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Too soon, he broke the embrace, his eyes searching her face. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” She nodded, pushing loose strands of hair back from her face with hands that still smelled of antiseptic. “Nothing a hot bath won’t take care of.”
He guided her toward the door, his hand steady on her hip. “I’ll take you home.”
Home.
The word echoed in her mind, a future that seemed possible only hours before.
Men were visible through the door glass, standing in the parking lot.
Of course.
She felt no surprise. With Caleb close behind, she stepped out into the fading light. The sun had already dipped below the horizon, leaving the sky a brooding canvas of deep purple streaked with bloody clouds.
Alex stood at the forefront of the gathered group, his stance radiating malice, his lips curled into a cruel smile.
“Grace—” Caleb stiffened at her side and took hold of her arm.
Grace inhaled a shaky breath. This was it. Alex waited silently, his eyes fixed on her with a predatory intensity. He had six armed men with him, the decks stacked in his favor.
She shook her arm free of Caleb’s grip.
“Grace, what?—”
“I have to go.”
“What? Grace, no—” Confusion and fear warred in his voice.
She twisted so he could not grab her arm again.
This was the end of the road. She was doing this for love. To keep him safe. But all she read in Caleb’s eyes was pain and hurt that would destroy her if she allowed it. She averted her gaze, hiding the pain in her eyes, fearing he would doubt her decision and pursue her. The only way to keep him safe was to push him away, to make him believe she no longer cared for him.
“I’m leaving with Alex.” Her voice grew icy. Distant. The woman she had been with Richard still fit perfectly. “This thing between us, it was a mistake. I shouldn’t have let it continue for so long.”
Caleb’s eyes widened, his hands flexing open and shut. “I don’t believe you. After everything we’ve been through...”
Grace forced a harsh laugh. “Everything we’ve been through? Caleb, you were a distraction, a way to pass the time while I figured out my next move.”
His intake of breath was sharp. She was cutting him to the core. But she pressed on, knowing she had to make him believe her, had to make him hate her if necessary.
“You didn’t really think I could love someone like you, did you? Someone who lives in a shack in the hills? I needed time to think, reevaluate, and you fit the bill. But now, I’ve made my decision. I don’t need you anymore.”
Caleb shook his head, his eyes bright. “This is fucking bull, Grace. I know you. You’re doing this out of fear.”
She stepped closer, imagining it was Richard she was tearing apart. “You know nothing about me, Caleb. You never did. I’ve played you from the start. Now I have what I need. It’s time to move on.”
He staggered back, as if she had physically struck him, his face tortured with betrayal.
God. What was she doing? Her nails, still marked by Dolly’s dried blood, gouged her palms. Next time it would be Caleb’s blood and she would stop at nothing to prevent that. “Don’t follow me. It’s over.”
She walked away, unfaltering, even as every fiber of her being screamed at her to run to Caleb and never let him go. She had to do this—make him believe she didn’t love him, that she’d never loved him. It was the only way to protect him from the darkness of her past life.
Squaring her shoulders, Grace passed Alex, her eyes fixed straight ahead, refusing to give him the satisfaction of eye contact. She wouldn’t give him the power, wouldn’t let him see how much this tore her apart.
She climbed into the waiting car, her movements mechanical, her mind numb with grief, her skin chilling as she sat on the leather seats. The driver on the opposite side of the dividing glass was an indistinct blur in her peripheral vision.
The group of men advanced on Caleb, their posture aggressive, weapons raised. This wasn’t the deal. Panic surged through her veins. “Get away from?—”
