Chapter 18
‘You’ve gone white.’ Rhys’s hand was on her arm, firm and real, steering her back to the stone wall.
Lola knew she should focus on Rhys and not let the shock of Jarek throw her off balance, but she was shot through with fear and confusion.
If he was willing to follow her all the way to Sardinia, what else was he capable of?
That had been why he’d sent her the image of Bosa, not just to let her know that he knew where she was, but because he’d been the one to take the photo.
Messages were one thing, but to follow her out here, to spy on her, was something else entirely.
What was he getting out of continuing to torment her?
It was a question she knew the answer to: her reaction.
This was what he wanted and got off on: her shock and fear, a reaction to him when she’d been the one to end things, to extract herself from his control and reject him.
She knew he wouldn’t have dealt with it well, but she’d done it to save herself.
She forced her eyes away from Jarek to Rhys, who was frowning, his eyes filled with concern.
He was still holding her arm and his touch grounded her, calming her racing heart.
She’d already opened up to Rhys about Jarek and told him more than she’d admitted to anyone.
She didn’t want to feel this scared or to have to deal with a troubling situation by herself.
‘Don’t turn around, but the ex I told you about is sitting in the bar just above us.’
Rhys’s nostrils flared. ‘He’s what?’
‘He sent me a message yesterday evening that caught me unawares and I dismissed it as nothing, just him trying to get under my skin, but now…’ Lola’s breath was once again short and sharp.
‘That’s why you were upset last night,’ Rhys breathed out slowly. ‘You said he wasn’t physically abusive, but is he dangerous?’
‘He’s definitely unhinged. Who does something like this?’
‘Someone who wants to feel in control, to continue dominating you. You should report him when you get home.’
‘And say what? That I saw my ex from afar while on holiday – any sane person would put it down to coincidence. You hear stories all the time of people going abroad and bumping into their neighbour or friends. It’s not unusual.’
‘No, but we know that’s not the case and you need to trust your gut. Not talk yourself out of it because you don’t think you’ll be believed.’
She knew Rhys was right. She’d dismissed Jarek’s attempts at communication for too long, but he’d been clever about it, making contact when he knew she’d least want him to and using a new number each time.
It had been so infrequently that she’d begin to relax, believing he was finally out of her life, when another message from an unknown number would appear.
A handful of times in six months hadn’t been overly concerning. But this was on a whole new level.
‘How do you want to deal with him?’ Rhys’s hand on her arm focused her attention.
All the joy of a holiday in Sardinia for her best friend’s wedding had, in less than twenty-four hours, been wiped out by the stress, fear and unhappiness she’d battled so hard against towards the end of her relationship with Jarek.
An easy decision to walk away from him had been harder to do in practice because of the way he’d worn her down and managed to control her.
Yet he still continued to have a hold, his presence making her heart race and palms sweat.
Without saying anything to Rhys for fear of him talking her out of it, Lola strode across the small parking area and up the steps that led to the Promenade du Port.
With her focus on Jarek, she weaved her way between the tables on Zamira Lounge’s terrace.
It wasn’t the loss of the relationship and the future she thought they’d have or the person she once believed him to be that she mourned, but the way his behaviour and manipulation had made her doubt the possibility of having a normal, healthy relationship in her future.
Jarek tracked her the whole way, his eyes piercing slits reminiscent of the snake he was. They might as well have been glowing demon-like.
‘What the hell are you doing here?’ She stopped a short distance from him, close enough for him to hear the terseness in her voice without causing a scene or him being able to touch her.
He gazed up nonchalantly as if him being in Sardinia was the most normal thing in the world. The slight lift of his lips incensed her. He was getting a kick out of this.
‘I’m on holiday. You are too?’ He held her gaze. ‘What are the chances?’
She’d played right into his hands. Getting her attention and making her riled and not in control was what he’d wanted. He’d managed to drag her emotions right back to those terrible weeks leading up to her leaving him, a time she’d fought so hard to put behind her.
All she wanted to do was rage and tear into him, when she knew she should take a deep breath and walk away, because wouldn’t he just love the chance to tighten his grip on her, to get an uncensored reaction.
He’d never hurt her physically, but she wouldn’t put it past him, not when he’d manipulated and controlled her in every other way.
She loathed the desire coursing through her to hurt him physically as much as he’d hurt her mentally.
She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of letting him see her anger.
She was rarely lost for words, but right now any cutting comeback eluded her. All she had was an ever-growing hatred for someone she’d once loved. How was it possible she’d fallen for him? How had she not seen beyond his charm to the person he really was?
A hand clasped her shoulder. Warm, solid and dependable when her heart was sprinting, her head a muddle and her breathing rapid.
‘We have that restaurant reservation,’ Rhys said calmly as he gently squeezed her shoulder, a comforting rather than controlling gesture.
Rhys was giving her a way out, showing her she wasn’t alone in dealing with her ex. She didn’t want to even be thinking about him or be anywhere near him.
With her attention still fixed on Jarek – as if letting him out of her sight for even a second would somehow give him more of an upper hand than he already had – Lola finally breathed a little easier. ‘Yes, we should go.’
Rhys moved closer to stand beside her, his arm shifting to encircle her waist.
