Tryst (19 page)

Chapter 19

Bentley

Getting dressed to go to court, I smile as a text message comes through from Tristan, letting me know he’ll be back this evening. I shake my head and laugh a bit, knowing we went over his itinerary at least three times before he left. I know exactly when his plane is supposed to land, which gate he will be at, and accounting for traffic, how long it will take for him to get home. He’s driving me insane with his obsessive tendencies. I know he’s worried, but he’s damn near smothering me. It’s the reason I helped Ele convince him to go on this trip in the first place. I love the man, but he won’t even let me go to the bathroom without knowing about it.

After I finish getting put together, I send a message to Dante letting him know we need to leave in about a half hour. This day can’t end soon enough. The idea this whole nightmare might finally be over can’t happen soon enough.

Staring at the clock, watching as each second ticks by, I go looking for a distraction. Clicking the remote, an instant dread overcomes me. My mother’s face is flashing across the screen. The voice of the reporter barely registering, “Woman accused… skips bail… considered dangerous and possibly armed… police issue warrant for her arrest.”

I don’t wait for the rest of the report. I’m out of the room before I can even say shit. I can’t stay here. She knows I live in this town. It would take nothing for the wrong person to give her my address. I need to leave, now! Bounding up the stairs, I rip my suitcase from my closet and throw in everything I think is important.

A picture of Tristan and myself sitting on my nightstand haunts me. It’s likely I’ll never see him again, but I can’t risk putting his life in danger too. Not when she already knows what he did to expose her. I feel like my heart is shattering into a million tiny pieces as I grab the picture of the two of us and shove it into my bag. Not wanting to just walk away and leave him to worry, I take a few moments to write him an apology. I know I’m a chicken shit for running away, but after going through two days of the hell she orchestrated, I don’t think I could survive it if she accomplishes having me abducted again.

I try to find the words, but how do you tell someone you love you’re leaving to protect them, knowing you aren’t even giving them the option to object. I try my best to get the words out, knowing I only have a few minutes to get the hell out of here before Dante arrives.

Dear Tristan,

I’m so sorry. Just know that no matter what, I love you, I always will. I know you won’t understand this, but I can’t stay. I can’t allow my actions to endanger you as well. I think as long as we’re apart, she will leave you alone. After all, it’s really only me she wants to see hurt. I hope someday you will be able to forgive me. I don’t know where I’m heading yet, but I think it’s for the best you don’t know anyway. I think it’s best if none of you know. None of you should have ever had to worry about me. This was never anyone’s fight but my own. If she finds me even after this, then maybe it’s what was always meant to be. She always used to tell me, “I brought you into this world, I can take you out.” I guess now we can only hope she never makes good on her promise. I’m sorry for the pain I know this will cause you. Please know, it truly wasn’t my intention. I love you with all my heart.

Bentley

Placing the note on the table, I scribble his name across the page, and head out the door. I don’t even remember if I locked up behind me in my rush. As I speed down the road I see Dante pull into my drive. Before heading out of town, I make a large cash withdrawal. I want to make sure I have enough cash to leave as little paper trail as possible. The rest I transfer into a secret account I think will be more difficult to trace.  Tears stream down my face as I pass the airport, knowing Tristan will be landing in a few hours, and I will likely never see him again.

Tristan

I think I am out of my seat the moment the plane lands. I have so many little things to do before going home to see Bentley. The first being the jewelers, I need to get there before they close. Weeks ago, I went searching for the perfect ring, something that screamed Bentley. When I saw it, it was like a beacon on a lighthouse calling me forth. It is perfect, a white gold band with a square diamond in something called an asscher cut. It gives the illusion of something deeper. All around it is a halo of other small diamonds, and intricate designs and swirls are cut into the gold setting. I knew the moment I saw it, that it was meant for my girl. I would have taken it that day, but after doing a bit of probing, I knew it needed to be resized.  My other task was double checking the details I had arranged with Cage and Lith, having flown her in to be a part of this.

As I step out of the jewelers my heart is crashing against my chest, threatening to come out. I’ve never been so nervous in all my life, knowing this evening I’ll be asking the girl who stole my heart if she’ll agree to be mine forever.

A sinking feeling overcomes me, and I try to brush it off as jitters. What if she says no? What if she’s not as in love with me as I am her? A million what if’s run through my mind as I pull into my driveway.  I wanted to make the night really magical so I secured one of the piers at the beach, knowing it’s her favorite place in the world.  As I stand here, calming my nerves before I pick her up, Lith and Cage are decorating it with tea lights and rose petals. With it being a full moon, the light shining off of the water will make it even more romantic. I can only hope she says yes.

I’m staring out the window waiting for Bentley to get home. Her car hasn’t been in the drive since I got home early this evening, and we’re supposed to leave any minute now. Walking back to my bedroom, I go to shut off the T.V. I still had playing when a new bulletin pulls me out of my thoughts.

The need to puke is overwhelming as I see Darla Celeste’s face across the screen. My ears are buzzing as I vaguely catch the reporter’s words, “Police have no new leads…woman jumps bail… wanted in connection to abduction… woman hired undercover officer to kill daughter…” As the words repeat once again, my heart feels like its being ripped from my chest.

I don’t even remember how I got here as I pound on Bentley’s door begging for someone to answer, but knowing no one is there. I try the knob finding the door unlocked as the panic sets in. Taking the stairs two at a time I go straight for her bedroom and find it in disarray. Her things are strewn everywhere. Her closet is half empty, as is her dresser. A few things are missing that I know she’d never leave without. The pain washes over me as I slink back down her steps and slump onto her couch.

I’m tearing my fucking hair out, cursing to the wind and anyone else who might hear it when I see the letter on the table in front of me. The pain swells in my chest as I read and reread the words over again. She’s gone. I can’t fucking breathe. It’s like I’m suffocating as I place the calls to the people I’ve come to trust.

Dante said he caught her pulling out, but by the time he got back to his car she was gone. He couldn’t even tell me what direction she had gone in. I try her cell phone but the operator message came through alerting me it has been disconnected. My baby is in the wind and I have no clue where to start looking. All I know is I have to find her. I’ll never be whole again until I do.