Page 39 of Far from Destined
He smirked. I hated the look on his face. It was always followed by pain. Emotional or physical. Either way, it hurt. And it was something I could never forget.
“I just wanted to say I’m not done with you yet.”
“I’m calling the police,” Pop said from behind me, and Adam snorted.
“Whatever the fuck you feel you need to do, go for it. I’m heading out. Don’t worry. But remember, I’m going to take what’s mine. This place? Couldn’t have done it if I hadn’t helped you back in the day.”
Just his mere presence put an oily sheen on the place I had built. I’d be damned if he cast shadows on it any more than he already had. “You have nothing to do with this.”
“I did. I can see you don’t understand that. But I know there’s something that Ididhave a lot to do with. Something youknowis mine. Something you’re hiding from me.”
Chills broke out over my body, but I did my best to ignore him. I had to.
I could not let him find where Joshua was. Joshua was safe at school, and Adam’s name was on the Do Not Let Near list. Sadly, it likely wouldn’t be enough. I tried my best not to hyperventilate, but he just sneered at me, and I knew he saw my fear. It was so hard to hide it.
“I’ll be back. And I look forward to getting to know what I’ve missed.”
He started whistling as he made his way out of my store, the place that wasmineand such an integral part of my life. I began to shake, and then Jason was there, holding me, pulling me to the back of the Boulder Bean while Pop was on the phone talking with the police.
“Breathe. Just breathe.” Jason sat me down and helped me put my head between my legs.
I tried to push him away.
“I’m fine.”
“You might be, but I’m sure as fuck not.”
That made me laugh. “Jason. I’m all right.”
“Okay. But first, you’re going to do this to make me feel better, and then we’re going to call your girls. And then we’re going to call Macon.”
I shot my head up. “You are not calling Macon.”
“Why the fuck not?” Pop asked, her phone still in her hand. “The cops are on their way.”
“I’m fine.”
Pop shook her head. “You need to report what happened. And youaregoing to call Macon.”
“I’m not. Macon isn’t part of this.”
“I think you’re wrong,” Pop said.
I pushed that away, knowing I needed to see my son before anything else. “I need to pick up Joshua.”
“Myra can do it. You need to deal with the cops, and then you’re going to meet Joshua at home. Everything will be fine.”
“Pop, you need to stop trying to run my life.”
“And you need to remember that you’re not alone.”
And with that, she huffed and headed to the front of the store. My hands still shook.
“I don’t need Macon.”
Jason shrugged. “Maybe not. But you do need to breathe. And you need to remember that we’re here for you.”
“I’m fine.”