Page 80 of Stone Vows

I eye the front door and then the balcony. I wonder if there is a fire escape. I find myself needing to know where all the exits are in case I need to run. Old habits are hard to break.

“Sit,” he says, pointing to the sofa Ellie is lying on. “I’ll tell you what I know. But first, let me get you a drink. Water? Beer? Something stronger?”

I look around his place again. It’s nice. Christian-Grey nice. He’s got money. People with money think they can buy anything. And if they can’t buy it, sometimes they just take it.

Stop it, Lexi,I tell myself. Kyle is not Grant. Back at the hospital, he was nothing like him. He was helpful and kind and funny and . . . everything I didn’t know I wanted in a man. And I left. Then I started to make a life for myself and for Ellie.

And now I might be risking everything to come back.

I trust my instincts and sit down on his sofa. “Water is fine.”

He walks to his kitchen, never taking his eyes off me as if he thinks I’m going to run away again. After he reaches into his refrigerator, he pulls out his phone and taps the screen a few times. It looks like he’s sending a text. I want to ask to whom, but I lost the right to that information when I walked out of the hospital.

Then his doorbell rings and I jump to my feet, ready to pick up Ellie and make my escape.

“Elizabeth, it’s okay—sorry . . . Alexa. I ordered a pizza. I thoughtyouwere the pizza guy.”

I let out a long breath. “Oh.”

I sit back down as he hands me my water and makes his way to the door.

He puts the pizza on the coffee table and sits in the chair next to the couch. He leans forward, putting his elbows on his knees. “Grant came to the hospital a few days ago.”

My heart stops. It stops beating and I die for a second.

I look over at Ellie, small and innocent, her little chest rising and falling as she sleeps peacefully. I don’t want her to live in a world where men like her father even exist. I’m scared for her. Everything I do is about this girl. Loving her. Protecting her.

I wipe the tears that cloud my vision as I watch her sleep.

Then my heart starts beating again. It thunders in my chest as I realize what is happening. I stand up, ready to pull Ellie in my arms and race out of here. “Is that who you just texted? Oh, God, Kyle, did you tell Grant where I am?”

“No,” he says, standing up with me. “Hell, no. I would never do that, Elizabeth—Damnit!—Alexa. I told you you’re safe here. Sit down and let me explain.”

Maybe I was wrong to come here. I waited too long. Just another mistake in the long list of epic mistakes I’ve made in my life. Marrying Grant. Letting him control me the way he did. Being naïve enough to think things would get better.

“Alexa,” Kyle says, motioning to the couch. “Please.”

I take a deep breath and sit back down on his sofa, bracing myself for what he’s about to tell me.

“He didn’t tell me he was your husband. He flashed his badge, making it seem like he was on the job even though he wasn’t NYPD. I gave him a made-up story about you coming in for stitches. I said you were heading out of town for a job interview. The only reason I know your real name is because I saw his tattoo. He didn’t mention the fact that you were pregnant. Did he not know?”

I shake my head.

He lets out a sigh. A sigh so deep it looks like he’s in pain. “He hurt you,” he says.

It’s not a question.

I nod.

“And you left him when you found out you were pregnant.” He looks over at Ellie. “You left to protect her.”

I nod again.

“But why, Alexa? Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t youtrustme? Why the hell did you just run off and leave me?” he asks, his voice cracking in anguish. “I could have helped you, you know.”

“Kyle, I’m sorry. You’re frustrated with me. I deserve it. I know you have a lot of questions and I have a lot of explaining to do, but no, you couldn’t have helped me. You still can’t. Not when it comes to Grant. He’s a cop, Kyle.”

“Yeah, I know, in narcotics,” he says.

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