Page 77 of These Deadly Vows

Not one second.

He’s all yours.

Meaning she was just in there with my husband.

His meeting.

The meeting was with her.

His whore.

He promised me.

He lied.

“Boo,” I call after her as she steps into the elevator. “No. he’s all yours.”

Tears spring and I run for the stairs at the end of the hall. I rush to them blindly, finding a fire exit that leads to the alley. I don’t know where I’m going except that I can’t be here. I can’t even look at him.

I was falling in love with him, and he was playing me this whole time.

I’m a fool.

An idiot.

All his talk about babies and the future was all lies. At least the parts that made me believe there was a chance at a proper marriage. He found my weakness and used it against me to manipulate me into giving him what he wants.

I’m so stupid.

Why did I think he would hold true to his word?

All men are the same.

I run down the alley, avoiding empty shipping crates and garbage as I try to get as far away as possible.

I keep going until my lungs burn and ache.

I stop at the end of the block I’m on, careful not to step into oncoming traffic, trying to see where I am and figure out where I’m going to go when a black matte Aston Martin slows next to me. The passenger window rolls down to reveal Carmichael behind the wheel.

“Adeline?”

“Carmichael.” I snap out of it. “Can you give me a ride?”

“Get in.”

Opening the door, I drop my ass to the seat.

“Where are you headed?”

“Um… to see Carla.” She may be mad at me, but I know when I tell her how stupid I’ve been, she’ll forgive me. She’s the only person I can count on.

“Are you okay? You’re kind of breathing hard.”

I catch my bearings, willing my pulse to slow as I breathe in through my nose and out my mouth. “Fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Just got a little spooked, is all.”

---