19. Ezrah
Ezrah
19
My heart thunders in my chest when I see Allen storm over to Lucas. So much for hoping it was just the PI. I can’t make out what Lucas says, but I can guess. It’s easy to fill in the blanks from what Allen screams at him.
“Ezrah, can you tell me what’s going on?” Marie asks.
I jump a little because I've forgotten she's on the phone. “Allen….” my words get stuck behind the lump in my throat.
“Allen, is he there?”
“He- he was the one who was following us.”
“What’s he doing?” I can hear her doing something on the computer in the background as we speak.
“They’re arguing.”
“Arguing is okay. Other than that, is anything happening?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
The voices grow even louder, then Allen takes another step towards Lucas.
“Shit,” I glance back at Delilah and take a deep breath. I know what I need to do.
“Ezrah, what’s happening there?”
“I’m sorry. I’ve got to do this.”
“Do what? Ezrah, what are you doing? Ezrah! Stay in the car!”
Hand shaking, I grab the door handle, shoving it open before I can give myself a chance to think.
When I come face to face with him, it feels like stepping into a nightmare. His dark eyes land on me immediately, burning with a fire that turns me to ash.
“There he is,” he grins at me, arms open wide, ready to pull me into his web, never to emerge again.
Lucas pales. “Ezrah, what are you doing out here?”
“My Ezrah. I knew you’d learn your lesson soon enough.”
“And what would that be?” Lucas shoves his body between us, as if he can shield me from this now.
Allen chuckles meanly. “Come on, man. It’s clear he's done playing and ready to go home to a real man, so how about you step aside before I make you.” he takes another step towards Lucas.
“Lucas,” I whisper.
He gives me a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. I said I’d protect you and I mean it. Get back in the car. This won’t take long. I’ll be done before you know it.”
“You heard him, baby. Go sit tight. We can go home as soon as I show this guy his place. Don’t worry, we’re going to be so happy together.”
“No!” I push past Lucas. I don’t know what comes over me, but it’s like I can’t stop. Like pus from a lanced wound, words fly from my lips. “I don’t want to go with you. Not only that, but you’re the worst thing that’s ever happened to me!”
Allen pales, shaking his head. “You don’t mean that, my sweet. He’s got in your head, but it's okay. I forgive you. We can fix this.”
“Well, I don’t forgive you.”
He glares at me now, dropping the fake sweet act. “What do you have to forgive, Ezrah?” He takes a step toward me, but I don’t flinch. “I took you in when you had nothing. Gave you a place to live, helped you build a life. Then one day I come home from work to find you decided to leave me. Me! You ungrateful little shit.”
A wild laugh bubbles from my chest. I was smiling so hard it hurt. “And it was the best decision I ever made! I’m so much happier without you. You were the worst thing to ever happen to me. If I never see you again, it’ll be too soon.”
Allen goes still, his face suddenly devoid of any feeling. "Is that really how you feel? You want to leave me for someone like him?"
I look over at Lucas from the corner of my eye, he’s watching carefully, keeping all his focus on Allen. He didn't agree to any of this.
Hell, he probably doesn't feel the same way, but I have to convince Allen. Maybe if he thinks someone else has claimed me, he’ll get over it. "Yes," I force out. "I've moved on, found someone better."
"And do you think you're happy like that?"
This time it doesn't feel like a lie. The words come almost on their own. "Yeah Allen. I'm happy. I'm happier than I've ever been in my life. Just leave me alone."
He hangs his head, and for a moment I think he’s crying, but then a laugh rips out of him, dark and twisted, almost hysterical. "Oh, Ezrah. My Ezrah. If that's your choice, there's only one way this can end."
I always thought things were supposed to move in slow motion when you were about to die.
But they don't.
One second I’m standing there. Then there’s a bang, and I’m on the ground, blood pouring from my head. Pain coursing through me.
My ears ring. Cold closes in on me.
I hope Lucas takes good care of Dil.