Page 122 of Voracious

I’m about to tell him I don’t give a shit when he waves his hand around.

“I know, I know, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have fawned over you and told you I loved you then had sex with someone else. It was wrong of me. If it makes you feel any better, I’ve only had sex with three pe—”

“Did you force yourself on her like you did me?”

“I swear to you I won’t fuck anyone else. It’s you. It’s always been you, sweetheart.”

“That doesn’t answer my question. Did you hurt her? Was it consensual?”

Chris looks offended. “Why would it not be consensual?”

God, this asshole is delusional. “You know what? Never mind. You’re more of a lunatic than I thought.”

“It was consensual, I promise. I have a video, if you don’t believe me.” Chris catches my bound fists aiming for his face, and he lets out a laugh. “I’m kidding! I’m kidding!”

“I can’t wait until you’re in prison, or even better – dead.”

“You’d be devastated, don’t lie.”

Sarcasm fills my tone as I say, “My heart breaks thinking about all the peace I’d get.”

The music on the radio cuts out, and a steady voice takes over. “We have an emergency announcement. Reports say that Tobias Mitchell has escaped his institution.”

I gasp, and Chris snaps his gaze to the radio. “The murderer and psychopath was given a life sentence over twenty years ago.”

There’s a short pause, and I chew my lip nervously while Chris turns up the volume.

“I would like to stress to everyone that this individual isextremelydangerous and may not be in touch with reality. Do not approach him. If you have any information on his whereabouts, please contact your local station.”

There’s a deadly silence between us, butterflies replacing the sickening feeling in my stomach. My heart restarts as a breath shudders through me, attempting to pump blood through my very still body.

Words likedangerousanddeadlyandin possession of a firearmfill the silence between Chris and I, echoing over the engine as Chris pulls over to pay more attention. Apparently, they found a note in his bed, a repetitive mantra about saving him, her and them, and the specialists have come to the conclusion that Tobias Mitchell is no longer on his meds and maybe hasn’t been for a while.

I want to cry – he was doing so well with therapy and behaviour. He’d even started to accept that he and Aria would never be a couple again.

For a while, he’d believed that they could still have a happy, calm and carefree life together. That they’d watch their kids turn into parents, their grandkids running wild on the grounds while he told them the story he wished was theirs but wasn’t.

He had photo books upon photo books filled with pictures of the twins over the years, and all the letters Aria had written to him when she couldn’t visit. He let me read one once, and it was filled with all the praise and love that’s kept him going for the last twenty years.

And now all of the progress he’s made is gone.

“The individual is believed to have been planning this escape for many years and constructed an escape route by digging into the sewers from a broom closet.”

I shake my head and tug at the ropes again, using the pain of my burning wrists to distract me from getting upset. Chris will only assume I’m in love with him or something equally insane.

I’m both terrified and disappointed, but what should I expect? His son is working for a disgusting woman and I’ve never missed a visitation. He’ll know there’s something wrong.

The first place he’ll check is my house, and when he sees all the destruction, he’ll assume I’m dead. And I have no idea what he’ll do. Maybe he’ll make sure Barry and his family are okay then try to find his son.

Chris wipes a hand down his face. “Jesus Christ. Is he going to look for you?”

I raise a shoulder. Chris looks deadly pale.

“Tell me the truth – are you sleeping with him?”

I scoff. “He’s my ex’s dad and over twenty years older than me – what do you think?”

“That means nothing to me. You fucked Kade’s brother. But fine. I’ll assume he has no interest in your whereabouts then. I already have Bernadette Sawyer on my ass – I don’t need him hunting for me as well.”

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