Page 45 of Never Again
She swung around, eyes blazing with fury. “Let me go.”
He brought his face closer to hers. “Not again.Neveragain.”
“Why? Because you won’t be compensated this time? That can be arranged.”
“I’m not a heartless, greedy monster. I didn’t use you for money. Itkilledme to leave without you. Don’t do this. Don’t make what we have now—”
“We don’t have anything.”
Her words drove a stake in his heart, and for several seconds he couldn’t speak, the wound so deep and debilitating.
Finally, he found the words. “I love you. I would give it all back if I could, with interest—”
“I don’t care!”
“—to not have you look at me like this. I’ve tried several times, but he won’t take it.”
“I don’t care! Move your hand!” she screamed.
Carlos’s voice grew louder too. “That’s who you heard me arguing with that night. He said we had a deal. He won’t take the damn money!” His breath came in short, pained spurts.
As soon as he’d set up the solo 401K, he called Alfred and made an offer of a large down payment to reimburse him. He refused the payment. Carlos tried again after their conversation at the charity ball. Again her father rebuffed him.
Carmen’s bottom lip trembled, and she ducked her head.
“Carmen,” he whispered. “Por favor,mi amor.”
She gave her head a vigorous shake and then glared at him, as if his words had angered her. “I am not your love, and you are not my heart. I know the truth now, and I can’t un-know. Let. Me. Go.”
Carlos’s flat palm turned into a fist against the door. Should he let her leave or hold her hostage until she listened and accepted that he’d made a terrible mistake? Maybe it was better to let her go now. Later they could talk, without the emotion, when she was calmer and willing to listen.
“Where are you going?”
“None of your damn business.”
He swallowed and then stepped back.
She took a deep breath and then turned, opened the door, and closed it without another word. Carlos stared at the cold metal, his thoughts swirling in a dizzying array of doubt. Had he made the right decision? Should he have tried harder? Would she be lost to him forever now?
Seized by panic, he swung open the door.
He saw no sign of her but called out anyway. “Carmen, wait!” His voice echoed in the hallway, and he hurried toward the staircase, barefoot and determined to stop her. He caught a glimpse of her at the bottom of the stairs before she disappeared.
“Carmen!”
Grabbing on to the railing on either side, he hopped down the stairs, three at a time.
As he pushed through the door, she dived into the waiting Lincoln Navigator and Franklin shut the door. Carlos ran forward, but the big man stepped in front of him, arms crossed, staring down through his dark aviator sunglasses. An impenetrable mahogany wall. Carlos pulled up short, staring helplessly at the tinted windows which he couldn’t see beyond.
“That’s as far as you go,” Franklin said.
“Carmen, hear me out!” Carlos yelled.
A woman riding by on a bike stared at them.
He shouldn’t have let her go. He should have locked her in the apartment and begged and pleaded until she forgave him. She couldn’t leave like this, doubting his love for her. Believing he’d preferred the money over her. He’d simply thought he had no choice, but looking back, he did have a choice. He could have chosen her, and he didn’t. The biggest regret of his life.
Franklin didn’t budge, and he wouldn’t. He’d probably die trying to keep Carlos away from her. Now he knew why she’d brought him this time.
