Page 33 of Reclaiming Adelaide

Jake started the car and threw it into drive while I kept my forehead on my knees.

I couldn’t expect him to reciprocate or tell me he loved me just the same, not after what had happened between us. But for him to flat out declare he didn’t care about me deflated even the slightest hope I’d had.

But how could he be so hateful? This wasn’t the man he’d shown me all this time. The man who waited at my door for me to come out—who took me on my first date and took care of his sister.

Who was he?

“You aren’t the person I thought you were.”

“That makes two of us.”

“No.” I rocked my head against my knees. “Everything you experienced with me was one-hundred percent me.”

He scoffed. “Sorry, I must’ve missed the part when you told me how you wanted to blackmail me for fifteen million.”

My head shot up from his ridiculous accusation. “I didn’t do that. I wish you’d believe me.”

“Put your head down.” He turned the corner.

“I can’t. Your driving makes me sick even when I watch the road, much less when I don’t.”

The bus station disappeared into the darkness, but what bothered me the most was my lost opportunity to start a new life. That bus was my only means of keeping my family alive, and now Jake held me hostage and forced me to return when distance was the cure for this calamitous disease.

And for what? So he could return me to my parents so I could see the devastation on their faces? Or so he could take me to the police and make me fess up to a crime I never wanted to be part of.

“What did you really tell my parents?”

“I told them what happened.”

I whimpered. “Why would you do that?”

“Because, Adelaide. You tried to fuck me over, so why wouldn’t I fuck you right back?”

“But I didn’t.” I shook my head, laying my hand on his. “You have to believe me. I never would’ve allowed that… for anyone, not just you.”

He jerked away from me. “Right. Because you have morals.”

“We all have our lines we’ve drawn in the sand.”

He squeezed his leather steering wheel, making it groan, then flipped the music on.

Abrasive, acid burned vocals flooded the small space between us until I pushed the volume button, turning off the music.

“Don’t.” He slapped my hand like a contrary child, then turned it back on.

I leaned back in my seat, folding my shaking arms over my chest, and huffed. The lightheadedness diminished with anti-climatic ease, making me wish I had passed out. Maybe I’d take him up on his offer if he forced me to listen to this shit music for the next two hours.

“Where are you taking me?” I said, louder than the music.

“Some place no one will find you.”

My heart vaulted in my chest, causing a wave of heat and pressure up to my head. “Come again?”

What did…

No.

I grabbed the door handle and yanked, but with the automatic locks engaged, they didn’t open. How fast were we going down the freeway? If I tucked and rolled, would I be able to walk away, or would it kill me?

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