Running Away With You (Running #3)

by Suzanne Sweeney

  “Don’t be scared, Jette.” He puts his hand under my chin and makes me look at him. “There are no more. This is it, the last one. I swear.”

  I mutter, “It doesn’t matter. I have no more money. I have no more rich friends. I can’t pay you. I have nothing left to give you.”

  He releases my chin and tucks a stray hair behind my ear. “That’s not entirely true,” he whispers in my ear. I feel his warm breath on my neck and it repulses me.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Oh, I think you do.” He walks over to the couch to collect the money I tossed. “You’re wrong about me. I can be reasonable. Maybe you have the money for one more deal, and maybe you don’t. So I’ll give you three choices. One – you make one final payment and we part ways, for good. Two – I sell it to the National Tattler for a hefty sum. Or three – we have our own private exchange between the sheets.”

  “David, please!” I beg. “I swear to you, I have no more money. Please don’t do this.”

  “I like it when you beg, Jette. Do you remember how good it was? I do. I’ve seen pictures of Big Mac doing that fucking Calvin Klein underwear ad, all ripped and jacked up. I bet his dick is a shriveled-up mushroom. He probably can’t even keep it up for very long. Wouldn’t you like to be with a real man just one more time?”

  My mind is sluggish. I’m having trouble thinking. I don’t know what to do. I walk over to the mini bar and fumble with the small bottles of liquor. I grab one at random, pour it into a glass, and force it down, hoping the effects will immediately help to calm me. Nothing.

  “That’s a good idea. I think I’d like to have a drink too. You know, just to take the edge off.” David walks over and joins me. He finds a bottle of JD and pours it into one of the crystal glasses, adds ice, and takes an experimental sip. “Mmm. Not bad.” His eyes rake over me, following the curves of my body, lingering on my breasts. “Have I told you lately how beautiful you are, Kitten? Each time I see you, I swear you’re more beautiful than the time before.”

  I don’t know what to do. All I do know is that there is no right answer. I cannot pay him, that much I know.

  What would happen if I allowed him to release the video and collect his money? Evan and I would face public humiliation and poor Reese would be dragged into my nightmare. I could deal with the public shaming, but what would it do to Evan’s career? He’d probably lose all his endorsement deals. Worst-case scenario, if they even suspected he was involved in pornography or extortion, he could be released from his contract with the Sentinels. We’d most likely lose customers at the restaurant and possibly even go bankrupt. Dozens of people depend on Rush for a living; they would all lose their jobs. The repercussions of my decision would be enormous and devastating.

  Suppose I sleep with him just this once? The only one harmed would be me. No one else would have to know. I’d be lying and betraying Evan, and I’d have to live with that. We’re not married yet. I could do this. I’ve faked it with David before. Just one more time and I’d be free.

  I grab another random bottle, pour it into my glass, and drink it down as fast as I can. “Okay.”

  “Okay what?” David asks.

  “I’ll sleep with you.” I take a deep breath and turn to face him. “Take out the SD card from your phone and give it to me.”

  With a smirk of satisfaction, he walks back over to the couch, grabs his phone, and opens it to remove the memory card. “Here you go. It’s yours.” I grab it from his hand, swipe the one still lying on the table, and walk them both into the bathroom. I toss them into the toilet and, without hesitating, I flush them. I stand there staring at the water as it swirls around, first emptying the bowl and then refilling it again. They’re gone. It’s over.

  I feel a pair of hands on my hips. David leans over and watches right along with me. He moves my long hair to the side and whispers in my ear, “I made good on my promise. Now it’s your turn to make good on yours.”

  He takes my hand and leads me through the sitting area and into the bedroom. He takes off his stupid baseball hat first, tosses it toward the chair, but misses. I turn away from David so he cannot see me laughing at him. Evan would never miss a toss from only a few feet away. I can’t look at him, so I walk around the room, closing the curtains and shutting the door.

  I hear his zipper coming down and the unmistakable sound of his jeans being pulled off. I still can’t look at him. How am I going to do this? How will I ever be able to look at myself in the mirror again?

