Out of the Storm - COMPLETE

Chapter 44

Jules

I KNOW I need to get out of here, but once I got to where he couldn't see me anymore, I couldn't go any farther. Watching Theo with Anna was a kind of pain I'm not accustomed to experiencing, akin to torture—the self-induced variety since I'm standing here subjecting myself to it. But as if that wasn't enough, seeing this look on his face is like taking a knife and twisting it in my heart. It's not the sad look he gave me two weeks ago when I felt like there was hope for us when we got out of this mess. This one is more like he's shrugging me off—like a half-assed apology—a sorry, but you're too late kind of look.

Then, he reaches his hand under the neck of his shirt and pulls a chain. He runs his finger over the pendant, my pendant. He not only picked it up, but he put it on. My stomach flips when his brows arch. He kisses it, then puts it back under his shirt. He holds his hand over it, over his heart. Oh, Theo. If only you knew who you'd just kissed with that. I can't help but give him a small grin before turning to walk away.

I'm not sure how this is all going to play out, but he has my necklace. He kissed it. And I swear I can't help but feel like maybe he's trying to send me a message. It's the first time since I agreed to work with Jake I've had any hope.

Theo walks out of the gym, and I turn my back to get my stuff from the locker room. As soon as I am in there, my ringtone gets louder and louder with each step. I recognize it because Jake programmed it the day after he came by my apartment.

I open the locker and pull the phone, swiping to answer. "Let me guess. Everything's off the table?"

He laughs. Not quite the reaction I was expecting. "You're a fucking genius."

"Excuse me?"

"Not speaking a word to him so you don't put your little deal in jeopardy, but dropping the necklace."

"That's not why I did it." I pin the phone between my ear and my shoulder while taking the rest of my stuff.

"Well, like I said, it was so smart. You passed it right off to the person who needed it most. Your work is done. I think we've pretty much got what we need—provided Theo cooperates with us."

I drop everything I was holding and sink down on the bench behind me. "Theo's working with you too?"

"No. But if he's smart, he will be very soon."

My breaths are coming too fast. It's all too much to process. "Is he in trouble?"

"Listen to me, Jules." His voice is stern. I recognize it from that day in the diner. "If you go near him at this point, if you have any kind of communication, so much as a look, you'll blow everything." He pauses. "That won't work out well for you." My hand begins to tremble. "Do you understand me? Don't test me this time. There won't be another way for you to redeem yourself."

I nod, my mouth too dry to speak a word. Like he can see me nodding. The necklace is gone.

"Do you understand?"

"Yes."

"Good. Go home. Don't leave until I come by."

"You're scaring me, Jake."

"Don't be afraid. It's almost over. I knew you'd come through for me."