Chapter 29
29
Samantha
Ramone left without another word, flicking his hand at me, leaving me with the sensation of being wrapped in a soft blanket before it fell away. I shivered at the ghostly contact and watched as he waved his hand at the front door, opening it as he strode through. I could’ve sworn there’d been another time when he’d been here and simply vanished in place. He was angry with me, and his dramatic exit displayed that fact.
With him out of my house, I sank onto the floor, my back sliding down my door frame. I’d felt so close to him, and I’d let him completely ravish me twice, today. It’d just seemed natural to do so but after the fact, what the hell was I thinking?
It was hard to remember he was the man who’d imprisoned me for a year. A whole year. I was prepared to overlook that fact, against my better judgement, until I saw what the crystal ball had to show me. There was no doubt its message was valid. Ramone had moved me between worlds and transformed my tears into pretty blue gemstones. I knew my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me when the color of his eyes would change. I’d realized that was an unnatural oddity after his miraculous transformation of my tears.
He’d told me more than once he’d kill me, while also telling me he existed only for me and would never let me go. It was romantic in a strange, psychopathic way, but I didn’t want to die. Watching the woman in the vision the glass ball had given me some insight and I realized how close I’d come to that very same fate.
But God did it feel so good skirting death.
My nipples had hardened, turned on by the memory of his touch. I had thrown on my shirt after we left the bed, and my skin was overly sensitive, screaming for him to come back. The unfamiliar tug in my heart was discomforting; I’d never craved a man the way I craved Ramone. The connection between us was breath taking, the chemistry so devastating I didn’t know it was possible.
His last words to me were that he was the devil. I was used to pompous millionaires and billionaires, and the ever-present arrogant CEO, but this was a first. Taking a deep breath, I got myself up off the floor and checked the time on my cell phone. I placed it back down on my end table and picked it back up again, panicking.
Two whole days were gone. I had several missed phone calls and messages from Toni, and from my mother. I quickly sent text messages saying I had fallen ill, along with an apology, and took a hurried shower right after. Toni’s messages were full of concern for my well-being while my mother’s were reminders of the obligations my parents had stacked up for me. I’d answered Toni’s first before begrudgingly typing out vague answers to my mom.
Two whole days. I wanted to blame it on the mental illness I’d thought I’d had but that option was an impossibility now. My whole world had changed in a fundamental way, and I couldn’t deny it. There was nothing wrong with me but there was certainly something wrong with the person I’d been falling for.
I couldn’t fall for the man who’d told me he’d kill me. I could pretend it never happened and put it behind me and just forget about everything that occurred. Ramone hadn’t even had the grace to threaten me with death, he’d essentially promised me that fate.
Ipushed open the door of my shop and scanned the interior. There were only a couple shoppers browsing the sales floor, everything was normal. I could see Toni on the other side of the counter and was filled with gratitude that she’d been covering for me in my absence.
“Hey!” She smiled when she saw me. “How are you feeling?”
I walked around the counter and set my purse down. “Much better, thank you. I’m just a bit tired,” I answered, returning the smile.
Toni started lining up some candles she had rolled in a fragrant herbal mixture and lowered her voice. “You do look pretty tired. Are you sure you’re okay? I can take care of everything here like I told you.”
That was all it took to release the wave of exhaustion that then overwhelmed me. Crossing the space, I sat in the chair where I worked on my essential oil mixtures. Blinking back tears, I stared at all the little empty glass vials I had lined up, waiting to be filled. "I'll be fine, thanks.”
Knowing I was extremely blessed to have such a great employee, I turned and said, “Thank you so much for covering and taking great care of this place. You’re the best.” Toni smiled back at me in response. My friend was one of the very few people I knew who were genuinely kind and caring, there was nothing superficial about her and it was one of the reasons we got along so well. We both truly cared about others.
My head was still buzzing over what I’d just gone through, and I questioned my own sanity at coming in to work. There was no way I was comfortable sitting at home ruminating, but I wasn’t comfortable being here, either.