  I take a deep breath and turn around. The room is dark thanks to the blackout curtains and the closed door, but there is just enough light for me to see him. The familiar form of his boyish body standing near the foot of the bed makes my skin crawl.

  He cannot hold a candle to Evan. He isn’t a fraction of the man Evan is. And that’s not just because of the obvious physical comparisons. David is deeply flawed and crushingly cruel, and I cannot imagine a woman alive who would find any redeeming qualities within him. Not now.

  I stand frozen in place as David removes the last of his clothing, leaving it in a messy pile on the floor. He climbs into bed, places his head on the pillow I am meant to sleep on, and motions for me to join him.

  “Enjoy the show?” he asks. He thinks he mesmerizes me, that I’m transfixed by him. Nothing could be further from the truth. “Your turn, Kitten. Take off your clothes slowly. You know how much I like to watch you.”

  I want to throw up. Thank God he cannot see me or the panic that must be registered on my face. I remind myself again of the reasons I’m doing this.

  He wants money that I don’t have. I will not take more money from Derek and I’m terrified to burden Evan with this right now. He wouldn’t pay, I’m certain of it. But what would Evan do? Would he let David go public and jeopardize his career, along with our restaurant? Would he take matters into his own hands and make sure David pays for what he’s done? I hate to admit the fact that he might, and it frightens me.

  I also have to consider Reese. Could I knowingly do this to her? She uprooted her entire life to help me launch my restaurant. Allowing this video to go public would be the worst possible thing I could do to her when I owe her so much.

  With shaking hands, I unbutton my blouse and allow it to fall to the floor. I place my hands on the button of my jeans, then I hear his voice. “Wait. Let me see you, Kitten.”

  I stop and let my hands fall to my sides. Although I can’t see him, I can feel his eyes on me, peering at me from across the room. I can feel my lips trembling, so I bite my lip to keep it from quivering. “Okay, keep going,” he tells me when he’s satisfied.

  I bend down to remove my shoes and I hear him; the sound of flesh against flesh in a slow methodical rhythm. He’s working himself up just by watching me. My heart is pounding so ferociously there’s now a ringing in my ears.

  I have no choice. This is what I have to do. This is what must be done. I’m afraid of what’s about to happen, but I’m more afraid of what will happen if I don’t submit.

  Not wanting to see him jerking off, I close my eyes and remove my pants. I stand up and straighten my shoulders, resigned to doing what has to be done. I stand there in my bra and panties, unsure of my next move.

  David sits up in bed. “Come here,” he demands. “I’ll help you finish.”

  I can feel the blood rushing up to my face. I’d never in a million years have imagined I’d willingly place myself in this position. I take a few cautious steps toward the bed, putting off the inevitable moment when I’ll feel his hands on me.

  “Yeah, that’s right. Nice and slow. Make it last. Oh, yeah,” he moans as he continues to pleasure himself.

  All too soon I find myself standing beside the bed. David reaches out for me and grabs my bra with one hand while he continues to hold on to himself with the other. I just can’t do this. I won’t do this.

  With a sudden burst of energy and conviction, I bend down, grab his clothes, and throw them at him. “Get dressed an
d get out of my room. Now!” I shout.

  “Oh, I don’t think so,” he growls. “Get your ass over here, Jette. You can’t stop now.”

  “Yes, I can,” I tell him, grabbing the phone off my dresser. “And if you don’t get out of here right now, I’m calling the police.”

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” David barks. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding. Do you know what you’ve just done?”

  David is now standing up with his clothes in his hand, staring at me, seething.

  “I know what I almost did. I almost ruined everything.” I start to dial 9-1-1, but I don’t hit send. “And I know what I’m going to do if you don’t get your fucking ass out of my room right now.”

  He quickly and clumsily pulls on his pants and shirt, muttering, “You have no idea what you’ve just done. You’re going to pay for this.” He grabs his shoes and storms out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

  The moment he’s out of my hotel room, I lock the door and brace it with my full weight, leaning against the door, as if I could do anything to prevent someone from forcing their way into my room.

