Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 133531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 534(@250wpm)___ 445(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 534(@250wpm)___ 445(@300wpm)
Rory did her best to be very firm. This conversation wasn’t getting them anywhere. She wasn’t so sure about relationships and even Gideon. So much for feeling safe and having his understanding. She’d come to him feeling so hopeful, and now she just felt lost and alone all over again. She pressed her fist deeper into that knot in her stomach.
Gideon released her ankle immediately. “Sweetheart, just take a minute and think about this. I know it’s scary, but I’m right here with you. I can get you through this. We can face your past together, get through it, and then it will be over. You’ll know once and for all what happened to you and if you’re a threat to anyone. You’re a GhostWalker. I know you are. Everyone’s willing to help you. They’ll be able to ensure no one gets hurt and see what’s going on inside you that’s blocking your memories and maybe even what he did to your lungs.”
Everything in her stilled. She heard the clock on the wall ticking. Her heart beating. The taste in her mouth was bitter. Then ashes. She heard that crackling noise again, only this time it wasn’t her skin. She felt cold. Ice-cold. Wrapping her arms around her body, she rubbed her hands up and down the goose bumps.
“Everyone?” she repeated, her tone very, very quiet. “You told other people the things I told you in absolute confidence?”
12
Rory didn’t look away from Gideon’s silvery-blue, very focused stare, not for one moment. He looked every inch the predatory hunter. She had seen that look on many occasions; now she took heed.
“You told me this was a safe place, Gideon. You told me you were safe. I don’t know how many times you reiterated that to me. Over and over. You even said it to me tonight. You used your gifts. Your voice is compelling. I knew that, but I didn’t mind because I felt you were safe. I felt this place was. But all along, you were lying to me. It wasn’t safe to tell you things I’d never shared with another human being.”
“Red.” There was an ache in his voice—that one that had given her the first flag of alarm. Regret. Worry.
She shook her head. Ice entered her veins and moved to surround her heart. She’d never felt so cold in her life. “Don’t, Gideon. There’s no taking this back. No way to explain how you could tell me you wanted me to be yours, to make a life with me and then betray me. And what you did is betrayal. You didn’t talk to me first. You just went to however many strangers and told them everything I told you. It’s been hell for me living like this, and yet you had no problem spilling all the details to your friends. I hope you managed to entertain them.”
“Rory, you can’t believe it was like that.”
She stood up, and when he did as well, she glided away from him toward the door. “Here’s what we’re going to do. I’m going to block you from my phone. Your friends won’t call or text me either, and they’re going to stay away from me. If they don’t, I’ll call the police and file harassment charges. As soon as possible, I’ll be moving on. I don’t know when that will be because I have other things I’m dealing with. That isn’t your business, and you stay out of it. I don’t want to see you again. Or hear from you again. Not ever.”
“Rory, what’s happened to you isn’t going to stop. I can help you. The things I said to you weren’t lies. I didn’t handle this right, maybe that’s true, but Whitney is still around, and he’s dangerous.”
“You don’t have to worry that I’m dangerous to you or your friends. I won’t be around.”
“Damn it, Red. I meant every single thing I said to you. You can hear lies. You know I mean what I said to you. We’re meant to be together. Don’t do this, Rory. Stay with me.”
She did not deign to answer him. There was nothing to say. The crackling was far louder as the ice covered her heart, and it shattered into a million pieces. Head high, she walked out without looking back. She knew how to be alone better than she knew how to be with someone.
The fog had covered the night in a thick gray blanket of mist. She wanted to disappear into that mist and become part of it just for a little while so she could cry in peace, and no one would know.
Gideon followed her outside. “Sweetheart, please just listen to reason. You’re surrounded by danger. Harvey Matters and his crew. Whitney. We have no idea if the cops are dirty. You need someone on your side. I know I handled this all wrong, but I did it trying to help you.”