A thoughtful look. “No. He’s used to that kind of stuff. He’s just not used to worrying about what will happen to her when she grows up and starts dating. He’s already threatened to kill any man that touches her.”
Her eyes move back to the photograph in front of us. “So, he’s the devil now, is he? You keep upgrading him.”
The photograph is of me walking through the woods, a dreamy shot, hazy and gothic. I’m wearing a dark gown as the devil himself approaches me, his coat flying out, his horns prominent.
“He’s something,” I say, no strength to my voice.
“Do you miss him?” she asks.
Only truth rolls over my lips. “Every day. Even though I shouldn’t. He did something unforgiveable to me.”
Rebecca’s hand touches mine. “A bit of advice: if you have the opportunity and there’s a chance to try again, try to look past what he’s done. It’s not easy, but sometimes men like Harrison don’t know any better until they find the right woman to teach them.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I answer before silence falls between us for a few seconds.
Finally pulling her eyes from the photo, she looks at me. “Well, you’re two million dollars richer. I’ve been meaning to tell you all night. Every photograph has been sold.”
My skin bristles at the amount. “Let me guess. An anonymous buyer?”
Her lips curl into a grin. “Yes, and I’m bound by contract not to reveal the name.”
Not that it would be his real name, anyway. Probably just another one of his thousands of aliases.
Still, it warms my heart to know he’s paying attention. Two million dollars. A few more shows like this and I’ll be set for a long time.
“It’s getting late,” Rebecca comments. “Do you need someone to walk you to your car?”
“I’m fine.”
We give each other a hug before the lights in the room brighten, signaling the end of the night.
Leaving the gallery, I walk the city streets that are now mostly empty, only a few people passing by on their way to the bars.
I’m lost in my thoughts as I make my way to my car. Parking was a bitch when I arrived, so I’m a few streets down and around a corner, my heels clicking on the cement.
I’d hoped Ari would show up tonight, that it would be that moment in all the happy endings where we see each other across the crowded room and I cry and we talk and everything works out.
But it didn’t happen, disappointment riding my heart. I know he’s still out there, still watching. He has to be because nobody else would have paid so much for those photos.
Yet he doesn’t approach. Doesn’t care enough to try and argue why I should forgive him.
Rounding the corner, I pull my keys from the small clutch I’m carrying, my head lifting up when I notice movement in the shadowed alleyway beside me.
My heart beats hard, hope bursting inside me, but when I turn to see a pair of grey eyes looking back, I see green instead.
Grant’s lips pull into a sick grin. “You stupid fucking whore.”
Before I can move to get away from him, he reaches out to tug me into the alleyway, his hand covering my mouth so I can’t scream, his body slamming mine against a brick wall that scrapes the side of my face.
“Thought you could get away from me didn’t you? You thought you could embarrass me like you did and get away with it.”
His hand sneaks up my front to tear down the front of my dress and squeeze my breast. Tears burst from my eyes from the pain, my legs kicking to dislodge him.
It’s no use. He’s bigger than I am. Fucking enraged while I’m choking on fear.
Hot breath skates down my neck when he presses his mouth to my ear.
“Shouldn’t have made fun of the way I fuck you, Adeline. Where I’m taking you, I’ll have hours to show you what a good little whore you are. Your precious boyfriend won’t be able to save you this time.”
His arm lifts and something hard catches me in the side of the head. My clutch drops to the ground, my keys clattering beside it.
My body falls next, my eyes closing against my will as Grant picks me up to carry me.
Adeline
“What do you see when you sleep?”
Ari used to always ask me that. Usually when I was naked beside him, my body curled to the side of his, his fingers playing through my