Troubled Temptations

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

Way too soon for my liking, I'm being dragged back to reality. And try as I might, there's no more hiding or escaping. Anthony is gone. I vaguely remember him telling me during my post-satisfactory nap that he had to go to the police station, to give an official statement, but he promised to be back shortly.

I sit up and notice there's a glass of water and my phone with a tiny note on top of it on my bedside table. He's so attentive, and so sweet when there's just the two of us. He told me he loved me. I smile like a lunatic, sitting alone in my bedroom. He loves me. And I love him. What could be more perfect? Nothing.

I pick up the tiny piece of paper, and it says:

Got your phone from your car last night.
Call your mother.
Love you. A.

Mother... I have to tell her the worst news I could imagine. She just got out of her depressive state, thanks to Alexi, and now this shit happens.

I grab my phone and notice there are two unread messages. The first one is from Anthony, asking, "Where are you?" The second text is from Alexi, saying, "Do not go in there alone!" I wish I had read these last night, before storming into the hellfire all alone, maybe things would have been different if I had waited.

I search for my mother's name from the contact list and my finger hovers over the "call" button, but I can't do it. I can't tell her that her boyfriend got shot trying to rescue me... not over the phone, and not before I know exactly what state he's in right now.

I can hear my front door opening and closing. I guess Anthony is back from the police station. Heavy footsteps are nearing and seconds later my bedroom door opens. In walks Anthony with two cups of hot coffee – exactly what I need!

"Hey, beautiful," he says with a wide smile. He's so damn handsome I could just stare at him all day, every day. Especially when he's genuinely smiling.

"How did it go?" I ask him and stretch out my cast-free hand in the direction of a coffee cup. He hands me the cup, clearly pleased with himself, and sits on the bed, facing me.

"Fine, I guess. The two guys, Blake's men who got arrested, confirmed everything I already told the cops last night, so basically they already had a statement," he says and shrugs, "I just had to tell them about the shooting part and then sign some papers and they let me go. They want to have a word with you, but they are willing to wait until you feel better."

"Okay, that's fine. I still have some time before I have to get Benji from daycare, so could you take me to see Alexi first?" I sip my coffee and realize it's my favorite, the kind I ordered on our very first unofficial date. He remembered and this makes my heart swell with joy.

"Sure, if that's what you want to do. Are you sure about this, though?" he asks me, interrupting my sweet thoughts about him.

"Yes. My mom is dating him, and I need to see him before I tell her," I reply honestly.

A dark shadow crosses Anthony's face and I can see something in his demeanor shifted.

"What?" I'm confused.

"Nothing."

"Tell me, what's wrong?" I press, but he dodges my question, moving on with his agenda.

"There's one thing I've been meaning to ask you," he says and looks straight at me, "who told you to go to Lesh last night?"

"Umm, it was Eric, the bartender," I reply without a second thought, but seeing Anthony tense, I immediately regret my openness.

"Please promise me you won't do anything stupid. Please stay away from him altogether," I plead, knowing what Anthony could do to him. I want the authorities to take care of that weaselly bastard. I don't want Anthony getting into any more trouble.