I threw myself into my work.
Two hours later, I had a new collection of oils, the tiny bottles containing chips of the crystals and other stones we sold. Inspiration had struck me, and we now had stock I immediately created labels for with names like Dance with the Devil, Be Gone, Alternate Reality, and Sweet Poisoned Love.
“Um. Those are different.” Toni was peeking over my shoulder.
“Yeah,” I chuckled softly. “I guess they are. They smell good, at least.” Thinking for a moment, I said, “We should donate some. I made way too many.”
Toni beamed. “Great idea, we haven’t done that for a while. I’ll pack some up.”
As I worked, I kept glancing over my shoulder and eyeing the front door. It wouldn’t have surprised me if Ramone showed up, looking like the devil he’d claimed to be. I was almost disappointed when he didn’t, and the day passed by uneventfully.
When I got home, I stood in front of my dresser where my sweater still lay. The indent in the fabric where a magical crystal ball had been perched reminded me of everything that had happened.
I’d never felt drawn to Timothy. Sure, I’d enjoyed his company at times, and I suppose I’d loved him on some level, in some way, but that relationship had been based on expectations. I was expected to be the pretty, supportive wife who came from a good family and with his own background, aspirations and education—he was perfect in my family’s eyes. It was the modern version of an arranged relationship and marriage.
Backing away from the dresser and turning around, I went and sat in my cushioned chair in the corner of my room. Timothy hadn’t deserved to be slaughtered in cold blood. He was obnoxious and narcissistic, yes, but he wasn’t a bad man.
The police had questioned me shortly after his murder and a lawyer my parents had evidently hired walked me through the whole process. I’d followed my instincts after my consultation with the lawyer and denied any knowledge of who the assailant was. My mind had been clouded by all the stress and I did everything I was told to do by my legal representation.
Afterward, my mother stated they hadn’t hired a lawyer to guide me through the police questioning—she was stunned I was a temporary suspect. I wasn’t surprised, seeing as I was there when it happened. She’d been beside herself, concerned I’d gone through that process all alone while I tried to explain that I was fine.
My mother had been thrown back to Zoey’s death and all the questions about drugs and alcohol that’d been directed at her and my father. It’d been awful and thinking about her other daughter being subject to questioning under criminal circumstances had brought it all back. It didn’t escape me she wasn’t truly disturbed for me, but rather our family name.
My gut told me Ramone had orchestrated the legal representation and I doubted he’d ever be held accountable even if he hadn’t interfered. To keep him away from me, I’d considered pointing the finger at him several times. I’d fantasized about picking up my cell phone and telling the authorities everything I knew. The thought of repeating what I went through after being trapped in the cottage was the only thing that stopped me.
There was also the matter of Ramone having said I was now a target, due to the crystal ball showing me images. A shudder ran through me. A target for what? I hadn’t told anyone—he was the only one who knew. It wasn’t like people would start treating me as if I were a psychic hotline and demand their fortunes be told. Besides, the ball only showed me the past. It hadn’t had a thing to say about the future. The only thing I was a target for was Ramone.
Sighing, I stood up and began getting ready for bed. I’d felt so free, there in that other world with him. Now I was back to being a dutiful daughter. Or was I? With Timothy now gone, I decided I would still spread my wings a bit just like I’d decided in that dream-like world.
My parents couldn’t force the merger with my ex-fiancé anymore and I’d take a stronger stand for myself when it came to them. I understood, fundamentally, where my parents came from with their worries and appreciated their care and concern, but I was no longer willing to bend to their every whim. A sliver of guilt crawled through me. I was very blessed with a great mom and dad; they were just overbearing at times.
Right?
My bed was still unmade, the sheets, blankets and pillows bearing evidence of the activities that had taken place there earlier. My heart sank as I settled in and rolled over, pulling the comforter up. Shoving the longing for him away, I fell asleep.