Page 123 of Voracious

I don’t say a word as the radio talks more about Tobias escaping.

A random woman I’ve never heard of is speaking to the host about her experience with Tobias and the signs she knew meant he was starting to spiral. In my opinion, these details are far too personal to be aired, and I want to slap them both for laughing that ittook him long enough. She mentions that she’s reached out to Aria, but Dr Miller has yet to respond.

Then they go into a big discussion about their history.

Aria must be devastated. I want to call her, to contact Lu – ask if there’s anything I can do. But even if I could, all I’d do is make things worse.

I turn down the volume, and Chris lets me.

As much as Tobias is dangerous, he’s also vulnerable. I called him my big teddy bear once, and he thought I was trying to offend him. He’s a loose cannon when he’s not under control and lets his dark side take over, but most of the time, he just wants to talk about his lost love and read a book.

His dark side – an evil motherfucker according to Aria – the Toby of Tobias – will stop at nothing until he has her to himself. He’ll most likely look for her, maybe even put a bullet in Ewan’s head, and then delude himself into thinking Aria will choose him – exactly how things played out over twenty years ago.

I have no idea how I manage, considering everything that’s happening, but I fall asleep with my head against the window.

“Give me my phone,” I demand, my hand out – waiting.

Chris looks at his friend, who’s studying the burn marks circling my wrists, and lies, “I don’t have your phone.”

“If you think I’m getting on a flight with you without letting anyone know where I am, you can think again.”

The guy, who has shaggy hair and a beard, steps forward. “So this is your girlfriend?”

Chris nods before I can say no, and his friend adds with an outstretched hand, “Nice to meet you. I’m Edgar.”

I’m in such a snotty mood that I want to mock his name, but I hold back any immature response. “Give me my fucking phone!” I shout at Chris instead as he pulls on his jacket and makes sure our fake passports are in his bag.

He sighs. “As you can tell, she’s on her period.”

I punch him across the face, and Edgar pretends he doesn’t see as he goes back into his gaming room and mumbles a quiet, “Goodnight.”

I punch him again, and he grabs my throat and slams me into the wall. “Stop fucking hitting me!”

I snarl. “You’re lucky that’s all I’m doing!”

Two hours later, I’m sitting on a flight to Scotland with my arms crossed, Chris by my side, refusing to listen to a word he says.

I sleep most of the flight – or at least I pretend to.

Chris tries to take my hand when we get to the family lodge – tries to help me up the steps, but I push him. “Fuck off.”

He sighs. “You need to stop being mad at me.”

“And you need to accept we’ll never work and let me go, but here we are.”

He tosses down the bags with a temper. “Can you just fucking behave for one minute? Do you want her to get you? I might not be your knight in shining armour, but I’m the only person able to keep you safe. I’ll give you my word that I won’t touch you. I’ll promise not to even think about it. But in return, I need you to let me keep you hidden without fighting me on it – preferably keeping you alive in the process.”

He steps forward, and I stiffen.

“I’ll make a deal with Bernadette. I’ll reach out in a few days. Your life for her stupid files, and you’ll be safe. Kyle will stop threatening me, I can go home to my mother and all will be good in the world.”

“Why?”

He throws his hands out. “Why what?”

“Why are you trying to protect me?”

He chews his lip, grits his teeth and turns around with a shake of his head. “I looked into Bernadette Sawyer’s files. She’s demonic, Stacey. You think I’m bad? She has recordings upon recordings of shit I never want to look at again. If she gets her hands on you, she’ll destroy you, and I’ll never see you again. Despite your hatred for me and the stupid mistakes I’ll continue to make, I do love you.”

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