‘I don’t believe we’ve met,’ he said smoothly, looking down at Jarek. ‘I’m Rhys, Lola’s friend.’
Jarek’s smile grew as he stood, completely unruffled and held out his hand. ‘I’m Ja?—’
‘I know who you are,’ Rhys cut in, his free hand remaining firmly by his side. ‘No need to introduce yourself.’
With a blink-and-you’d-miss-it tightening of his lips, Jarek snatched his hand back.
‘Who the fuck do you think you are?’ There was a promise of violence in his tone that made Lola feel sick as his calculating gaze swept over Rhys.
‘You’re seriously with him?’ He narrowed his eyes and stepped closer.
‘I’m sure you do know who I am because I’m certain she’s been talking about me lots,’ he said with menace.
His attention flicked back to Lola. ‘As sure as I’ll be seeing you around. ’
Lola forced herself to hold his gaze, refusing to flinch despite his attention making her skin crawl. Yet she broke eye contact first, desperate to get away. She grabbed Rhys’s arm and walked off without another word, certain that Jarek was following their every move.
She wondered where Rhys’s assertiveness had come from. He’d confidently taken charge and been what she’d needed in the moment. She was immensely grateful to him for snapping her out of the terror she’d been in.
‘Thank you,’ she said, clutching his arm tighter. They reached the path beneath the trees that led down to the marina and took the left fork away from Jarek.
‘What do you want to do?’ Rhys asked.
‘I don’t know,’ she said quietly. ‘But get away from here.’ Even in Porto Cervo, surrounded by summery-looking people, she desperately wanted to be somewhere she felt he couldn’t invade. ‘Do you mind if we go back to the villa?’
‘Of course not. I’ll message Barnaby so they don’t wonder where we’ve gone.’
* * *
Lola didn’t say a word during the short drive back to the villa and Rhys didn’t try to engage her in conversation, and it wasn’t just because he didn’t know what to say.
Only a couple of days ago, Lola had opened up about how controlling and manipulative her ex had been, but him showing up here had left her shaken.
The confidence she’d exuded had been extinguished.
What he was struggling with most was not knowing what to say to make her feel safe.
If he was feeling unnerved by Jarek going to such lengths to upset her, then he could only imagine how much it had affected Lola.
She’d held her nerve while talking to him, but the moment they’d walked away, Rhys had felt her trembling.
Violence was never the answer and, until punching Freddie at the stag do, he had never hit anyone in his life.
He’d controlled the urge to wipe the smirk off Jarek’s face because it would have done more harm than good with a sociopath.
The more attention they gave him, the more they’d play into what he wanted and fuel his desire to control and manipulate, but Rhys had never felt such loathing for someone before.
The villa was empty and quiet, a sanctuary that he hoped Jarek either wasn’t aware of or wouldn’t dare infiltrate. At least Lola would never be alone here.
They reached the central living area that opened onto the garden and Lola sank into the sofa while Rhys went over to the bar. He joined her, their fingers brushing as she took the bottle of Ichnusa lemon from him.
‘Thank you,’ she said quietly. She took a sip of the light and zingy beer. ‘Not just for this, but for being there. For helping me to hold it together.’
‘Are you okay?’
‘Yes… Actually, no.’ Lola shook her head. ‘Oh, I don’t know. I knew what he was like, yet I still didn’t expect this .’
Rhys nodded, except he didn’t understand.
It was hard to get his head around someone behaving this way when the relationship was clearly over.
He breathed deeply. The herb-scented air wafting through the open doors seemed out of kilter with the conversation.
‘He’s seriously come all the way out here just to get under your skin? ’
‘I know he has.’ Lola put her drink on the coffee table and rubbed her fingers over the sides of her forehead.
‘There’s no such thing as coincidence with him.
He’s calculating and purposeful. He can swear blind that he’s here on holiday, but I know he knew I was here.
However careful I am, it’s impossible to block him from all the stuff my friends share on their socials. And then there are the messages?—’
‘Messages? More than the one he sent yesterday evening?’
Lola flicked her attention away from Rhys to the garden.
‘He’s messaged me a few times, nothing too worrying until the hen do, and then of course last night.
I should have said something, I just didn’t know how to, and I certainly didn’t want anything finding its way back to Mirabel.
By acknowledging the message and talking about it – feeling anything, even anger, annoyance.
Fear’ – she drew in a long breath, her lips pursing – ‘it would feel as if he’d got the upper hand and won.
’ She shifted until she was facing him. ‘I want him out of my life. Every message is a reminder of what he put me through, how trapped I felt. He’s always found a way to chip at my confidence.
By the time I left him, I had zero romantic feelings remaining, but I underestimated the damage he’d done. ’
Rhys took her hand and held it tight, his heart splintering at the tears lining her eyes and the way she was still trembling.
‘You need to report him to the police, Lola. As soon as you get back, file a report, plus apply for an injunction – Barnaby will help you with that – you’ll need to give as much information and evidence as you can, if you still have stuff? ’
‘I’ve kept the messages, yes.’
‘And I’m witness this time.’ He reached for his phone and showed her the photos he’d taken of her talking to Jarek before he’d joined her. ‘I promise you’re not alone.’