Page 36 of Surrender
Something was seriously wrong.
“Okay, um… look,” I stammered, working through the thoughts swirling in my head like a storm brewing. I grabbed the waitress by the hand and pulled her in closer, lowering my voice, “Thank you for warning me, but the best thing for you to do is stay as far away from him and his family as possible.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “He did something bad to her, didn’t he?”
I wanted to say no.
I wanted to lie.
I wanted to reassure her.
But my heart was racing—the adrenaline kicking in now that my body had realized there was possibly a threat nearby.
“I don’t know,” I whispered instead. “I’m sorry. I wish I could help more. Please just keep yourself safe, okay?” I let go of her hand and backed away, guilt weighing heavily on my chest as a tear slipped down her cheek.
But there was nothing I could do in that moment.
Instead, I straightened myself and lifted my chin, walking out with confidence and a smile on my face.
As if my boyfriend wasn’t obviously keeping tabs on me.
As if he didn’t have his sights set on the boy from my childhood who still makes my heart race.
As if there weren’t at least two girls he had dated who had gone missing.
My stomach rolled.
I needed to figure out what to do.
But first, I needed to get out of here without Parker knowing there was anything wrong.
“You ready to go?” he questioned, slipping his arm around my waist and guiding me out the restaurant doors.
Despite every instinct telling me to run, I looked up at him, flashing a warm smile. “Thank you for a lovely dinner.” I cleared my throat. “I, uh… I apologize for not being transparent. I know now how important it is to you.”
The words were sour.
Like chewing a damn lemon.
But they worked a charm, and the moody expression on his face instantly changed.
“Thank you,” he said, pressing a kiss to my temple. “I knew you’d understand. We just need to communicate.”
I nodded. “Agreed.”
I’d placated him for now.
But my mind was racing.
Alarm bells were ringing so loudly they were deafening.
And there was only one person who would make me feel safe.
I had to warn Nate.
Chapter Fourteen
BLUE
