Page 20 of The Stolen Dagger
I stepped away from Drew and went to my bedroom.
“Where are you going?” he asked behind me.
I picked up a few of my clothes that were scattered on the floor. I searched for my suitcase in the closet to the right of the bed and moved around the room, packing only the essentials.
“I’m leaving.”
“You can’t just leave.” There was an edge to his voice—desperation—as he followed me.
“Watch me.” I brushed past him into the living room toward the bathroom.
“I won’t let you run away.”
I turned on him, ready to tell him off, but he was so close we stood chest to chest, breathing each other in. His gaze shifted between my eyes to my lips and back again.
Suddenly, the fight left me, and I sighed.
“I don’t have any other choice,” I whispered. “He could have Pearl.”
“But you don’t know that for sure.”
I paused. I wasn’t sure, but why else would she not answer my calls? Something was wrong.
“Listen,” Drew said. “Leaving may have been your only option before, but now you have people who care about you, who can help. I want to help you.”
Drew didn’t understand. He didn’t know Adrian. I did. Adrian wouldn’t stop until he got what he wanted. He’d go through everyone just to get to me.
I stared at Drew with pleading eyes, trying to convey the severity of the situation. Adrian was dangerous. Period. Running again would at least mean Adrian or whoever was here would leave them alone.
A few seconds of silence passed between us before Drew spoke first.
“It’s better if you stay,” he said. “Pretend everything is normal. Go about your everyday life like none of this happened.” He gestured around my destroyed apartment. “He’s trying to scare you into giving him what he wants. Don’t play into his hand. But if he comes for you, we’ll be ready. I can protect you.”
I knew he was trying to reassure me, but the way he said that made me feel helpless in the situation. I wasn’t helpless anymore.
“I don’t need you to protect me, and I sure as hell won’t be a sitting duck waiting for him to come for me. You’re crazy if you think I will.”
The corner of Drew’s lips quirked up. “I know you can protect yourself. I made sure of that, but other than telling the police, this is your best option. And Adrian won’t kill you. He thinks you have something he wants. You’re more valuable to him alive.”
“I don’t know about this.” My mind raced with all of the what-ifs and uncertainties. “I just?—"
“Trust me,” Drew said. “Do you really want to leave and start over again with no support? And if he finds you a second time? You’ll just be in the same position you’re in now,” he shrugged, “minus the young, handsome cop trying to help you.”
I lightly hit his chest, trying not to smile. “That’s not funny.”
“I’m sorry,” Drew’s smile dropped, and he turned serious, “but if you don’t have what he wants anyway, then there’s not much else you can do. Your best bet is to wait for Adrian to make his move so we can stop him.”
I thought about what Drew said, and he was right. I wasn’t entirely alone this time. I had people in my life I was willing to fight for, and I definitely didn’t want to run again. I wasn’t the same girl I was a year ago.
I was stronger because of what happened.
I had to be.
Adrian ruined my life. I didn’t have a great life to begin with, but he would just come after me again if I ran. I’d always be looking over my shoulder, wondering if he was there. He would always be a threat … unless I stopped him.
I wanted to stop him, and to do that, I had to stay. For now, I wouldn’t leave.
“Okay,” I relented. “I’ll stay, but you don’t have to protect me. I can protect myself.”
