Chapter 62
I sat there, fingers wrapped around Aaron’s keys. It really shouldn’t be this difficult to leave. But why was it so hard for me to get up and walk out the door?
I felt empty.
I finally convinced myself to get going after three hours. I dragged the duffel bag down the stairs. It was incredible, really… how such a small innocent–looking bag had turned now felt so heavy in my arms.
As I rounded the corner, I saw George sitting in his usual spot, eyes glued to the television where a dusty old western flashed across the
screen.
He glanced up, one bushy, gray eyebrow lifting when he noticed what was in my hands. “Where you headed with that bag, sweetheart?”
“I’m going away for a couple of weeks. Maybe more.”
“Well, that’ll definitely give Aaron a heart attack,” he said without missing a beat.
A soft laugh escaped me. George was similar to Aaron in that, sense. They always managed to put a smile on my face when I wasn’t feeling my best. He never took life too seriously and always had a way of draining the tension. Just talking to him made me feel a little lighter.
“Do you happen to have a printer here?” I asked, glancing around the
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room.
George pointed toward the hallway. “Library. Aaron’s pride and joy. First door on your left.”
“Thanks.” I dropped the duffel bag before turning away. followed his direction and pushed open the first door on the left.
As I stepped inside, I couldn’t believe I’d somehow missed it. It was large, with shelves of worn books both fiction and non–fiction lined neatly. In the far corner sat a printer beside an old sturdy desk.
I grabbed my flash drive from my bag, plugged it in, then selected the file and hit print. The paper slid out slowly. I grabbed it and left.
When I returned to the living room, letter in hand, I held it up for George to see. “It’s done. I’ve resigned.”
His eyes widened, but he smiled quickly. “I’m proud of you, Jane. you‘ re doing the right thing.”
I swallowed. I was going to cry, I could feel it. To delay the impending tears, I folded the paper neatly and put it in my bag. Then I hoisted the duffel bag up and lifted my gaze to George.
“Be brave, Jane. Stand your ground and fight.”
I nodded. With one last glance at the house that had been my temporary home, I made my way to the front door and out of the house.
It was hard, but I managed to make it down the driveway to where Aaron’s Aston Martin was parked without breaking down in tears. I threw the duffel bag in the trunk, hesitated for a breath, then slid into the driver’s seat.
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The engine purred to life as I slipped the key in, and upbeat music filled the car, clearly something Aaron had queued up for me. It was his way of lightening the mood.
We’re going to make them pay, I heard Lucky say. Yes we are.
But even as I drove, I couldn’t help but feel like I’d left Aaron… I’d left my home.
I pulled over when I reached the nearest hotel. I quickly confirmed I’d successfully transferred all my remaining funds into a new account just in case Xander tried to interfere again.
However, as the receptionist left to get my room ready, a chilling realization suddenly dawned on me. I’ve been the one running, the one hiding, moving from place to place. Meanwhile, Xander and his cohorts stayed safely nestled in their sprawling empire.
George’s words replayed in my head. He was right.
I was done running.
Without a second thought, I rushed out of the hotel and back into the car. I shifted the car into gear, and made a U–turn.
I wasn’t going to disappear anymore. It was Xander’s turn to leave.
*Jane*
I didn’t second guess myself as I drove to Xander’s house. This used to be my home… our home. It felt so foreign, even though the driveway looked exactly the same.
Once upon a time, I used to feel safe and secure in this place. There was nothing pleasant about this place to me.
I waited for the access control system to turn on. The system didn’t
seem to recognize me since I drove Aaron’s car here. The Aston Martin didn’t have the security tag, only the Bentley did, the one I left behind when I walked away.
