Page 30 of The Island of Hopes and Dreams

‘Don’t turn around, but the ex I told you about is sitting in the bar just above us.’

Rhys’s nostrils flared. ‘He’s what?’

‘He sent me a message yesterday evening that caught me unawares and I dismissed it as nothing, just him trying to get under my skin, but now…’ Lola’s breath was once again short and sharp.

‘That’s why you were upset last night,’ Rhys breathed out slowly. ‘You said he wasn’t physically abusive, but is he dangerous?’

‘He’s definitely unhinged. Who does something like this?’

‘Someone who wants to feel in control, to continue dominating you. You should report him when you get home.’

‘And say what? That I saw my ex from afar while on holiday – any sane person would put it down to coincidence. You hear stories all the time of people going abroad and bumping into their neighbour or friends. It’s not unusual.’

‘No, but we know that’s not the case and you need to trust your gut. Not talk yourself out of it because you don’t think you’ll be believed.’

She knew Rhys was right. She’d dismissed Jarek’s attempts at communication for too long, but he’d been clever about it, making contact when he knew she’d least want him to and using a new number each time. It had been so infrequently that she’d begin to relax, believing he was finally out of her life, when another message from an unknown number would appear. A handful of times in six months hadn’t been overly concerning. But this was on a whole new level.

‘How do you want to deal with him?’ Rhys’s hand on her arm focused her attention.

All the joy of a holiday in Sardinia for her best friend’s wedding had, in less than twenty-four hours, been wiped out by the stress, fear and unhappiness she’d battled so hard against towards the end of her relationship with Jarek. An easy decision to walk away from him had been harder to do in practice because of the way he’d worn her down and managed to control her. Yet he still continued to have a hold, his presence making her heart race and palms sweat.

Without saying anything to Rhys for fear of him talking her out of it, Lola strode across the small parking area and up the steps that led to the Promenade du Port. With her focus on Jarek, she weaved her way between the tables on Zamira Lounge’s terrace. It wasn’t the loss of the relationship and the future she thought they’d have or the person she once believed him to be that she mourned, but the way his behaviour and manipulation had made her doubt the possibility of having a normal, healthy relationship in her future.

Jarek tracked her the whole way, his eyes piercing slits reminiscent of the snake he was. They might as well have been glowing demon-like.

‘What the hell are you doing here?’ She stopped a short distance from him, close enough for him to hear the terseness in her voice without causing a scene or him being able to touch her.

He gazed up nonchalantly as if him being in Sardinia was the most normal thing in the world. The slight lift of his lips incensed her. He was getting a kick out of this.

‘I’m on holiday. You are too?’ He held her gaze. ‘What are the chances?’

She’d played right into his hands. Getting her attention and making her riled and not in control was what he’d wanted. He’d managed to drag her emotions right back to those terrible weeks leading up to her leaving him, a time she’d fought so hard to put behind her.

All she wanted to do was rage and tear into him, when she knew she should take a deep breath and walk away, because wouldn’t he just love the chance to tighten his grip on her, to get an uncensored reaction. He’d never hurt her physically, but she wouldn’t put it past him, not when he’d manipulated and controlled her in every other way. She loathed the desire coursing through her to hurt him physically as much as he’d hurt her mentally. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of letting him see her anger.

She was rarely lost for words, but right now any cutting comeback eluded her. All she had was an ever-growing hatred for someone she’d once loved. How was it possible she’d fallen for him? How had she not seen beyond his charm to the person he really was?

A hand clasped her shoulder. Warm, solid and dependable when her heart was sprinting, her head a muddle and her breathing rapid.

‘We have that restaurant reservation,’ Rhys said calmly as he gently squeezed her shoulder, a comforting rather than controlling gesture.

Rhys was giving her a way out, showing her she wasn’t alone in dealing with her ex. She didn’t want to even be thinking about him or be anywhere near him.

With her attention still fixed on Jarek – as if letting him out of her sight for even a second would somehow give him more of an upper hand than he already had – Lola finally breathed a little easier. ‘Yes, we should go.’

Rhys moved closer to stand beside her, his arm shifting to encircle her waist.

‘I don’t believe we’ve met,’ he said smoothly, looking down at Jarek. ‘I’m Rhys, Lola’s friend.’

Jarek’s smile grew as he stood, completely unruffled and held out his hand. ‘I’m Ja?—’

‘I know who you are,’ Rhys cut in, his free hand remaining firmly by his side. ‘No need to introduce yourself.’

With a blink-and-you’d-miss-it tightening of his lips, Jarek snatched his hand back. ‘Who the fuck do you think you are?’ There was a promise of violence in his tone that made Lola feel sick as his calculating gaze swept over Rhys. ‘You’re seriously with him?’ He narrowed his eyes and stepped closer. ‘I’m sure you do know who I am because I’m certain she’s been talking about me lots,’ he said with menace. His attention flicked back to Lola. ‘As sure as I’ll be seeing you around.’

Lola forced herself to hold his gaze, refusing to flinch despite his attention making her skin crawl. Yet she broke eye contact first, desperate to get away. She grabbed Rhys’s arm and walked off without another word, certain that Jarek was following their every move.

She wondered where Rhys’s assertiveness had come from. He’d confidently taken charge and been what she’d needed in the moment. She was immensely grateful to him for snapping her out of the terror she’d been in.

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