  I listen to the hallway for what seems like an eternity and I peek out the peephole. He’s gone and he’s not coming back.

  I’ve just stirred up a hornet’s nest with David. I don’t think I could have fucked this up any worse. Now he’s not just pissed, he’s also horny and frustrated. And I’m certain he has more copies of the damned video.

  David does not make empty threats. If he says he’s going to make me pay, I’m sure he won’t sleep until he’s satisfied that he’s exacted his revenge.

  I grab a robe to cover myself and walk around my hotel room in a fog. Everywhere I look, I see signs of my betrayal: the pile of clothes I left on the floor, the sheets David left all tangled and disheveled, the closed curtains hiding my indiscretion from the world. I feel like the walls are closing in on me, strangling me. It’s suddenly hard to breathe.

  I’ve never felt this kind of anger before. Every muscle in my body is tense and I can feel my heart racing.

  Panic and urgency set in. I need to remove all traces of our meeting – immediately. The first thing I spot is the minibar. A pair of dirty glasses and a small pile of empty mini bottles need to be cleaned and discarded.

  Next is the bedroom. I open all the curtains and windows, hoping the sunlight and fresh air will sanitize the room. I know I won’t be sleeping in here tonight, so I make the bed and put away my dirty clothes. I’ll be sleeping on the couch tonight – if I can sleep at all.

  One by one, my senses come alive.

  No matter how much cleaning up I do, I can’t remove the pervasive smell of him

  His cheap cologne fills the air, seeping into my pores, reminding me of what I almost allowed to happen.

  I need a shower. I turn on the hot water and step into the tub. I scrub every inch of my skin until I can’t feel him, taste him, or smell him anymore. I soak until the pain dissolves. I have no idea how much time has passed when I finally feel whole.

  I open the bathroom door and stop dead in my tracks. Evan is sitting on my couch in complete silence. The television isn’t on and there’s no music playing. He’s just sitting there. Waiting. Holding a Colorado Rockies baseball hat.

  Chapter Nineteen

  You Get What You Pay For

  “Holy shit, Evan. You scared the crap out of me.” I place my hand on my chest and I can feel my heart beating wildly. Can he see the guilt and shame that I carry?

  Evan tosses the hat onto the table. “Let’s talk,” he pronounces, his voice flat and emotionless.

  I have to think fast; play dumb. “What a nice surprise. I didn’t think I’d see you until tomorrow.” I rewrap the terry cloth robe around myself and tie it tightly, trying to act as if nothing is wrong, as if nothing has happened. I grab two bottles of water from the mini fridge, offering one to Evan. “Want a water?”

  “What I want is an explanation, Juliette.”

  “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “Oh, I think you do.” Evan gets up and begins pacing around the room. “Whose hat is this and why did I find it on the floor in your bedroom?”

  I briefly consider telling Evan everything. If David makes good on his threat, and I’m sure he will, Evan is going to find out anyway. It’s probably better that he hears it from me. And he will, the moment we get home. This is not the right time and it is definitely not the right place. I need time; enough time to put a few hundred miles between him and David before I even consider telling him.

  “What? That old thing? That’s my Colorado Rockies hat. I went to school there, remember?” I’ve never been a very good liar; it’s just not who I am. I hate doing this, but I can’t backtrack now.

  “Why are you lying to me, Juliette? This isn’t your hat, and we both know it. It’s written all over your face.” Now Evan stands, staring me down. There’s a fierce look in his eyes that frightens me. I’ve seen that look before, when Evan saw me talking to Ryker, and that situation got out of control rather quickly.

  “Evan, you need to relax. I’m telling you it is my hat. I wore it on the plane this morning.” I take a few steps toward him, but he backs away from me. He’s fighting to maintain control by taking big, deep breaths. It’s not working.

