Page 83 of Ruthless Salvation
I couldn’t for the life of me fathom what she was thinking.
“I’m on it.” I tossed the phone on the counter and threw on some clothes.
This game of cat and mouse ended now, one goddamn way or another.
Present
“Mommy,why’s she wearing sunglasses inside?” A cute little girl in pigtails and a mermaid swimsuit stared at me while her mother shoved their belongings into a locker.
The woman sat tall and spun around, lifting horrified eyes to me. “I am so sorry,” she said before tugging her daughter close. “Cici, what have I told you about talking about people?” The hushed whisper almost made me smile. Had my heart not been in my throat, I would have.
Properly chided, the poor little girl chewed on her lips and turned away, sneaking one last peek at me.
She was right to be curious. I’d been so intent on my mission that I’d forgotten to take off the darn things. On my way out of Keir’s place, I had nabbed Rowan’s hat, sunglasses, and coat. I didn’t want anyone to recognize me before I made it out of the city. I didn’t even take a chance with public transportation. A ten-minute cab to the YMCA, five minutes to grab my emergency bag from the locker room, and then I would be gone. Nothing but a bitter memory to everyone I’d befriended.
My vision blurred with tears.
Maybe the sunglasses weren’t such a bad idea. I left them on as I unlocked my locker and grabbed the black Swiss Gear backpack. A glance inside assured me everything was as I left it months ago. I slung the bag over my shoulder and closed the locker door. A strangled cry wrenched from my throat at the sight of Torin on the other side.
“Mommy, boys aren’t allowed in here,” the girl whispered loudly.
Torin tore his gaze from me. “I need to talk to my friend for a minute.”
The woman seemed to understand it wasn’t a request. She nodded, gave me a worried look, then tugged her daughter from the room. I stood inhumanly still and prayed that a sinkhole might open and swallow all of Manhattan. Anything to escape Torin’s wounded stare.
“Why, Storm?” His chill penetrated my clothes and sank deep into my bones.
I slid off the glasses with my trembling fingers.
I was so damn scared that I couldn’t string words together. My lips parted, then shut. What was I supposed to do? What did I tell him? I couldn’t see a way out without telling him the truth, but that terrified me. Would he become enraged? Would he try to hurt me?
Growing impatient with me, Tor pushed again. “You so afraid to tell me you were married that you’d rather leave?”
“What? No, I … that’s irrelevant.” Completely thrown, I scrambled to catch up. Torin had learned I was actually Damyon’s wife. How? What had happened in the night? At least I now had one less secret to unload.
He scoffed. “Your husband sure doesn’t agree.”
“I don’t care what some piece of paper says,” I shot back at him, a tendril of anger sparking to life. “I’mnothis.”
“Then why, Storm? Why’re you runnin’ from me?”
“It’s not you.”
“Sure feels that way. I told you I’d protect you.”
“But what if you can’t?” I pushed, feeling my emotions fraying at the edges.
He took an angry step forward. “You won’t even let me try.”
“Because it’s not just my life at stake,” I cried back at him, my hand falling inadvertently to my stomach.
Torin was too observant not to notice. His gaze flicked down.
In the time it took a human heart to squeeze out a single beat, a lifetime of emotions crossed behind his eyes. So many, so fast, I couldn’t tell what would win out.
Please, don’t hate me, Tor.
My eyes squeezed shut as a wave of fear—a devastating, new sort of fear unrelated to Damyon—threatened to swallow me whole.