Page 84 of From You to Me

My eyes glassed as I sobbed. “I’m sorry.” My palms covered my lips as I broke out a cry. “I would never put Lily’s life in danger, you know that.”

The glint in his eyes didn’t vanish a bit.

“Emmie, stop it. It wasn’t her fault,” Lily called out from behind him while her gaze darted to mine. “Evy, I know it’s not your fault.”

Jay held up a hand, halting her.

“Mikey, get my sister and Katy out of here and get a doctor to check on Lily,” he steeled out, leaving no room for argument.

Mikey nodded, pulling a protesting Lily and Katy out of the apartment.

“Tyler, make sure they’re okay.” Jay’s eyes slid to him, and the latter mumbled a quick yes while he followed them out.

My thumbnail flicked on my index finger as I watched him turn back to me. My eyes widened as he closed in, so close that he was barely a whisper away.

The blood pumping my heart pulsed heavily.

A sharp inhale left my lips as he brought a finger to my neck, tracing the burning lines. “Does it hurt?” he murmured.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, taken back by his question. “A bit,” I cracked. My throat was still feeling raw and dry from the earlier ministrations.

“You put yourself in danger, Evelyn.” He brought the same finger from my neck and cupped my cheek. “Do you know what could’ve happened if the girls weren’t here? Do you know that you need to be more careful when you’re living alone in the city?” he bit out, and the vein in his forehead throbbed with each word.

“I didn’t know he was going to be here,” I mumbled. “I swear if I knew I wouldn’t have put them at risk.”

His chin lifted ever so slightly as his gaze danced over my apartment again. “You have ten minutes to pack all the shit that you need, and then you’re coming with me.”

“What?” My lips parted as I gazed at his determined blues.

“The clock is ticking, Evelyn.”

“But, Jay, I’ll be fine. He’s not going to come back, and I just need to get the lock fixed.” I gestured to my door.

He raised his brow. “Nine more minutes.”

My eyes bugged, and I realized he wasn’t going to relent. I quickly scrambled as I tried to pack the shit that I needed.

One silent car ride later, we arrived at the basement parking of Blueline. The air in the golden elevator sizzled like a stone fire. Jay held my weekend bag with a white-knuckled grip. And Strawberry circled us, wagging her tail, obviously not reading the radiating tension.

I faltered as I took tiny steps into his apartment. Strawberry immediately ran inside to explore the new place with curious eyes.

I shadowed Jay as he led me upstairs. He stopped short at the guest bed opposite his room.

“You can take this room.” His gaze fell upon my neck. “I’ll bring you something for that.” He waved his finger at my neck.

I nodded thanks as he left the room. A heavy sigh breathed out of my lips as I closed the door behind him.

This was the largest guest room in the apartment. Soft gray walls, beige beddings, and dark furniture.

I slid into the luxurious bathroom, eyeing the rainforest shower. I glanced at my ghastly self in the mirror; wild hair, pale eyes, chapped lips, and an angry neck. Lines of dark red covered my neck, a glaring mix of deep marks and light flares.

A moan slipped past my lips as I fell under the hot shower. The steady drops of forceful water ran down my back, unknotting the muscles I didn’t know were knotted. I cleaned every inch of me, soaping over and over again, getting his grimy touch off me.

I didn’t know what I was going to do.

Although I was safe on top of this blue tower, I knew David and his little lackeys would be relentless until I gave them what I owed—more like what she owed.

And I only had one day to think of something.

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