Seeing her face now covered by her hair and breathing heavily, he took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Chloe.”
As she desperately tried to get her breath and nerves under control from almost being kissed, she kept her eyes on the ground. Then she opened her car door to escape the closeness between them.
He watched her get in and grabbed the door before she could close it. “I shouldn’t have tried that without asking. Please forgive me.”
Taking a deep breath, she hoped to find the words.
“I-it’s okay.” She just needed to get away for space. After being surrounded by so many people all night, it felt like it was hitting her all at once. “I-I promise.”
Amo stared at her for a moment then swiftly nodded his head. “Happy Birthday, Chloe,” he told her right before shutting the door.
Watching him walk away, she dug her nails deep into her palms. She thought she had been doing so good tonight, almost like she wasn’t plagued by human contact.
I thought for once I might be normal …
Drawing first blood only made her dig deeper.
I thought for once I wasn’t a freak.
Fuck! Fuck! FUCK!
Amo could hear the clock ticking. Time was almost up. He had been so careful to go slowly with her, working day in and day out to get her used to him. Now that his time was almost up, he had been getting ballsy, trying anything to get close to her. However, he was afraid he might have gone too far.
He couldn’t help it. The second he had seen her in that black dress that clung to her curvy figure, he had wanted his hands all over her body and his lips all over her beautiful face. Every day he spent with her, he just fell deeper and deeper, finding something different to admire about her.
To him, she was perfect, inside and out.
All he wanted was for Chloe to stay and continue their friendship. If he could get her to do that, then he could be patient and take as long as she needed for them to become more.
I would wait forever for her if that’s what it took.
Thirty-Six
That Way, He Knows I’m Really Gone … And I’m Not Coming Back
“Have you finished packing?”
Chloe zipped the large suitcase closed, struggling to slide it from the bed. “Almost. I have so many clothes, they won’t fit.” She stared at the two suitcases that were already filled, the zippers threatening to break. “Do you have a suitcase I can—”
“I need the ones I have. Besides, they won’t match,” her mother snapped.
Her suitcases are black. How wouldn’t they match? Her mother knew she wouldn’t ever see any of her suitcases again if she lent one to her. Just like Chloe had no plans to see her once she boarded the plane to California.
“That’s okay. I’ll run out tomorrow and buy one.” Chloe sank onto the edge of her bed as her mother walked around, surveying the sterile room that had been her bedroom since her father had moved her into this house after becoming mayor.
“You’re going to take that broken music box?” she asked resentfully, looking at it sitting on her nightstand waiting to be packed.
The music box that no longer played had been her late aunt’s, the one who died while giving birth to her. She had taken one look at it and fallen in love. She could still remember opening the present her father gave to her, turning the key, and listening to the tune over and over again until her mother had made her stop.
“I’m going to pack it in my backpack with my laptop as a carry-on. I won’t have to worry about it getting more damaged.”
“Well … I’ll go. You don’t need my help. Good night.”
Chloe sat on the bed, watching the door close and wanting her ghost tears to be real. Neither of her parents were going to miss her. She could see them going out to eat in an expensive restaurant and toasting to each other that she would be gone when they returned home.
Ring.
Chloe picked up her phone from her nightstand, and Elle’s voice came over the phone.
“Are you still awake?”
“Yes. What are you still doing awake?”
“Nero decided he wanted pizza. I have to go get my parking permit for college the day your flight leaves. What time is your flight?”
“Eleven a.m.”
Elle let out a breath. “That’s good. I can pick up my permit after one.”
“I told you, you shouldn’t come. We will just stand around, crying.” She’d had this conversation with her so many times. It was going to be too hard on both of them if she came. When the tears didn’t fall down her face, it was going to break Elle’s heart.
“How about we do something tomorrow? You know I’m going to see you before you leave, Chloe.”
She shook her head. “But I have to finish packing and go to the mall to get a few last minute things and buy another suitcase—”
“Okay, then I will meet you at the mall tomorrow.” Elle’s voice held a smile.
Dang it … Even if she protested, Elle was going to be there.
“You’re not going to make it easy for me to leave, are you?”
“Nope!” Elle said, her smile more prominent through the phone. “Listen, you know Nero and Amo want to come to say one last good-bye, too.”
Chloe had somehow expected her to say that. She wasn’t sure if she could face Amo again, not after last night. The almost kiss had been a disappointment for Amo, but to her, it had been the only way she could live with herself. Staying in Kansas City wasn’t an option. She had watched Elle protect her through high school, and she wouldn’t watch another friend get hurt because of her.
Say good-bye to him.
It was going to be her last chance, and this way, everyone would be there. It wouldn’t be so awkward.
Chloe huffed loudly through the phone. “Who are you going to boss when I’m gone?”
A mischievous laughter came through the phone. “I plan to harass you by text message. See you tomorrow!”
Chloe lay down on her bed when the call ended. The thought of seeing Amo again was making her nervous. However, she wanted to say good-bye to him officially.
That way, he knows I’m really gone … And I’m not coming back.
