Page 44 of Let Me
Caden works in Haven. His company is here.What the fuck was I thinking?
“Yes?” I ask Caden.
His eyes flash. His nose looks swollen and red, like someone punched him. This surprises me, because not many people would be brave enough.
He isn’t touching the woman, but it really doesn’t matter, because there’s no way she could be any closer to him. Well, technically, if she were naked…they’d be half a centimeter closer. As it is, her dress seems sheer enough to be inconsequential.
“Why are you here?”
I roll my eyes, lift my bag. “Obviously, I’m checking in.” I don’t look at the blonde girl again, but she makes some kind of impatient sound and his eyes flash again, ice blue and full of that ever-present anger he seems to bottle up just for me.
I think about last night. About my back against the tree. About him touching me while I was in Benji’s arms. I wonder if the woman knows, but of course she doesn’t. Or maybe she does. Maybeshepunched him.
“Why are you here?” I counter when his gaze seems like it might burn a whole through my t-shirt.
“Is my dad here?” He steps closer, out of the girl’s grasp, but even so, we’re notthatclose. I know the receptionist heard. Probably the men at the lobby doors, too. My cheeks burn so hot I know my face is the exact same shade as a ripened tomato.
But I try to play it cool. “Why the hell would I know?”
That was, apparently, the wrong thing to say. He smiles, and it’s so cold. Just like him.
“That’s right,” he says, as if remembering something. He cocks his head to the side. “He keeps up with you. Not the other way around.”
I turn around to head up the stairs. There’s nothing more for me to say to him.
The woman laughs behind me, and I trudge up each step as fast as I can, thankful I despise heels. When I get to the balcony on the second floor, I can’t resist glancing down. Caden is leaving the lobby, leaving the hotel, and the woman is shouting after him. He ignores her, and even though it should mean nothing to me, I feel some sick satisfaction that he leaves without her.
TWENTY
June, 3 Years Ago
I MANAGE to talk my way into a free bus ride when it finally comes to the stop, which is the first—and probably will be the last—time. But the bus is packed full of drunk older ladies and the driver waves me in with an eye roll.
I sit quietly in the back, clasping my hands together, trying not to think too much about what just happened. I feel like I must be in shock. Right now, it kind of seems like a blur. Like maybe it didn’t happen at all.
But I can still smell him. Still feel his hands in my hair.
I almost miss the stop closest to the Viranis and I’ve got to scramble off, the driver sighing loudly at my back as I descend the steps.
I run the rest of the way. Mom’s shoes are too big, and I almost slip several times, but I’m terrified that if I don’t move fast enough, he’ll find me.
And I don’t even know his fucking name.
Finally, I round the street the Viranis live on: Gated mansions surround me, luxury cars in enormous driveways, the ones that didn’t fit in the four car garages. And the Virani’s house, at the end of the cul-de-sac, black and glass and monstrous.
I stop running when I see it. Because it means I’m safe.
Of course, neither Jack’s nor Caden’s cars are in the driveway, and I know they’re not in the garage tucked around back because they both hate parking in the garage. I just hope to God someone is home because if they’re not...well, Matthew will be here at least.
He’ll let me stay.
I walk up the porch after entering the code at the gate. The floodlights spring on and I’m momentarily blinded, but I hear a familiar, deep voice as my eyes adjust.
“Riley? Are you okay?”
Mr. Virani.
I blink, wrap my arms around myself.
