Page 90 of Crush

My words dragged him back from his daze and he shook his head as if to clear it before he snarled. “We’ll see.” An angry flush marked his neck, causing me to swallow; I used to be scared by that look. It reminded me of that handful of times when he’d taken it too far.

And that was that. I shut the door on that part of my life. I just hoped it remained that way.

His ‘we’ll see’ had probably been his attempt at getting in the last word. He was angry and hurt but he’d calm down. He was freshly out of prison and surely had his entire life to replan. Zander would forget about me over time.

I wasn’t sure what insane scenarios Zander had cooked up in his head in prison. Did he think I would want to get back together, after all the time that had passed? As an adult, it didn’t make any sense.

Dexter escorted me to the car and guided me into the back. The soft leather was welcome against my shaking legs.

As we pulled away from the curb, my entire body went floppy and I tugged open the belt of my raincoat, pushing my bag off my lap as I suddenly felt restricted.

I now realised that I had no desire for the man who stole a major part of my childhood from me. I no longer wanted his dirty promises and rough touch. With Zander it had been about sex, what he had awakened in me as I had been transitioning from a girl to a woman. I’d been confused and obsessed with the fairy tale. Believed he’d had all the answers for giving me the attention I had lost when my mother died.

My palm itched to call Max, but I called Mia instead. She didn’t answer so I left a message and asked her to call me.

“Are you OK?” Dexter said as I lowered my phone, his eyes watching me through the rear-view mirror.

I nodded and smiled, “Yes, I’m fine now.Morethan fine,” I replied, looking through the back window. Thankfully Zander was gone.

“You don’t look it,” he said, his eyes searching my face.

“Please just drive.”

He nodded and raised the glass partition between us, giving me space.

The more I thought about my meeting with Zander as an adult, the more confidence I felt.

For the first time in years, my head was the clearest it had ever been and I felt a sense of closure.

“Am I taking you home Miss? Or somewhere else?” I knew he was referring to Max’s apartment.

“Just home, please. Thank you.”

I needed some me time before I saw Max.

Sixteen

Max

When I saw Amber with Harker, all rational thought fled my body and I was left with insane images of beating him to a pulp in the middle of the street.

I’d parked further up the road and had been searching for my keys to the main gate when I saw them. Amber had messaged me earlier to say she’d locked up for Wes who was still off sick, but I needed to fetch some plans.

It was Thursday and I’d been at the docks having met with an estate agent to put the useless warehouses I’d purchased back on the market.

As I rounded the corner, there they were.

Amber stood before him like a tiny doll as he towered over her like an apparition from my worst nightmare. I knewexactlywho he was as I’d researched the fucker online. There weren’t many pictures of him, Jonny had done well keeping the matter out of the press but I’d found two. There was a before and after shot and it annoyed me that prison had not aged him like it did most people. You also couldn’t get a feel for his size in the shots; in person, he was big butnotas big as me.

If it hadn’t been for the fact that Dexter was sitting so close in the car, poised to end the fucker if he did anything wrong, I would have walked over there and lamped him.

Why was she even giving him the time of day and what was he saying?Please take me back. He had a nerve. The fury running through my veins was almost painful like the liquid was acid instead of blood.

My blood had boiled as I’d watched Harker get handsy with Amber. Luckily, Dexter was out of the car instantly. I held back, keeping myself out of sight. After flashing his gun, Dexter escorted Amber back to the car. Harker wasn’thappy about her leaving, his entire body stiffened and his hands fisted by his sides. I knew a pissed-off male when I saw one.

Once the car pulled away from the curb, Harker walked towards the Thames. Maybe he’d do us all a favour and chuck himself in there. I wanted to follow and give him a warning of my own.

How did he even know where Amber worked?

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