Thirty-Seven
A Choice Must Be Made
Chloe and Elle sat in the food court, watching Nero and Amo get food. She had insisted on getting her own food, but Amo wasn’t having it. The tension between them was still uncomfortable, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as if they had been alone.
“I can’t believe you’re actually going to leave.” Elle looked like she was about to get emotional. “I mean, I knew you would; I just thought you might change your mind.”
“You know I don’t want to leave you, but you know I can’t stay here, either.”
“I know. I just always thought we would be going to college together,” Elle whispered.
Chloe had, too. They hadn’t expected Elle to fall in love.
“If I hate it after a semester, I can always come back and go to the university here with you, and we can spend summers together.”
Elle started tearing up. “I’m just going to miss you so much.”
“Please don’t cry.” Chloe’s heart started to break. This was why she definitely couldn’t handle Elle going to the airport with her. “You will always be my best friend. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you, and I thank you for protecting me when I couldn’t. I love you, Elle.” She might not be able to hug her and show her love, but she could at least tell her.
“I love you, too, Chloe.” A tear dripped down her face.
Chloe smiled at her as they enjoyed this moment together. “Okay, now stop with the crying. You’re going to ruin your makeup.”
Elle laughed as she wiped away the tear.
“I hope I’m not interrupting,” a sweet voice butted in.
Turning, Chloe saw Nero’s sister Maria.
“Elle told me you were leaving, and I wanted to see you before you left. I hope you don’t mind. Pl
us, it was a good excuse to come shopping,” Maria joked, taking a seat beside Elle.
Chloe’s eyes traveled to the man behind her, and she held her breath when his blue-green eyes settled on her. She hadn’t seen him since he had gripped that bat in his hands. Truthfully, she hadn’t seen Maria since then, either.
Chloe, Elle, and Lake had been in Nero’s apartment when a gunman had broken into the apartment, expecting Maria to be there. However, she had been sick and hadn’t come. Chloe never liked to ask questions about why someone had tried to go after Maria, because she didn’t feel it was her business.
Maria was everything a girl ever wanted to be. She was tall, blonde, and looked like a supermodel. Chloe was convinced she was, considering she always came with bodyguards. Even though she enjoyed Maria’s company, she didn’t ever feel comfortable with her. After all, not only had she almost died the last time she had tried to spend time with her, but most of the time, Maria’s bodyguard ended up being Lucca.
She barely managed to pull her eyes back to Maria. “I-I don’t mind.” She twisted her hands under the table. “Thank you for coming.”
Chloe’s eyes moved back to the man who was now coming closer to the table. His dark appearance didn’t remind her so much of their last encounter. Instead, it reminded her of their meetings under the white gazebo in the Caruso’s backyard. The first time she had met him was the night Elle had been attacked while going to work. Elle had been terrified of him at the time, but she had also found him attractive. Any attractiveness she had seen in him had disappeared the night he had crashed a bat down ruthlessly, showing her his true self. Or so she had thought …
She had expected to be horrified and disgusted if she ever saw him again; instead, she found just found him … chilling.
Lucca’s cold voice shivered up her spine. “Still running away, darlin’?”
She slowly nodded her head, knowing exactly what he meant by running. He seemed to somehow always know the hidden secrets she kept locked away.
Amo came to the table then, setting down a tray of food in front of Chloe. He seemed to stare Lucca down for a moment before he took a seat beside her.
Lucca kept his eyes on Amo for an extra second before he turned his gaze back to Chloe. “Be careful out there, darlin’; you won’t have anyone to save you if you get into trouble.”
Watching him leave to take a seat at the table behind Maria, she saw he sat down, facing her. It felt like he was looking into her soul.
“Chloe, are you going to eat?” Amo’s voice finally had her looking away.
“Y-yeah.” Trying to shake off Lucca staring at her, she did her best to ignore him as she picked up some fries.
“Are you all packed up, Chloe?” Maria asked, stealing some of Nero and Elle’s fries that he had brought to the table.
She could see another scary man take a seat beside Lucca. Another bodyguard? She swallowed hard. Another bodyguard meant it was bad for Maria.
“For the most part.”
Lucca’s eyes had yet to move from her. You could always feel his eyes on you. It was like his gaze created ice on your skin.
“What time does your flight leave?” Amo asked as he slung his arm over the back of her chair.
She didn’t know why she looked at Lucca when he did that, but she could feel him wanting to slowly kill Amo. She had seen that look on him before when he had taken a baseball bat to a lifeless body.
“E-eleven.”
Amo leaned in closer to her, almost brushing her shoulder when he stole a fry off her plate. “In the morning?”
She could imagine it now, imagine Lucca killing Amo. It was like the fury in his death glare was painting a picture in her mind.
Somehow, she managed a nod. Between Amo’s close body and Lucca’s daggers being thrown from his eyes, she didn’t know what was going on. She wanted to rip her skin off; she was that uncomfortable.
