Page 68 of Second to None

I stopped on the threshold. He’d given me no reason to linger, and still I couldn’t… Just—one more try. I had nothing left to lose.

“For what it’s worth, I am sorry.” The words tasted raw, metallic. “I never meant to hurt you or Emmy. It’s the last thing I wanted. And I didn’t use you to spin some story—if anything, it was an excuse to spend time with you.”

He said nothing, expression blank. I waited a half-second, hoping for something, anything.

And then I left.

* * *

I calledFrank from the driveway, once I realized I had no car, no suitcase. At least my passport was with him. The rest? Didn’t even matter.

“Can you get me?” I asked once he picked up.

“Already?” His voice was sleepy. “The flight’s not until?—”

“I’ll wait outside the gate.” I ran a hand through my hair, eyes burning. “Just—come get me? Please.”

He paused for a second. “Okay, give me five minutes. But please waitinsidethe gate.”

“Thanks, Frank.”

Whatever he heard in my voice softened his tone to a reassuring murmur. “I’ll be right there, Cass. All right?”

“Okay.” I hung up and simply stood there for a moment, blinking into the bright sun, the sky achingly blue. Gravel crunched under my sneakers once I started moving, one foot in front of the other.

‘You’re a good lay, but that’s it.’

Words. Just words. They couldn’t touch me.

I leaned against the gatepost and fought to keep breathing. Not a single car passed on the road, just the distant sound of birds and the geometry of rooftops and trees sprawling out below. I’d never felt more alone.

Frank arrived, pulling up just outside, and I clambered into the backseat.

“Want me to get your suitcases?” he asked.

Did I? Hard to focus on even just that simple question. I shrugged, shook my head. Nothing had been packed yet, and I needed to get away from here. “Can you get them later?”

He turned around in the driver’s seat, eyebrows pulling together. “Cass?” he said softly, and no, I wasn’t okay. So I answered a different question.

“Just drive me somewhere. Anywhere.” I cleared my throat against too many words that wanted to spill like a waterfall, trying to wash myself clean. “The airport, I guess. I’ll wait there.”

He opened his mouth, then seemed to think better of it. With a simple nod, he started the car, the engine’s rumble vibrating through me. Back on the road. Home, or something like it. As we pulled away, I cast one last glance at the villa, mostly hidden behind trees and high hedges—no sign of Levi. Just a silent house perched in the sunlight.

I closed my eyes and willed down my stomach’s sickening lurch at each bend of the winding road. The taste of salt hung in my head.

‘Get the fuck out.’

Something snagged in my mind. Faint at first, just a tremor.

Levi. Emily.

‘Someone leaked the surveillance footage.’

‘It’s trending.’

I sat up sharply. “Frank.”

He made a questioning noise, eyes meeting mine in the rear view mirror.

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