Page 53 of Frank's Felon
“I need to do this,” she said, her voice too shaky. She sounded terrified.
“No, you don’t, Del,” he countered, throwing some strength into his own voice. If she heard any doubt in his voice, he wouldn’t have a chance to save her. “We’ll figure this out, together. But I need you to walk toward me, okay?”
Her right foot dragged along the dirt until it was at the very edge, beside her left. The wind was picking up, and she was shaking, but not from the cold. The temperature was well into the fifties. One misstep and she’d fall to her death.
“Please, Del. I can’t lose you,” Frank said, no longer able to hide his fear.
“I can’t go back to prison, Frank. I won’t.”
“We’ll figure it out. I promise.”
She was silent. Too silent. Frank stepped closer, and she turned to face him. Tears were streaming down her face. “I don’t know how to fix this,” she said, sounding so alone.
Frank’s throat tightened, threatening to cut off his words. “I’ll help you, baby. Please, just step toward me.”
She tilted her head and then closed her eyes. Frank lunged forward, grabbed her by her arm, and pulled her tight to him.
“Let me go! I have to do this! I have to do this,” she said as she tried to break free of his hold.
Frank sank to the ground, pulling her down into his lap. He couldn’t let go of her, despite how much she clawed and yelled at him. He threaded his fingers through her hair, trying to calm her. She was more like a hell-cat in that moment, desperate to get away from him, but he kept her locked against him.
His heart was still pounding so hard from the thought of what could have happened, but he could breathe again. She finally gave up her struggle and melted into his embrace.
He drew her scent into him, trying to calm his racing heart as his brought his mouth to her ear and whispered, “I don’t care what you’ve done, Del. I need you in my life.”
“I’ll never be whole again,” she cried. “Always be afraid. . .”
They sat there for a while, Frank holding her, stroking her hair and back. He couldn’t stop touching her, the need to reassure himself that she was safe was too great.
Her muscles finally relaxed as she curled against him. “I won’t go back, Frank. I’ll find a way to escape you.”
He stilled. “You should know by now; you’re mine. I won’t let you run from me.”
“I can’t be yours.”
“You can and you are. And I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you, including leaving here if it comes to that.”
Tear filled eyes narrowed, trying to assess if he spoke the truth. “The treaty. . .”
“I don’t care if it destroys the chance of a treaty. I’m not turning you over.”
Her eyes widened, in complete surprise. He shoved his pain down. She still didn’t trust or believe him. Maybe both. But he’d come to terms with that later. Right now, he had to take control of this situation before Del did something desperate. Again.
“You’re not going to turn me over to the DSA?”
“I won’t let them have you, but you have to promise that no matter how tough it gets, you’ll never try to kill yourself.”
Her mouth opened as her brows came together. Then she glanced over her shoulder toward the cliff. “I wasn’t going to jump.”
“You were standing on—”
“I don’t give up, Frank,” she insisted, with a resilience in her voice that helped him relax somewhat.
“I don’t understand.”
She wiggled, trying to extricate herself from his arms. She stopped struggling long enough to cup his cheeks. He couldn’t let her go. What if she tried to—
“I know I haven’t given you much reason to trust me, Frank,” she said, interrupting his dark thoughts, “but I need you to trust me now.”
