Page 20 of Condemned to You

“Now,” I said once I felt the point of no return, I began slamming my hip forward repeatedly.

Loosening my grip while drawing back and striking precisely one last time, she filled her lungs with air as her body exploded with an intense yet silent orgasm while my own followed after. I collapsed on top of her as she tried to regain her breath.

“Learned something new while away?”

“Something I wanted to try.” I wasn’t sure if her comment was a trick question so I changed the subject. “What’s going on with all the security here?”

Bethany rolled her eyes. “That night you called and I had to rush off the phone, Alfie said the house was going to have a few more guards. I figured since Pio was gone it was just a precaution.”

“Makes sense,” I agreed, but knew it had to be more. There weren’t just a few guards around because her husband was away. Something was going on. Checking the time on the clock on the nightstand, I jumped out of bed. “I need to go.”

“Emilio….” Bethany hopped off the bed. “Is this the last time I will see you?”

Without answering her, I gave her a look which caused her eyes to water.

“It is,” I whispered as I began getting dressed. I placed a kiss on her forehead then finished putting on my clothes. Bethany grabbed a robe to put on herself.

“I’ll make sure the hallway is cleared,” she said.

My heart was beating out my chest from nervousness. If I made it out the house, I’d be lucky, and to make it back out of the country would be a miracle. Standing against the wall beside the door, I watched Bethany slide open the French doors to her bedroom and check the hallway. Entering back in, she nodded her head.

“It’s clear.”

The look of disappointment on her face brought a tone of sadness. She saw it in my eyes and understood this would be the last time we would see one another again.

“You have a whole life ahead of you. Don’t let it go to waste.”

She nodded her head. “I’ll always love you. I’m just happy you’re alive.” Walking up to me, she placed a soft kiss on my lips. “You take your own advice, will you – go and be happy, for me.”

I embraced her one last time, letting our tongues dance with one another while inhaling her scent before I left for good. Pulling away before I changed my mind, I stepped back and took one last look before I slid out the room and dashed down the hall. Each quick step sent a blow to my heart. The morning sunrays cast a yellow tone glow through the windows illuminating the delicate lace curtains. The secret pathway entrance was hidden in plain sight. If you knew which lamp had the button to make a small portion of the wall in the hallway slide allowing you down the pathway then you could enter and exit the house from a block away.

Approaching the lamp, the taste of freedom was just a few steps away; however, before I even lifted my hand to the lamp, I heard my name.

“Emilio.”

A jolt of paralyzation shot through my body. Finding it hard to move my stiff muscles, I managed to turn around.

“Grace,” I replied stoically.

“Alfie said you were away on business in Europe and things went south,” she lowered her voice as she got closer to me, “We thought you were dead.”

“You thought wrong.”

“How long have you been around?”

“Doesn’t matter, I need to get out of here.”

Grace looked at me unsure of what to do. “You’re in hiding from the DeCarlos.”

I exhaled a deep breath, avoiding her question, “You’re holding me up.”

“If you came for her,” Grace nodded in the direction of Bethany’s room. “You’re better off taking her.”

Furrowing my brows, “What for?”

“The girl is on suicide watch. Why do you think I’m up here?”

That lump in my throat was back and Grace’s words had me worried that Bethany had no reason to stop harming herself if this was going to be our last encounter.