Inevitable (King Crime Family #2) - J.L. Beck Page 0,52
frozen.
Unable to move a muscle, I feel the walls closing around who I am. Around everything that happened between us.
The debt was settled, but our future wasn’t.
14
Amara
I’m so fucking stupid. I’m running from him, and by the silence surrounding me, he isn’t following me. Maybe he doesn’t care, maybe none of it matters, but I know if I can’t save him from his own mind, no one can.
I’ve dealt with so much in the last week. I’ve learned my mom had an affair, and James, Jared’s father was my own, and who I thought was my father, had secretly been in the FBI. He had been using me as a pawn in his own personal game.
“Why the fuck do I even care?” I growl to myself, falling to my knees in the park. I have been running for what seems like forever, but really hasn’t been more than ten minutes.
As I sink further into the ground, I wonder why I was even trying. Why I didn’t call Jared and tell him to take me as far away as he could and hide me. He asked, one time late at night. He said he would do anything he could to contain the sliver of happiness he had.
“You know someone like you, out in a park like this—not really all that safe.” A deep voice rumbles behind me. I turn around, staring into a pair of deep green, vibrant eyes. I know those eyes, the voice, and it did nothing to stop the sickness in my stomach from bubbling over.
“Who cares what is safe anymore.” I’m stupid—so fucking stupid. I know it, and Eli knows it, too. Maybe that’s why he’s here. Maybe Enzo called him to fetch me, or worse…
“Obviously, not you. There’s a basket case fucking man searching the hills for you, and you’re running in the park alone.”
“After all I’ve gone through, I almost want to fucking give up and turn myself in. Have you ever just been tired of running?” I ask, not really sure why.
Squatting down on his heels, he looks me straight in the eyes. “I live a double life, Amara. I’m pretty sure I have thought about running more than you ever have in your entire life.”
“Then, why don’t you?”
He smiles. “There is no point in running. If I run, I’ll be running forever, and what fun would that be? I wouldn’t get much sleep at night, having to look over my shoulder at every corner.”
It makes sense. Running is the same as sitting and waiting. Both cause a knot of anxiety to form in your belly. I guess all I really want is freedom.
“Did he send you to fetch me?” I growl, changing the subject.
“No. He doesn’t even know I’m with you right now.” His voice is calm, but something about the fact Enzo didn’t know sent shivers down my spine. I still can’t be certain if Eli is the good guy or the bad?
“Why not?” The wind picks up, pushing my hair into my face, and a shiver runs through my body.
“He didn’t need to know. After all, he is the one who let you go,” Eli says, stating the obvious. Has he been watching us?
“What is your plan in all of this?” My voice turns high-pitched, terror filling my mind.
“My plan hasn’t changed. I’m not here to kill you or hurt you, so calm down. I can practically hear your heartbeat through your jacket.” A sliver of amusement shows on his face, which does nothing to calm my nerves.
“Why are you suddenly so nice to me?”
“You’ve been with Enzo for too long if you think this is me being nice.” He smirks and stands up. Suddenly, I feel small and vulnerable on the ground, so I push myself up.
Coming to a stand, I dust off the leaves and head for a nearby bench. Eli follows, and we both take a seat.
“I shouldn’t have treated you the way I did at Enzo’s place.”
I wait for him to say more but realize quickly that’s as close to an apology as I’ll get.
“Okay, so why are you helping me now?”
“I’m helping myself. We simply have the same enemy right now.”
“I don’t believe you. That’s not the only reason.”
He studies me for a moment before deciding to tell me. “I consider Enzo my friend. Probably the closest I have. Mack was feeding me lies about you. I was angry, and I wanted to hurt you.”