Page 31 of The Naughty One
“Will do,boss.”
Chapter13
Runningout into the midnight streets, Romy kept going until she could not breathe any longer. Stopping, dragging much needed oxygen into her lungs, she allowed herself to feel the pain of what had just happened in and it bent her double. “God …God.”
Slowly, as her breathing returned to normal, she began to walk, dazed. She knew it wasn’t safe to do this but at this moment, the pain of Blue’s betrayal seemed to overwhelm any fear that Dacre might catch up withher.
Come for me now, Dacre, and end this pain for me. I don’t careanymore.
She sat down on a low wall and put her head in her hands, willing the tears tostop.
God, how stupid was I? To think a man like Blue wouldn’t have a fleet of women in his past. How long ago had he slept with this one? Who the fuck was she? She was beautiful, if skinny as hell, but way too old for him. Jesus, that’s what you’re focusing on,Sasse?
Fuck. Romy wiped her eyes. She’d call a cab and get them to pick her up at the end of the street. She was dialing when a silver Audi pulled up beside her. She began to walk quicker, nervousnow.
“Romy?”
She stopped, turning towards the speaker. Gaius smiled at her. “What on earth are you doing out here solate?”
“I …” Romy didn’t know what to say. “Blue was called in for an emergency and I decided to try and find a cab.” Lame ashell.
“Girl, get in. With your rabid ex on the loose, you really do not need to be out on the streetsalone.”
“I’m fine.” Her voice shook, betraying her. Gaius got out and came toher.
“Come on, sweetheart. I’ll take youhome.”
Romy let him put her in his passenger seat and drive away from Blue’s neighborhood. Gaius looked over at her,concerned.
“Are youokay?”
Romy nodded. “Would you mind taking me to my sister’s place? To Artemis’s place?” She gave him the address and then smiled tentatively at him. “Thanks,Gaius.”
“It’s no problem … but are you sure you’re okay? You lookupset.”
“I’mfine.”
“You said thatalready.”
Romy gave a half-hearted laugh. “Justtired.”
She stared out of the car window. The shock was dissipating now, and Romy was beginning to regret running away. She should have stood her ground and gone toe to toe with the whore in Blue’s flat. Romy gritted her teeth. Then again, why the hell hadn’t Blue come afterher?
Was it the guilt of being caught? God. Romy closed her eyes. The pain in her chest was killing her. Had she gotten him sowrong?
No. She was sure of Blue’s love for her, utterly sure. There had to be some kind of rational explanation forit.
Gaius left her alone on the journey, only turning to her as they turned into Artemis’s street. “Are you sure I can’t do anything else for you,Romy?”
“No, thank you again, Gaius.” A thought occurred to her. “What were you doing in Blue’s neighborhoodtonight?”
“Just hoping to see my brother for a few minutes. Nothingimportant.”
That didn’t ring true, but Romy didn’t have the energy to press the point. She got out, then bent down to thank himagain.
Gaius smiled at her. “It’s no problem. If you need anything, I’m always here for you, Romy.Always.”
She watched him drive away, then dug in her purse for the key. All of the sisters had keys to each other’s houses and Romy was glad she wouldn’t have to wake Arti up. She snuck into the house, but halfway up the stairs her phone beeped. She knew it had to beBlue.
