“I took her to her friend’s condo at the beach.”
She wasn’t there. I’d called Jewel... wait. He’d taken her there?
“Did you see Jewel? Did she actually go into a condo?” I asked, hoping that I’d been played by that crazy ass friend of hers.
“Yeah, I carried her bags to the door. Jewel came outside squealing and all happy to see her. Then I went back,” Ethan began.
The words that he went back sent off a possessive blaze of fury. I shrugged off Beau’s grasp and stalked over to tower above Ethan, “What does that mean? You went back?”
“Not so fast. He ain’t finished. Don’t f**k him up now,” Beau growled, hooking his arms in both of mine from behind and pulling me back.
Ethan wiped at his forehead nervously and gulped. “Listen man, I didn’t know. I thought you’d moved on. I didn’t know how you felt about Lana. When I came to your house Saturday to talk to you about Lana that was the first time I realized that I’d made a huge mistake helping her run away. So, I went back. I was going to fix it. She wouldn’t listen to me. Hell, I couldn’t even say your name.”
“She was there? When did you go?” I was backing up. I needed to know. I had to get to her.
“She’s there. At the condo. Condo unit 103. Kiva Dunes,” he called out and I started running for the door.
Then the words from the phone conversation with Jewel came back to me, “In the meantime you could come visit me. I’d make you real happy. I’m staying at Kiva Dunes condos on West Beach. Unit 103. My room is on the far corner looking straight at the water instead of the windows facing the pool.” The crazy bitch wasn’t so crazy after all. I’d bet my ass the room was Lana’s. Jewel was trying to tell me without ratting out Lana. Beau was right. Lana was careful with who she let get close. Jewel was one helluva liar though. I’d completely believed her. The dumb blonde thing she had going really threw me off.
I reached for my truck door and realized my hands were shaking. I knew where Lana was. And I was going to get her back.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Lana
I couldn’t stay in this room one more night. Of course, I didn’t want to go out into that wild mess either. Before it got too carried away, I locked the door to my room and went to the window to escape. I didn’t want anyone making themselves at home on my bed while I was out. I didn’t think any of them would attempt to get in the window. I’d been locked away for two weeks. Everyone knew, by now, that my room was off limits.
Making sure no one saw my escape, I headed down to the water. Just a long walk to stretch my legs and breathe in the clean ocean air and then I’d head back to hole-up for the night. Maybe I wouldn’t be so restless tonight. Breaking into a jog, I pushed all those memories that tended to creep in when I let my guard down to the back of mind. I imagined myself running from all of it. Leaving it in the past as my hair flew out behind me. Silent tears streamed down my face as I let it go... one memory at a time.
Sawyer
This place was like a frat house. I didn’t like that. I didn’t like it at all. I started to knock on the door when music pounded through the thin walls. Some bikini-clad girls leaned over the railing on the second floor and called out what all they wanted to do to me if I’d just come on up. Shaking my head, I headed for the corner room that faced the ocean.
A guy had a girl pressed up against the side of the building and I was more than positive they were having sex. This crap had surrounded Lana for two weeks. I was going to kill Ethan once I got back home. She didn’t belong here. If someone had touched her... I stopped myself. I couldn’t do this. I had to win her back. If I went all caveman, she would fight me.
Turning the corner the window facing the ocean greeted me. I glanced at the other windows to this unit and they all faced the pool. It had to be Lana’s room. I knocked and waited but there was nothing but silence. The lights were off. Could she actually be somewhere in this wild bunch of people? I reached down and thought I’d check and see if the window was locked. It wasn’t. Not smart, Lana. Didn’t she know better than to leave her windows unlocked? Anyone could have gotten in. I didn’t want to think about it. I needed to focus.
Pushing the window open, I stepped inside the room and the sweet smell of her perfume filled the room. Jewel had given me directions straight to Lana and I’d missed the cue. The room was empty. I glanced over toward the door and realized it was locked. So, she’d escaped through the window. She wasn’t at this party.
She’d be back. I just needed to wait. I was close. Sitting down on the bed, I reached over and took a pillow. Holding it to my nose, I inhaled. God, I missed this smell. Burying my face in her scent, I sat watching the window... waiting.
Lana
The tears were dried on my face as I made my way back to the condo. I’d run for over an hour. My lungs burned and my legs would probably feel like Jell-O tomorrow. I wasn’t big on exercise so this was gonna hurt.
Pulling up my window, I stepped inside to find someone sitting on my bed in the dark. Naturally, I screamed.
“Lana, it’s me.” Sawyer’s hands were on my arms instantly. Sawyer... Sawyer was here.
I stood frozen, trying to decide if I’d passed out from the running and this was a dream.
“I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m sorry.” The words “ I’m sorry,” snapped me out of my shocked haze and I jerked out of his grasp and moved away from him and toward the door quickly.
“Lana, please don’t. Please listen to me. Don’t shut me out. You have no idea—”
“I have no idea? Me? Yes, I have an idea. I want you to leave. Do you understand me? LEAVE. I. Do. Not. Want. To. See. You.” I was yelling but I knew no one would hear me over the noise outside.
“Lana, please,” Sawyer begged and walked toward me hesitantly. I closed my eyes and crossed my arms protectively over my chest. I hated how the pleading sound in his voice pulled at me.