  He brings the hat up to his nose and inhales deeply. He curls his lip, shakes his head, and tosses it to me. Instinctively, I reach out and catch it. As it travels through the air, I can detect the unmistakable scent of men’s cologne, Dumbass David’s cologne. “When exactly did you start wearing cheap men’s cologne? It smells like this hat just walked out of a fucking Hollister store.”

  That gives me an idea. I might be able to talk my way out of this after all, so I smile, big and wide. “Oh, Evan. They have a boutique downstairs. You must have seen it when you checked in. I was looking at the men’s cologne and some teenager spritzed me with a sample. That’s why I had to shower. I couldn’t get the smell off.” I bring the hat up to my nose and sniff. “It really is an awful cologne.”

  His eyes narrow as he considers my explanation. “You’re going to keep on lying to me, aren’t you?” He pulls out his phone and starts looking through it for something as my heart sinks and my stomach churns uncomfortably. “I’ve never seen this hat before, and you most certainly were not wearing it when I took you to the airport this morning. But even so, that doesn’t explain the text message I got from someone who saw a man leaving your room about twenty minutes ago.”

  I open my mouth to answer, but Evan stops me. He holds up his hand and shakes his head. “Wait, let me guess.” He walks around the room, thinking. “The television didn’t work and they sent maintenance up to repair it.” Walking right past me, Evan moves toward the minibar. “Or maybe it was the refrigerator.” He opens the cabinet door and peers into the garbage can, immediately spotting the empty bottles. Slamming the door, he barks, “Drinking during the day? What the fuck is going on? Tell me right now, or I walk straight out that door!”

  “Evan, there’s nothing going on. I swear.” I can barely hold back the tears.

  Evan looks right at me, and this time there’s a look of pure desperation on his face. “You’re hiding something. I don’t know what and I don’t know why. When you’re ready to admit it, let me know.”

  He opens the door and turns to me before he leaves. “You’re breaking my heart, Juliette. I hope whatever happened was worth it.” The door closes and he’s gone.

  Once I realize he’s really leaving, I race to the door and follow him into the hallway. He’s standing in the elevator, waiting for the doors to close. “Evan, wait. Please don’t leave. Not like this. It’s not what you think.”

  He pushes a button to hold the elevator door. “Was there someone in your room today?” he asks.

  I hang my head low, wrap my arms around my waist, and nod my head. “Yes, but you have to ... ”

  He interrupts. “Was he in your bedroom?”

  “Evan, listen
to me, please. Just let me explain.”

  “This isn’t an essay question, Juliette. It’s a simple yes or no. Did you have a man in your bedroom today?” The words come seething out from between his teeth like they’re poison.

  “Please come back inside, Evan. Please. Not here. Not like this.”

  “Yes or no. Just answer my question,” he impatiently demands.

  In a voice barely above a whisper, I tell him, “Yes.”

  Evan punches the inside of the elevator wall so hard, I could swear I hear a bone in his hand actually crack. “I have never, ever, even looked at another woman since we’ve met. I thought you were different. I thought ... I thought ... I was a fucking idiot.” The elevator doors close, and just like that, he’s gone.

  Doors up and down the hallway begin to open and faces peek out to see what’s going on. Horror-stricken, I run back to my room, shut the door, and fall to the floor trembling. Four words come to my mind, flashing like a billboard sign, and I rock back and forth, repeating them aloud over and over again, acknowledging the gravity of my situation. “What have I done?”

  Time passes without meaning or consequence. Eventually, there are no tears left to shed and I slowly rise off the floor and attempt to pull myself together. I stumble around blurry-eyed trying to find my phone, and when I do, it’s blowing up with missed calls and messages.

  There are at least a dozen from Auggie alone. He must have gotten my message and now he’s freaking out. In hindsight, I know it wasn’t very wise of me to leave him a message like that. He knows the emotional torture David put me through in the past and he must be worried sick.

  I try calling, but it goes directly to his voicemail. With no other options, I type out a short text to let him know I’m okay. I tell him that David left, we talked for a long time and came to an understanding, and that he won’t be a problem any more. I wait patiently, but get no response.