Page 21 of Keeping My Girl

CHAPTER14

Selina

IWAKE UP from a nightmare, my body trembling under the blankets. I sit up slowly; and when I raise my hands in front of my face, I can still see the blood covering my skin. “Oh god, no!” I gasp as I desperately try to rub the red stains away. My nails scratch at my skin, tearing it open as I try to rid myself of the image.

Running to the bathroom, I turn on the hot water in the sink and scrub my skin until it’s red and raw. I know their blood is just in my head, but I feel like it’s still on me. The dream followed me into real life, and it’s staining my very soul.

I can still hear their screams. I can still see their faces when they realized their fate…because of me. It was my fault. It was all my fault.They’re all dead because of me!

Screaming, I lash out, my fist connecting with the mirror before me. The glass fissures, creating a distorted reflection of my face. My features look ugly, warped. And that’s how I truly see myself — a fucking monster, a murderer. If I hadn’t been so damn selfish that day, they would still be alive.

And now I’m bringing that same danger upon the Vitale family, who have only shown me love and compassion. The curse has followed me here, and I don’t know how long it will be before I’ll be wearing their blood too.

“No,” I say out loud, shaking my head vehemently. I won’t let that happen to them. I refuse to let Constantine harm them. He’s taken everything from me. I won’t let him take them from me too.

Fleeing from the bathroom, I go to the closet and pick out the darkest clothes I can — a pair of black yoga pants and a dark gray hooded sweatshirt. I dress quickly, scooping up a pair of black and white sneakers in the process and stepping into them before I slip out of my room.

The compound is quiet. I’m sure there are guards somewhere…maybe everywhere…but I don’t care. I’m not a prisoner here. They have to let me leave whenever I want to. Right?

Even I don’t know the answer to that question, but I’m bound and determined to find out.

My feet move quickly, carrying me down the hall. I glance back at Nico’s room one last time, hating the thought of possibly never seeing him again. But I know it’s for the best. I’m only endangering him and his entire family by staying here. And I’m sure he’d rather have his family alive and well with me gone than the opposite of what will happen if I stay.

I tread lightly down the steps. The compound is quiet and dark, save for a few dim security lights here and there.

I stare at the front door when I reach the bottom level, but I’m not that stupid. There has to be some kind of alarm associated with that entrance. Instead, I turn and go to the back of the house where I’ve seen the inground pool.

I stop at the sliding patio door and take a breath. My hand trembles as I grip the handle and test it, pulling it just an inch before stopping, hoping that a loud alarm will not sound, waking up the entire house.

I cringe, waiting, but nothing happens. Blowing out a sigh of relief, I open the door just enough to slip out before closing it behind me. I walk past the swimming pool, anxiety creeping up into my bones as I slink past the patio and make it to the yard.

Ducking down, I run through the large garden, the tall flowers and shrubs giving me cover. I shrink down by a bush and wait, panting. The night air is crisp and cool against my skin as I look back at the compound. Tears fill my eyes at the thought of leaving behind the only family who ever loved me, but I know it will be better this way. At least I will know that they won’t have to suffer. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if anything happened to the Vitales because of me.

Steeling my nerves, I slip out of the garden and cross the yard. All of this seems…too easy, and I’m shocked by the lack of security. I’m beginning to wonder why Constantine hasn’t attacked or come for me yet. If I can get out, that means he can get in. And that thought alone is what pushes me towards the fence. I grip the bars, and the metal is cold and unforgiving. The fence is tall, and I know it will not be easy, but my determination and sheer will might just work in my favor.

I grip the bars, preparing to try to pull myself up when I hear a deep, ragged voice call out, “Stop!”

My heart pounds against my ribcage as I stand still, not sure what to do. Should I stop? Should I run?

It only takes me a moment to make up my mind. Before the person behind me can make a move, I take off running.

* * *

Nicholas

In the middle of the night, I’m awoken by an alarm sounding on my phone. It’s a strange sound, not one of my usual alerts, waking me up out of a dead sleep.

Unlocking my phone, I switch on my bedside lamp and read the messages popping up on my screen. The first text from Aldo asks what he should do. There’s a photo attached to the message, so I open it up and stare at it. I’m confused at first, not exactly sure what I’m looking at. It’s a photo captured from the motion detector cameras in the hallway. Zooming in, I see Selina sneaking out of her room. Normally that wouldn’t raise alarm…except that she’s fully clothed, dressed in all black with sneakers. The subsequent pictures are of her walking downstairs and then disappearing outside one of the side entrances.

Aldo’s next text has my heart doubling in speed.

We’ve got a runner.

Fuck.Texting him quickly, I make sure he alerts the guards to stand down. I don’t want anyone laying a finger on her. Not only would it drive me fucking crazy to see anyone touching her, but I know Selina might lose it if one of the guards manhandles her. They’re trained to not let anyone in. But they’re also trained to not let anyone out without permission first. Selina is not a prisoner here, by any means. It’s simply a safety precaution.

With Carbone on the hunt for her, we cannot let her leave. If I had it my way, Selina would stay here indefinitely. But ultimately that decision is not up to me. It's hers and hers alone. However, she can never be allowed to leave until Constantine is either behind bars or dead. We can’t risk him gaining access to her ever again. And the fact that he possessed her for an entire decade makes me think he desperately wants her back and would be willing to do anything to have her in his grasp again.

I run silently through the compound and out through the yard until I see her dark, lithe figure by the fence. As soon as she touches the bars, intending to try to hoist herself up and over the tall fence, I yell out, “Stop!” My voice sounds deep and desperate, and I wonder if she even realizes it’s me.

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