Page 53 of Heartless Sinner

Apart from that, how the fuck can I leave her to the mercy of Anton Chekhov, the ex who wants her back?

As I watch her, I understand why he wants her.

He’s obsessed with her, too.

She said she didn’t know why she spent the night with me. That was a lie.

She chose to be with me because she wanted me as badly as I wanted her.

As I stare at her cleaning the tables with that angst-filled look on her face, a farfetched idea forms in my head.

One I know I’ll pay for later, but I’m going to do it anyway.

Chapter Thirteen

Scarlett

My heart beats an unsteady rhythm against my ribs as I wipe down another sticky table, each thud a countdown I can't escape.

Sweat trickles down my spine despite the diner's air conditioning, and my fingers tremble against the damp rag. I’ve had that inner tremor since yesterday, and I can’t switch it off—one more thing I can’t control.

I just have to keep going and ignore it. Today is a big day, so I have to take one step at a time.

The morning rush left behind a graveyard of coffee cups and syrup-smeared plates, evidence of a normal life I'll never have again. My hands move on autopilot while my mind races with thoughts of what-ifs and maybes, each one centered around Micah Delarosa.

Seeing him in the woods last night burns my mind every time I blink.

The ember glow from the butt of his cigarette painted his face in malice, marking him as the devil he is.

Why was he watching me?

What use does he have for me?

I keep wondering if maybe he didn’t believe me about the chip and if he still has reservations about me.

While it makes sense to keep an eye on us, watching me the way he was doesn’t.

Not knowing what his intentions are weighs on my shoulders like chains, along with the six hours of work I’ve already finished.

It’s barely eleven.

My day began at the Civic Center with my cleaning job. I had to be there for four a.m. I did my time there, then I came here. I have to work until seven tonight to receive the full pay.

The only good thing that will come from working so damn hard is that I’ll have the thousand dollars I wanted by the end of the day.

I had to lie about Dad's medical bills to get the money early—one more sin to add to my growing collection. But lies are better than bullets and better than watching Dad take another beating.

I’ve decided I’m not leaving him behind to fend for himself. There’s absolutely no way I’m doing that.

I’ll give him most of the money Lucy sends over when it comes through tonight and take him to a Best Western when I’m enroute to Louisiana.

I’ll do whatever I can to make sure he’s safe before I vanish and leave my life here behind.

God…I haven’t really thought about those parts. It’s sad that I set out to get my life back on track at the beginning of the year only to end up like this.

I’ve always thought of Colorado as my home. Even when I moved away for college and when I lived in Phoenix while I was working on the set of All My Years.

Phoenix was where I met Anton. The cast had gone to his club for a night out.

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