Page 67 of Shattered Secrets
I hang up. I can’t believe Summers posted the pictures just to hurt me. I saw Ayala’s photos from the police investigation. Hell, I saw Ayala herself that evening. It was awful. I need to check the extent of the damage.
I open my phone and click on the story.
I shout when I look at the pictures. Her broken body, the terrible pain. Did she survive hell only to get to this moment?
They’ll never let her be. Fuck, she’s alone. All alone. How did it get published at the same time I flew here? I have a feeling the timing is not a coincidence.
I call her, but she’s turned off her phone, so I call her parents. “Where’s Ayala?” I ask, hoping she’s with them.
“We don’t know. We can’t find her. She went to the office this morning, and no one has seen her since. Someone looked for her in the offices. But she’s not there.”
“We have to find her. She can’t be alone now. Call everyone she knows. You should also talk to her psychologist. Please make sure she’s not alone.” I wish I had never left. “I’m in New York. I’ll try to fly to you as soon as I can.”
I hang up and call Jess. “Did you see?”
“Yes. What do you want to do?”
“Take those pictures off the net. I want to sue their asses.”
“You know that once it’s published, it’s out there.”
“I know, but do what you can. And they’ll pay for this. The next one will think twice about posting. And I want you to find me everything you can about Summers, all the dirt. If they want to bring me down, they’ll go down with me.” Money makes the world go round, and I’m willing to invest everything I’ve got to make them pay.
“Oh, and Jess?” I say before hanging up, “Find out who told them I was flying home today.”
Being far from her and not knowing where she is or if she’s all right is driving me crazy. I have to fly back there. Now. I need to support her, to be by her side. Not like last time. I must not make the same mistake again.
I pick up my suitcase and head right back out as I never got the chance to unpack.
Why did I leave her? What was so important that I couldn’t wait until she was ready to travel?
I’m willing to throw away all my businesses just to make sure she’s okay.
I check my phone every few minutes, hoping for a message saying they’ve found her, that she’s okay. The fear of the worst fills me and overwhelms me. But when I board the long six-hour flight, there is still no sign of life from her.
CHAPTER28
Ayala
It’s dark outside. I don’t know what time it is, nor do I care, as I walk through the empty corridors on my way out. I waited a few hours past the end of the workday to make sure that no one would be here.
I try to control the shaking as I drive home. It wasn’t a good idea to drive like this, but what choice did I have. My eyes are so swollen I can barely see. The tears are no longer flowing. I think I’m cried out.
“Ayala.” The familiar voice calls my name as I get out of the car.
“Mom!” I run into her arms, looking for the comfort I need now. It’s hard for me to breathe. The universe is closing in on me.
“Everyone saw,” I moan into her shoulder.
“Shh...” Her soothing voice relaxes me. “It’ll be all right. Everything will be all right.”
My father squeezes my hand gently, leading me inside my small apartment.
They look at me as if I’m going to break. As if, at any moment, I’ll shatter into pieces all over the living room.
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to let myself fall apart. To stop trying to hold on, and let myself shatter all over the floor, and allow someone else to do the cleanup. I can imagine them standing there, sweeping parts into a nice pile in the middle of the room.
“Ayala, I want you to meet with Dr. Sullivan.” Mom’s voice is soft when she speaks like she’s afraid to wake up the demons. But it’s too late. They’re already here, floating in space and surrounding me. “We’re worried about you. And you’ve come so far.” She exchanges glances with my father.
