Page 6 of Rectify

But he’d spent most of the time worrying about his girl. Especially over the last week. In the beginning, they’d spoken every day, then that had slowly dribbled down to a few times a week. Now he couldn’t get hold of her at all. He hadn’t spoken to her in five days, and that worried him.

He never thought she’d be gone this long. There was something more going on than she was letting on. The last time he’d spoken to her, she’d sounded preoccupied, almost scared. His Natalya didn’t scare easily. In fact, she was far braver than he thought was wise. He didn’t like the risks she often took with her safety.

And yet you never told her that. You never said anything.

Because he hadn’t wanted to rock the boat. They’d had a good thing going. He’d kept things light and easy.

Face it; you were afraid. You were worried that if she saw all of you, then she wouldn’t want you anymore.He’d curbed his more dominant, protective urges because the Aedan she knew was easygoing and lighthearted.

Maybe it was time to let her see the other side of him? Gradually, of course. He didn’t want to lose her. That didn’t bear thinking about.

He took a soda from the fridge and popped the top, taking a long drink. It was ten at night, but he didn’t care. He had three days off before he had to be in L.A. for some more filming. He should be sleeping, but he couldn’t rest until he knew Natalya was all right. He should have ignored her reassurances that she was fine and jumped on the first flight he could get, demanding she return home.

He should never have let her go by herself in the first place.

Rubbing his forehead tiredly, he grabbed his cell and moved into the living room. Hopefully, he could get hold of her tonight and then get some sleep.

The landline was beeping, indicating that there was a message waiting. He pushed the playback button.

“Hey, Aedan, it’s me. Natalya.”

Like he wouldn’t recognize her voice? Relief hit him hard. She was all right. But why hadn’t she called his cell?

“Umm, I don’t know how to tell you this.”

He frowned, leaning forward, almost as though he could reach through the phone and clasp hold of her. She sounded frightened.

“I need to break things off, Aedan. Between us.”

He stumbled back, his legs hitting the armchair behind him. With a heavy thump, he sat, his heart pounding, head swimming. This was a joke, right? It had to be.

“Why?” he whispered as though he were speaking to her instead of a machine.

“I know this has to be a shock, and I’m, um, I’m sorry.”

The dial tone beep sounded. That was it? Was she serious? She was breaking things off with him via voicemail and without an explanation?

He wanted to marry her. He’d been about to propose.

She’d sounded scared. Maybe she needed help. Maybe her family was pressuring her into breaking up with him. He stood. He needed to go to her.

Except, he was due in L.A. in two days, and he was under contract. He couldn’t just not turn up; it would kill his career.

But his career meant nothing without Natalya. Grabbing his cell, he tried to call her. But it went straight to her answering machine.

“Natalya, call me,” he demanded. He ran his hand through his hair with a groan of frustration. If she was in trouble, she might not have access to her phone. He had to do something.

Searching through his phone contacts, he called the one person he knew could help.

“Aedan,” Rogan greeted him.

His cousin was the only family he had left. They were as close as brothers. His relationship with Rogan was the only thing he and Natalya had ever truly fought about.

Natalya didn’t approve of Rogan, and she’d never been shy about voicing her opinion. She’d refused to have anything to do with him, and if she’d had her way, Aedan would have nothing to do with him either.

Rogan was head of the Cavan Gang. While he might not always stick to the right side of the law, he still had morals, his own idea of right and wrong. Aedan didn’t always agree with what his cousin had to do, but that didn’t mean he was willing to disown him.

“Natalya contacted me.”

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