Page 6 of King of My Heart

My whole world comes crashing down. Because, while Sam always kept me at arm’s length, I had convinced myself it was to protect me, except it was actually because Nate was keeping him away. I was wrong all along. I’m so used to people falling for me. I’m so used to getting my way when it comes to love, that I have no idea how to accept rejection anymore. I fucked my way through all the people around me out of pure greed. Since I knew I could. And the one person I truly want? I was delusional; I made it all up. I thought he loved me because I loved him so greatly.

“Why would you kiss me if you have a boyfriend,” I rasp.

I want to know who he is. I want to know why he’s so special.

“Why would you do this?!” I shout in fury.

“I shouldn’t have. I’m sorry. I wanted to make sure there was nothing. I apologize for that.”

“You…you apologize?!” I imitate his pathetic accent as the rage takes over. “You’re fucking breaking my heart, but, hey…you apologize!”

I take out my phone and text my brother to come pick me up.

“I hope you have the life you deserve, Rose,” he says quietly. It makes me cackle a sarcastic laugh.

“I hope you fucking die on a job. One day, someone is going to ask you to kill the wrong person. And they will end you.”

He nods slowly. “I know.”

I shake my head and hurry to the door then stop dead in my tracks. “Who is it? What does he have that I don’t? Apart from a fucking dick.”

“Nothing. You’re perfect, you know you are. He’s just the person I fell in love with.”

I take a shaky breath to stop the tears from falling. I haven’t cried in so long. Sam willnotbe the one who gets them out of me.

“It should have been me,” I conclude. I walk out with my head high and close the door inaudibly.

This is unfair. Sam was mine. He was always mine. And some guy just took him from right under me.

The warm air that crashes into my lungs when I leave his building does nothing to help. I feel a little dizzy and hot from the argument, and the temperature is making it worse.

The street is quiet, the view of the river slightly calming. I lean against the barrier while I smoke a cigarette. That river leads straight to Stoneview lake on one side and the Silver Falls on the other. I could just jump in and let it take me somewhere nicer.

I sigh and look at my phone. This was meant to be a good day. I’ve got a missed call from Rachel and a text, making my heart drop from the shame and guilt.

Rach <3:Are you still coming? My parents want to celebrate with Conor’s family tonight. We’re leaving for dinner at 6:30.

I put my phone in my back pocket and huff the smoke out of my lungs. How can I face Rachel now? When I was ready to throw it all away for Sam.

Rachel is the love of my new life. Sam of the old one.

The first car I’ve heard in a while drives behind me and I look around. A black SUV with blacked-out windows. How not creepy.

I peer back at the river, finishing my cigarette and stubbing it against the sole of my sneaker, and then put it back in the pack. Let’s not pollute. I need to bring a nicer karma on me.

I turn around and freeze on the spot. That black SUV is back, driving slowly past me. I look around me. No one. No other car.

I shake my head and relax. It’s the middle of the afternoon, no one is going to fucking kidnap me now.

But I know.

I know something is wrong because that’s just how we women are. We grow up having to be careful. We learn to trust our instincts when we’re outside.

The SUV comes back to stop right in front of me, and I take a step back, but it all happens too fast.

The two men dressed in all black come out of the back door.

One grabs my arm as I try to run away.

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