Page 29 of Even if You Fall

And that’s all I was—another woman for him.

Not to mention, I was still so sure that “officer” had been another form of manipulation.

But as I swiped out of the photo, I looked at the message he’d sent, my teeth worrying my bottom lip as I told myself it was just another lie.

Unknown

I told you it’s only you. I love you Chlo.

It’s a lie. It’s a lie. It’s a lie.

The chant was unsure and weak, and that battle fought harder and harder, until I realized I felt physically sick to my stomach. Until I realized I was shaking from the nauseating feeling of the cold that no longer just clung to my spine, but easily took residence in my entire body whenever Owen tried forcing his way back into my life.

But just as I started locking the screen of my phone, dots appeared in the message, stilling my entire body as I waited to see what he’d say next.

Once the message came through, I didn’t give my heart enough time to fall into another battle before I shakily tapped out a response.

Unknown

Let me see you. I need you.

Leave me alone. I told you what I’d do if you came back to my house, but I’ll do it if you don’t stop contacting me either.

No you won’t.

His response was immediate and sure, and it had my stomach lurching as I once again worried over the potential physical manipulation in the form of a fake police officer following Owen’s words from the other night.“You haven’t filedone yet, and you won’t. I’d like to see what happens if you try though.”

I hurried from the main room of Asher’s home, body trembling as I took shallow breaths, desperately trying not to lose the contents of my stomach in the hall or even the bathroom once I made it there.

I couldn’t let Owen have this kind of control over me. I couldn’t let him affect me this way, but somehow, he was. He’d always affected me so strongly. First, as a lovesick girl. Now, I was just sick from what I’d done and anxious over how easily he could manipulate me—how easily I wanted to give into him whenever he came around and the lengths he’d go to when Iwouldn’t.

I used the vanity to keep myself up as I took calming breaths until all thoughts of my past with Owen, that worrying battle in my heart, and why a restraining order againsthimhad somehow turned around to a threat againstme, had fully settled.

With another steadying breath, I straightened and looked myself over in the mirror to make sure I didn’t appear as beaten down as I felt. Forcing that practiced smile to ensure it looked as at ease as I needed it to, I turned for the door and slipped out of the bathroom and into the hall as if nothing had ever happened?—

And bounced off a steel wall.

Astartled sound of surprise left me as I staggered back a couple steps before regaining my balance. “I’m so sorry,” fell from my lips before my mouth popped open and eyes widened when I looked up and found myself trapped in narrowed, copper eyes. “Oh.”

“Oh,” Adam echoed as he started toward me, reaching one of his tattooed hands out and pressing it to my stomach to lead me backward.

My next breath rushed from my lungs at the unexpected touch. “What are you doing?”

“We’re gonna talk,” he informed me as he continued leading me down the hall.

“Talk?”

“That’s right, Bubbles.”

I was so dizzy from the fact that this man was willingly standing so close to me and touching me, that it took me a few seconds to remember the way he’d been so obviously flirting with Wren not long before. The way he’d been looking at her—wildly differently than he was looking at me now.

And he wanted totalk.

The last and only time Adam Thatcher wanted to talk to me, he’d questioned me about Owen...who’d just messaged me.

“About what?” I asked as he led me into a room, stopping only to shut the door behind us.

Funny how I hardly knew this man, how he looked at me and spoke to me like hehatedme, and yet I still wasn’t afraid to be in a room alone with him. If I wasn’t terrified about what his next answer would be, some part of me would be thrilled by this.

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