The Hamptons is as dull as I thought it would be and Mico is like my parasitic shadow. He never lets
me out of his sight no matter what reason I give him for going out, even for lady’s products; he still
stands right there, three feet away as though I’m going to crawl under the tampon shelf and make an
epic escape.
Alexi left after that night and I haven’t seen him since. He was gone when I got up. and it’s been five
days with absolutely no word from him at all. Not that I should expect word as he never told me he
would contact me, and after he left I am certain I don’t want him to. I don’t ever want to see him again
after what he did to me and the furthest away I can get from him, the better. I feel nothing for him right
now, except hatred and loathing and if I never saw him again, it would be too soon.
I haven’t abandoned my plan of running. I withdrew as much money as I could every day for the last
four when we stopped at the cash line and concealed it from Mico, the nosy bastard that he is. I swear
now he is the man I have to deal with, and he actually talks, I am starting to see he is as bad as Alexi
for his need to know everything and bossy self. You can tell they are related.
Using my own account, not the credit card Alexi left for me to use on food and bills, I have managed to
squirrel a decent amount away. I’ve packed my money in the lining of my handbag and sewn it in along
with my passport, so if Mico looks he will find nothing. They don’t even know my passport is in my real
name, so I have always kept it concealed.
I aim to run first chance I get, and I don’t care where I end up. I have a baseball cap in my bag waiting
to be able to cover my tell-tale hair, and I am literally just waiting for that opportunistic moment that
Mico lowers his guard. I am always watching for it.
He’s taking me to the wine store to stock up Alexi’s cellar this afternoon, seeing as the group of five
security, that he doesn’t think is overly excessive at all for one little woman, has been boozing out the
last few nights from boredom and it is running low. I want some bottles of red to kill my nights if I am
stuck like this for a prolonged length of time. I might have to get drunk enough to attempt a climb from
my bedroom to escape at this rate, as Mico is bloody relentless at guard duty.
We walk into the wine shop and I immediately run for cover behind the nearest shelves when I spot a
very familiar blonde head, perky little frame and bubbly tone two aisles away and almost thrust myself
into a crate of bottles in a panic to avoid her. Surprise hitting me hard and self-preservation kicking in.
Mico looks at me like I have lost the plot and then his eyes scan the shop and a smile breaks across
his face.
‘’Arrick … Sophs … hey cuz.’’ He wanders forward and I glance around to see if the blonde really is
Sophie Huntsberger like I fear. Peeking out from my spot I catch sight of her turning and greeting Mico
with a hug, fully entangling her petite frame in the hulk of a grizzly bear. I almost forgot she is a part of
the Carrero family that all live here and I presume the tall handsome one with her is the Carrero she is
living with, Arrick.
I remember the name from that night Tyler’s men held us captive. I guess they are living their happily
ever after still, and she looks good. Healthier, happier and it churns up another bout of guilt for what I
did to her and I push it aside.
Sophie didn’t deserve the shit I threw at her. She was more of a revengeful knee-jerk reaction to liking
someone. I got petty, pushed her away for fear of giving a shit.
I watch safely from afar, cursing my luck at walking into the one girl in this place who would know who I
am and last time she saw me broke my fucking nose. Okay, so I deserved it after what I did to her, and
I do still feel a little bit shitty for trying to screw her over and drug her into a night of rape at one of my
client's hands.
Sophie was someone I started to genuinely like, and then I realised that I did and backtracked epically
to stop myself from ever being stupid enough to trust anyone. I pushed that girl down a well in a bid to
stop my weak arse emotions from the possibility of a real friend.
It’s obvious the boyfriend is a Carrero, it’s written all over him. He’s fairer than most with sandy hair yet
brown eyes and a softer jawline, but he’s related to Alexi alright. Stance, muscular form, quick smile
and those straight eyebrows over eyes that can turn from charm to glare in a second. I can hear him
talking and he has that same husky depth to his voice like Gino and Alexi do. An unmistakeable
sexiness that not all men have, and I guess the Carrero genes are strong and the family resemblance
is crazily uncanny. Easy to spot at a distance though, which helps me immensely when dodging
people.
‘‘How’re things going with you two lovebirds?’’ Mico sounds almost normal when faced with family, and
it’s probably the most I have ever heard him say to anyone in such a chirpy tone. He never really
speaks. ‘’Great. Sophie is still at school in fashion, and she’s doing amazingly well, we moved in
together into my apartment finally.’’ The deep voice of a guy who wouldn’t be too pleased to meet me
face to face. Sophie will have told him how I got her kidnapped after trying to ruin her life so yeah, steer
clear of that Carrero. If I remember right she said he was a fighter, or Tyler did and I wonder if this is
the cousin that Alexi sometimes trains with. I can see the appeal although he looks incredibly young.
I’m not into boys and college prep boy smiles. I like men with a little maturity and age, but he’s a good
match for Sophie. She has a young childish look about her and I can see how they gel. Barbie and Ken
of the Hamptons.
‘‘Aww well done, always knew you would do well Sophs.’’ Mico sounds almost human.
‘’Thanks. How’s Mandy? Are you still seeing her?’’ Sophie’s sweet almost childlike voice is all sunshine
and smiles, so unlike how she was when I knew her. She sounds happy and it makes my gut ache in
envy. Peeking again, I can see her boy has his arm slung around her shoulder protectively and is
holding her against him in a way that makes it clear this is the love of his life. He’s handsome, in a less
appealing way than Alexi, and strong. Looks like he would protect her to the death if he had to.
I don’t know what that must feel like. No one has ever loved me, not even my mother who was
biologically built to love me. She used to scream in my face almost daily about how I ruined her life and
drove her to drink and drugs. Every time she pounded a fist into my face in rage for something that
upset her, she told me how it was my fault that she got mad and lashed out, if only I would be good and
stop angering her. I honestly do not know what love is supposed to feel like, and watching them now
just makes me feel incredibly jealous and hostile because I know the reality is that I will never find out.
Turning away and biting on my lip to curb the surge of emotion that wracks my heart and chest, trying
to shake free these stupid emotions that Devil Carrero inflicted upon me and then I realise how close to
the door I am. It’s like being shaken to sense and suddenly I am very still and silent as my brain
catches up with the program and I glance around to double check. Mico is talking, I can hear him, and
he has his back to me, distracted with Sophie and her boyfriend.
It’s that little window I have been waiting for, an opportunity presenting itself, and I can’t believe my
luck. It literally just fell on me by chance and all thanks to Sophie. The girl really is great at saving my
bacon.
I rummage in my shoulder bag, pull out the cap without hesitation, knowing I need to take my chance
before it’s gone. I quickly roll my hair up to stuff inside as I pull it on my head. You have to be fast, take
whatever chances come your way and always ready to go at the drop of a hat. Glancing back to check
that Mico is still occupied I can see he’s still not looking this way. I put my bag over my head to cross
my body, so I won’t drop it and take a long deep steady breath to calm my nerves.
I’m ready, I can do this. I need to just swallow and go. I close my eyes, count to five and then step
away and head straight for the door. Adrenaline boosting and chest pounding.
Don’t look back, don’t hesitate just open the door and leave. Just go. I walk as fast as I can, glad the
door has no sound when I open it and slide out into the street blinded by the sun. So quickly and jerky,
my movements made in fear as it overtakes me. I cut left so I don’t cross the window of the store, and
as soon as I am out of view, I put my head down and run like the devil is on my arse.
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