Page 60 of Midnight Secrets

Francis:Are you okay?

I contemplated that, but he and Madison had been like surrogate parents to me over the years.

Me:Not really. I need time to think.

Francis:I’ll grab your stuff when they’re not looking. I’ll send you a location.

I wandered to the cash desk and paid with the money at the back of my phone case. It was only when I was outside that I noticed all the missed calls and text messages on my phone. I looked at a few and Ash’s tone ranged from weary to angry to screamy. Jordan had sent a few asking me where I was and if I was okay.

Me:Just out for a run. Chat later, Lx.

Jordan:What the fuck? It’s been hours. Where the fuck are you?

Me:Back soon.

When I saw the location from Francis, I turned my phone off. I wouldn’t be making a fool of myself again. Maybe this mysterious Cas had been right to run. Maybe she realised that Xavier didn’t love her. I could have coped with lies and deceit, but I couldn’t fight against his brutal honesty.

I stood shivering under a tree and waited for Francis, deliberately staying there for a few minutes after he arrived to ensure it was him in the car and the guys hadn’t followed him. He gave me that fatherly stare when I climbed in.

“Lucrezia.” The concern in his voice broke through my barriers and the tears I’d suppressed broke free. He grabbed my hand. “I have the security codes to Lucas’ house. We’ll be there shortly.”

I nodded and tried to wipe the tears away.

One week was all it had taken to break me and destroy my business. I had nothing left.

***

Chapter Twenty-Two

Ash

What the actual fuck had happened?

I stood staring at the kitchen and waited for Lucrezia to appear in it. She’d taken her plate back and I wandered into the living room. I’d been exhausted and fell asleep in the chair. The next thing I knew, it was hours later and Jordan had arrived to tag the jewellery.

“What happened?” Jordan demanded, his hands clenched at his side as if he was going to attack me.

“No idea. We had pancakes and she took her plate back. I fell asleep on the sofa and you know the rest.”

I tried to remember what we’d been talking about. My mind finally zeroed on my words and the expression on her face as they impacted on her. I’d been too tired to read the danger signs. When we got back to London, I hadn’t stopped to rest because I wanted to get home to her.

It wasn’t as if it was the first time I’d told her we couldn’t be together.

“What is it with these women running off?” Jordan demanded, pacing the kitchen. “She knows better than to go off by herself. Lucas would be furious.” He lifted his phone and left her an irate voicemail.

The house felt empty and she’d only been gone a few hours. Francis walked into the kitchen. “What’s up?” I’d screamed his name several times until I was nearly hoarse.

“Have you seen Lucrezia?” I demanded.

“No, you made it clear that while she was here that I was only required for background work.” Jordan threw me the stink eye. “Have you tried her studio?”

I took the stairs three at a time and nearly broke the door down. She said only last night that she wouldn’t run, but then I’d watched something break behind those huge brown eyes of hers. I’d done that. No one else. She’d given everything she had to me and I’d thrown it all back at her.

“Can you activate her tracker?” I asked Jordan after sending about two million text messages.

“No. Only Lucas has the code. Do you want to tell him we’ve lost his youngest daughter?” He gave me that look of his that stared directly into your soul. “What happened with her?”

“I think she finally believed me that we couldn’t be together,” I said in a low tone.

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