I can’t take it! Quickly, she stood from the table, grabbing her purse. “I’m not hungry. I’m going to get my suitcase.”
“I can go wi—”
“No. Stay,” she cut Amo off then took a quick, calming breath. “I-it’s just right there. I’ll be back in a minute.” She quickly walked away, leaving stunned faces behind.
She headed to the luggage store that was right at the beginning of the food court.
Calm down, Chloe, she told herself, reaching the safety of the store that was far enough away from Amo and Lucca to breathe.
Staring at the suitcases, she managed to ignore what had just happened enough to pick the size she needed then wheeled it to the checkout counter. The line was so long it curved the registers. Waiting for her turn, she patiently stood. However, the longer she waited in line, the stronger a feeling came over her that she was being watched.
Looking around, she didn’t see them at the tables anymore. When she scanned the food court, she found Elle, Nero, and Amo waiting in line to get a pretzel. They loved the pizza pretzels and always had to get one to take home for later. She noticed Amo glance in her direction, but he wasn’t the one she felt staring at her.
Scanning the other side of the food court, she then saw Maria in a small shoe store with her bodyguard. However, Lucca stood by the shoe store door, watching the passerby’s until his eyes settled on her. Still, his stare wasn’t what brought the feeling that was taking over her body.
With it only getting stronger, she was about to get out of line, when a woman’s voice stopped her. “Will that be all?”
Nodding her head, she handed the sales clerk the suitcase to ring it up then her credit card, wanting to quickly leave. While the cashier charged her card, she looked out the window into the mall and met the eyes her nightmares were made of. Clutching the counter, she kept telling herself frantically she was imagining the face staring back at her.
“Here you go. Thank you. Come again.”
Chloe snapped her eyes back to the woman behind the counter then back to the spot she had seen … He’s not there.
Letting out her breath and trying to control her racing heart, she realized it had just been another figment of her imagination. Lucca is doing this to you.
“T-thanks.” She took her card and suitcase.
Many times, the devil haunted her sleep or even when she was awake. This time, it felt more real than usual. Only one other time had it felt so real, and Lucca had been there. See? It’s just him.
Coming out of the store, she rolled her suitcase behind her as she scanned the mall. She found Amo, Nero, and Elle checking out on one side of the food court, and on the other side, Lucca still guarded the shoe store with Maria.
Taking a step forward, she found herself freezing in place, a horrible feeling rocking through her body.
Stay still, little girl.
Bang. Bang.
Chaos ensued as gunshots rang throughout the air behind her. Screaming people ran as fast as their legs could take them to the exit at the back of the food court.
Nero protected Elle, running toward the exit, while Maria’s bodyguard protected her, also heading toward the exit.
Unable to find her legs, she felt like everything was going in slow motion as people ran past her.
Or it’ll just hurt worse.
“Chloe!” Amo’s voice boomed as he tried to move forward to get to her, but the running people were coming at him, making it impossible.
Her heart thudded once in her ear as she took a step toward Amo.
“Chloe, move,” Lucca demanded from the other side, fighting against the flood of people, trying to reach her.
Her heart thudded again, and she took another step forward, this time toward Lucca.
“This way, Chloe,” Amo pleaded.
“To me, Chloe!” Lucca demanded.
Time stood still before her as she looked at the two men desperately trying to fight their way to her. They both stood equal distances apart from her. Her mind felt pulled to the right toward Amo, yet her body felt pulled to the left toward Lucca.
As she looked at Amo, memories flashed before her …
Smiling proudly, he took his seat. “You thought I wasn’t going to actually sit beside you, didn’t you?”
Chloe’s answer was scooting her chair over to the very edge, though it didn’t give her much more room because he practically took up the whole table.
By his smirk disappearing, she could tell he didn’t like her answer very much …
… When a tray was extended to her, she looked up to see Amo holding it out for her. It was the first time she could see something that almost seemed nice under his rough exterior.
Slowly, she took it from him, having to look away as she did. She had grown almost used to the roughness of him, and seeing him differently for once seemed weird …
… “You know why they’re staring like that, don’t you?”
She looked to the floor. “Because they think I’m a fre—”
“No, you’re not a freak,” Amo snapped. He paused for just an instant before he said, “It’s because they’ve never seen me walk a girl to class before.” …
… “Place your hands on the table,” he whispered over to her.
She quickly shook her head and started to press her nails into the skin.
“Please, Chloe, I can’t take you doing that to yourself,” he pleaded.
When she glanced at him, it was the first time she really looked at him, like really looked into his eyes. They weren’t the black abyss staring back at her like she had always thought. They might have been dark, but they also had a lightness to them. Almost like a sparkle of silver running through giving them life. They were dark yet light, reminding her of yin and yang.
Taking a breath, she placed her hands on the table …
… The next song was louder than the last, making Amo lean down to whisper in her ear. “Will you dance with me, then?”
His breath was warm as it touched her skin, his body just a few inches away. It was the closest he had ever been to her, making the hairs stand up on the back of her neck.
Chloe (Made Men #3) Page 14
