Page 34 of No Control
I hesitate. “Is there…Is there any way you would be willing to book it for today?”
There’re a few beats of silence. “I could probably arrange that. Let me see what I can do. And I take it the dog will need to be arranged for as well?”
“Yeah,” I feel my face heat up. “That’s asking for a lot. I’m sorry.”
“No, I can figure it out. Give me about thirty minutes.
How long will it take you to be ready?”
“An hour tops.”
“Perfect.” He hangs up before I can even tell him goodbye. I take a deep breath and press my palm to my forehead, trying to breathe. Part of me is concerned I’m trading one evil for another—though maybe Mason was right.
Maybe I just automatically assume the worst in people.
Duke follows me around the house as I start packing. I force myself to take a quick shower, too, leaning the fire poker against the wall, but still in reach. It seems excessive, but I’m still convinced Mason will show up at any point. I probably stoked the fire by calling the police…But isn’t that what you’re supposed to do? I know the drill. I know that they don’t always take women seriously when stuff like this happens, but I really felt like I had a solid case.
My phone buzzes as I step out of the shower, and I swoop it up, seeing a message from Henry.
Your flight is scheduled for 4PM at Will Rogers Airport. Call (469) 555-2356. I’ll have a car to pick you up when you arrive.
His text is confusing, but I press the number he’s listed and give it a call.
“This is Devon with Angelic Private Jet Charters. How can I help you?”
I gape at the realization of flying privately. “This is Lydia Waters. I was told I have a flight at 4 o’clock today.”
“Ah yes,” he chuckles. “Let me get you the information on that.”
***
A few hours later, Duke and I are boarding a private jet— and it’s surreal. I don’t know how I feel about it, honestly. Though, Emma, on the other hand, is more than hyped for me. She’s already swearing she’ll be joining me, but I still feel unnerved about the entire thing. I didn’t have any more strange happenings while I got ready to leave, and I locked my house up tight, though I’m not sure what good that did. If Mason wants in, he’ll get in.
“Can I get you something to drink?” The flight attendant smiles as Duke sits panting in the seat across from me.
I shake my head, feeling nauseous. “No, thank you.”
She nods. “I can get you something to help if you’re not feeling well.”
I stare up at her pretty dark hair, pulled back into a tight bun. She’s probably younger than me, and has beautiful, deep brown eyes. “I should be fine.”
“Okay, well, let me know if you need anything.”
I give her the best smile I can muster, turning to gaze out the window. I take in the thick cover of clouds and wonder what exactly I’m flying into. I haven’t signed the contract. I could back out once I get there.
But then what?
I shudder at the thought of going back to my house. As much as I love my little cabin in the woods, leaving it is a freaking relief. This is the safest I’ve felt since breaking things off with Mason. And all the creeping he’s been doing has annihilated any ounce of heartache I might’ve felt. My feelings are dead and gone.
But maybe they were all along.
I lean my head against the window and shut my eyes, drifting off to a dream that greets me with a pair of icy grayish blue eyes—and that’s fine by me.
thirteen
Henry
“Can we talk about this?” Jude asks me the moment I step through the door of my beachside house. It’s not in Los Angeles, exactly. It’s further north, but I can’t let the exact location be disclosed, so I keep it under a false address in Los Angeles. It’s the smaller of my houses at only three-thousand square feet, but the luxury is unmatched.
