Takeoff (Open Skies #5) - Becca Jameson Page 0,37

people? No wonder Raeann was so freaked out by the return of these crazy bitches in her life.

Raeann dropped her arms and swiveled to face Deacon. “You have to leave.”

His eyes shot wide. “Why would I do that?”

She pointed toward the front of the condo. “If those people see you with me. If they find out who you are. Deacon, they will fucking terrorize you. I mean it.”

He shook his head. “I’m not leaving, Rae. Not a chance.”

Hendrix sighed. “I know this is stressful, but don’t chase away your support system.”

Raeann ran a hand over her hair and tipped her head to the floor. She took several deep breaths.

Deacon wanted to step closer, pull her into his arms. Anything. But he didn’t think she would welcome the contact right now. So, he remained where he was.

There were several long moments of silence before Hendrix spoke again in a calm voice. “Tell me what to expect here, Raeann. What happens next? What do they want? What’s their goal?”

Raeann lifted her face and looked at Hendrix. “They won’t stop until I’m dead.”

Deacon shuddered.

“You think they’ll kill you?” Parks asked.

Raeann let out an eerie laugh. “God no. They want me to do it.”

Deacon’s heart stopped. Jesus.

More silence.

Deacon inched toward her, but she stepped farther from him without looking, so he stopped. Though it killed him.

“Okay. So they think they can harass you until you commit suicide?” Hendrix asked, though it wasn’t really a question.

“Or end up committed. Like my mom. After all, in their minds, I need to be committed. I’m a threat to society with my evil ways. I need to be removed and locked up. And the problem is that they’re very successful. They’ve managed to get dozens of people committed. They work tirelessly to make someone’s life miserable until that person can’t stand to bother fighting it anymore, which proves their point.”

Parks made a strange gasping noise. When Deacon glanced at him, he found the man stunned, his expression wide with shock.

Hendrix shot him a glare as if to say, “Pull it together, man.” She moved in front of Parks, cutting him off from Raeann’s view. Good move. Not that Deacon blamed Parks for his reaction. Deacon understood completely. He was fighting hard to maintain his own composure.

Hendrix drew in a deep breath. “I’ll get someone to patrol the area as frequently as I can. I don’t think you should continue to stay here though. Is there someone you can stay with?”

“She can stay with me,” Deacon blurted.

“No.” Raeann shook her head. “Not a chance. They’re not chasing me from my home. Not today. I will have to move, and I’ll work on that, but not today. It’s not safe for me to stay with someone else either. It just makes them a target.” She didn’t even look at Deacon.

His chest hurt. “Rae…”

She shot him a glare finally. “No.”

“I’ll put in for a transfer at work and see about changing my name this time. It will take me a few weeks, but I’ll figure it out.”

Deacon’s heart sank. She was leaving. Realistically, he’d known this would eventually happen. But it felt so overwhelming. She was slipping away from him. So fast. Too fast.

He could hardly focus on everything else that was said. The cops left and Raeann leaned against the door. She didn’t meet his gaze. “Deacon…”

“Don’t. Just stop.” He grabbed the back of his neck and stretched. The world was spinning too fast.

She sighed and lifted her gaze. “I told you—”

“You told me what exactly?” He didn’t know why he felt angry or why his voice was rising. He had no reason to be mad at her. This was not her fault. Except she was cutting him off. He could feel the distance growing between them as if he were no longer standing feet away from her but rather a mile.

He shook his head. He didn’t want to hear what she had to say. “Let’s eat the pizza.”

She stared at him. “I’m not hungry anymore.”

“You need to eat.” It was lame. He felt like she was sand in his hand. Slipping through between his fingers. In a minute, he was going to be left with one grain. She’d already made up her mind to change her name and leave.

And why was he so desperate? It wasn’t like he could have her. Jesus. “You’re seriously going to ask for a transfer?”

“Yes. I’ll do it tomorrow.”

“Rae…”

She suddenly stood straighter—stiffening, rigid, every ounce of moxie returning. “Deacon, this is my life. We