Page 105 of Dirty Pool

Gabbie’s heart raged.

Like her mind.

And her soul, too.

There was a war going on inside her head. The part that told her it was crazy to consider anything but staying right where she was, and waiting for this hell to blow over. And the other part of her … the one that had spent every single night crying. Because she was alone and without the person she wanted the most, and she knew how much she hurt him that night he stood inside this house.

Was Michel even waiting on her anymore? Did he still care?

Did he still love her?

Those were the questions that terrified her, and the fact that she didn’t have answers to any of them. Her fingers twitched in her lap as she glanced to the side, finding the landline cordless phone sitting in the cradle to charge. She wasn’t allowed to use the phone, and her own cell phone had been taken away a while ago.

A thump hit the floor upstairs.

She looked that way, and stilled on the couch.

Nobody left the office.

Gabbie breathed easier. It was almost funny how she felt like if she picked up that damn phone, someone was going to come around the corner, and catch her. She didn’t want to be controlled by fear any longer.

She reached for the phone. Shaking fingers dialed a familiar number. Putting the phone to her ear, she eyed the entryway to the living room as she listened to the call ring and ring and ring. Silently, she begged for him to pick up.

Just feckin’ pick up.

On the fourth ring, he did.

“Ciao,” Michel greeted.

“Michel …”

Silence answered her back.

And then, a sharp, “Gabbie.”

She didn’t have time to waste, so the only thing she could think to ask was, “Does it still stand—if I want to, and I can get to you, we leave?”

“As soon as I can get a flight out of this fucking city. Do you have access to your ID or—”

“Da makes me keep every piece of identification and my passport in my bag just in case we have to leave fast.” Gabbie glanced upward again, praying the men in the office stayed there for just a little while longer. “I could probably get a car right now and come to you.”

By stealing it.

Did it matter?

“I’ll be wherever you want to meet up,” he said just as fast.

She rattled off a street name mid-city, close to city hall, and the police station. Probably safest right now, all things considered.

Michel let out a heavy breath. “I’ll be there. Fucking love you, huh?”

“I know. I love you, too.”

She hung up the phone.

The house was still quiet, too.

Now or never …