Page 71 of Hunted Innocence

Stayingacross the street from the motel, I watch as Nadine gathers her things, loads them in her car, and then backs out of the spot before her car moves forward. I watch for a moment, then follow behind her, telling myself that I’m just going to ensure that she makes it out of town and is heading toward Nights.

After following her for about a hundred miles, I figure it’s time for me to change directions. I don’t even know where I’m going at this point. I didn’t really think this through. I was just worried about Nadine and getting her back.

I’m unsure when I should turn and head in a different direction. Instead, I continue to follow Nadine. And when she pulls into Nights, I’m right behind her, well, a few car lengths back, so she doesn’t know it’s me. I watch as she turns into her apartment parking garage and resist the urge to follow. Driving past, I make my way toward my apartment.

I pull into my parking spot and let out a heavy sigh. How the fuck am I going to disappear if I stay in town? Maybe there is a way that I can work from home, and then she wouldn’t be the wiser.

Fuck. I don’t know what to do.

Instead of staying in my car, I unfold from the front seat and lock it up before I head up to my place. Walking inside, I look around and wonder how the fuck it could feel so empty when I was only gone for a day and literally nothing inside has changed.

Pressing my lips together, I slam the door behind me, lock it, then walk over to the freezer. I pour myself a glass of whiskey, sit down in a chair, and sink down. Bringing the glass to my lips, I stare straight ahead at nothingness as I drink.

I’m not sure what the fuck I’m going to do, but I do know that I can’t just leave Nights, not if Nadine is here. I’ve never felt this sensation before. The push and pull, the absolute chaos of mymind right now. It’s not organized or controlled. I’m spiraling, but I can’t leave her. I said I would, but I’m a goddamn liar.

I reach for my phone to call Theron. He answers within two rings, and instead of greeting me with a hello, he clears his throat and thanks me.

“She’s back,” I state.

“I know. She already texted Lucille and Colette. They’re getting together.”

I press my lips together. “I don’t know how long I can stay here in Nights, but I promised her that she wouldn’t see me any longer, so I need to work from home.”

“How about on the road?”

There is a moment of silence. I think about his question. I have no idea what the fuck that entails, but before I can ask him, he continues.

“We’ve got a list of the men on that drive. We’re compiling data. I want them all ruined. I don’t want any of them looking for Nadine.”

“You think they would?”

“Now that Tate is dead? Absolutely. Tying up loose ends is what these people do.”

He’s right. I know he is, but it would be nice not to have any more of this shit on our plates. It would be nice to be able to move on from the sick perversions of men. But no matter how many times we try to climb out of that world, we’re sucked right back in.

“I’m not Vaughn,” I say, referring to the fact that he is a hit man for hire.

Theron hums, then chuckles. “I know, and I would never ask you to be. But you can get information for the girls and for Vaughn if need be. Some of these men are prominent, and that makes things a bit easier. Some are underground.”

“I can do that. It will take my mind off things.”

Theron doesn’t confirm or deny my statement. Instead, he continues speaking, telling me that he’ll send me a list of names along with whatever information he has already found on them. Most of them have not been able to be located just by searching around digitally.

“And you can do without me for a while? I’m not sure how long this will take.”

“I’m good here. Everyone is back from the shit they were focused on, we’re going to rework schedules, and we’re also going to make a deal with the Willow Club and get that off our plates.”

“Yeah?” I ask.

He chuckles. “Brody and his men are going to take over completely. They’re going to pay us rent. That triple net lease shit where we do nothing but collect money. It will, without a doubt, pad our accounts and beef up our portfolio.”

“I like that a hell of a lot.”

“You know, any time you want to come back to the office, you’re more than welcome, no matter what happens.”

I know that.

But at the same time, I can’t.

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