinds in my apartment. There was no way he could know where I was, at least that was what I assumed if he’d only just called Jillian. It should have helped relieve some of the stress knotting my shoulders, but it didn’t. At some point he’d find me, and saying he’d be pissed was a vast understatement.

I thought of Shawn’s number, already saved in my phone. He’d given me a vibrant glimpse of the kind of man he was. If he could help me…maybe now it was worth the risk to ask?

“That’s your call. From what you said about your dad, calling her could go either way.”

I sighed. “I know.” It was too bad pay phones didn’t exist anymore so I could call from somewhere anonymous. I needed a phone that couldn’t be tracked at all.

“I’ll figure it out,” I murmured. “How are things there, outside of my drama?”

She laughed, but it was tight. “Things are fine. Klaus is on the road, and I’m just working. It’s you I’m worried about.”

I paced another lap in my living room. The walls felt like they were closing in on me. It wasn’t like I was going to go into hiding forever; I just needed to make sure Daniel could never hurt me again.

“I knew it wouldn’t be easy, knew the risks. I’m surprised it’s taken him this long to get mad, though. He has to be so embarrassed.” And a Daniel who didn’t feel respected would be an angry, vengeful Daniel. It only made me think of Shawn again…the things he’d said about willing to shoot someone, the fact that he wasn’t ashamed of that. He was who I needed, which meant at some point, I needed to tell him, and that time was coming quickly. “Listen…I know you don’t know them, but do you really think that guy, the security guy…”

“Jaxon?”

“Yeah, him. Do you really think he could help?”

“It’s worth a call. From what I heard while I was there, he’s one of the best to have in your corner.”

“Thanks, Jillian.” There wasn’t much to say, but a ball of emotions welled in my throat. “Honestly…thanks for everything.”

“Any time, honey. Call me when you can.”

We said our goodbyes, and before I lost my nerve, I pulled up the text string between Shawn and me from Friday—well, early Saturday morning.

Sleep well.

Right. I hadn’t done that, too consumed with him. I had also woken up that way, had spent the night thinking of him, and it was now Sunday and he wasstillon my mind. It would involve making myself more vulnerable to him than I wanted to be. What man wanted to get involved with the kind of baggage I was about to bring to the table? What guy would still be interested in a woman who’d allowed herself to be treated like shit for so long? And telling someone the truth? It was humiliating. Terrifying. Every time I thought of that engagement day, I wanted to puke.It’s your father who will pay with blood. And that’s only minor compared to what will happen to you.

I had to figure this out.

Me:Sorry to bug you so early. Any chance that offer to help still stands?

My hands shook as I set the phone on the coffee table. My hands went to my hips, and I practiced deep breathing to settle my racing heart. Closing my eyes, I fought for a calming image: the beach…the ocean…and that only made me think of Shawn.

I took two steps from my phone. He was probably busy. It was Sunday. He probably had plans. Things to do. A life to lead. He didn’t strike me as the kind of guy who stayed glued to his phone.

My phone rang, making me jump and my breath skip a beat.

Shawn’s name was on the screen. It rang a second time, and I grabbed it, pressing the connect button.

“Hello?”

I barely got the word out before he spoke. “What’s wrong?”

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