Chapter 13
Iran without thinking or having a plan and now…
I’m stuck hiding behind a big industrial garbage bin so that no one can spot me.
My legs are burning from all the running I’ve done and I don’t even know where I am or how far I’ve gotten, I just know I need to find a way out of this damned city and away from Alaric.
It doesn’t matter where I go but if I can avoid being around a Crowne, even if I never met the other ones really, I know it’ll be okay.
My heart skips a beat when I hear a sound and voices but I don’t move no matter what and after a while, it’s gone. That’s when I know I’ve done it. I’m free. Free from anything that’s ever kept me prisoner, including Alaric Crowne.
I know I have to keep a low profile, it’s the only way or else, he’ll find me. I won’t let him find me, no matter what.
But now…now that he’s found me, to say I’m embarrassed would mean I have some pride left inside of me… which I do and I know Alaric is trying to snuff it out.
I wasn’t thinking clearly when I ran. All I could think about was just getting some air and space then I found myself pushing my feet further and further away from it all.
This was the freedom I needed. I couldn’t go back to my family because I was too ashamed of what I last said to them when I chose Edwin over them.
I straighten my back as I bring Alaric his burger and fries. I didn’t think he was the type to eat at some diner in the middle of nowhere yet here he is accepting it and even acting normal by adding ketchup to the plate.
I know his type. People deem them rich assholes but they’re just like that on the surface. They wear pocket squares with their suits and actually put them to use. They were practically born and raised in a suit with a diamond encrusted baby rattle with little diamonds inside to make the noise.
I was a part of his world yet we never really crossed paths. His family was known to me in name only.
“Are you going to just stand there and watch me eat or will you go talk to your manager? Help him find a replacement?” Alaric asks me.
“I don’t understand.”
“Alaric Crowne’s wife doesn’t just run off from an honest job, now does she?” He asks as he takes a bite of his fry.
“You’re serious.”
Alaric smirks and reaches into his pocket, setting a red velvet case on the table. “Put the fucking ring on and if I ever see it off, well, you’re going to stay in this hell of yours longer and it’ll be worse.”
“You’re going to let me go?” My eyes widen at this small admission.
Alaric looks me up and down with a raised brow.
“Why would I keep you with me for longer than I need? You’re going to serve your sentence for what you did and by the time you’re done with it, you’ll see that your hell was nothing while you were in that little 4 wall cell.
That damn solitary confinement will look like child’s play by the time I’m done with you. ”
“I don’t understand why you’re doing this. I served my time and I never meant for any of that to happen. I was running fro—.” I stop myself from continuing.
“From what, Juliana? What were you running from? Your already pathetic life?” He taunts me.
There are no words further exchanged. We stare at each other—well, one glaring and the other just staring wondering what she did to deserve this kind of life.
I never meant to kill anyone, let alone two innocent people.
I know I said I would use Alaric as my revenge but before that could happen, I had to think.
To think of the consequences of this. Would I even come out of this unscathed?
He said he was going to let me go… what did that mean?
Asking him is out of the question and further reiterating what happened that night would fall on deaf ears because Alaric doesn’t care about my reasonings.
He doesn’t care about my well-being or the scars that mixed itself with the ones that I got from the car accident. On the outside, my skin healed but inside, I was falling apart. Every bit of me was melting away.
I was too weak to end my own life and I was too terrified to try and run away in this instance. He was watching me and I had to know how he could find me so easily but … for now, I would retreat. Bide my time in this restaurant and serve up the two weeks.
I shouldn’t run, I know that but I have to. Something in me tells me that whatever Alaric has planned for me is destruction itself.
Alaric watches me like a hawk as I reach for the box and open it. It’s an emerald ring, one that I could get mugged for if someone felt jumpy. It is in the shape of diamond studded vines encircling the ring circle and the big rock looks like it is the heart of the vines.
Alaric watches me as I slip the ring on but there’s this momentary pain that feels like thorns have entered into my bloodstream and have embedded themselves there causing me to hiss.
“I had the jeweler customize it. Go ahead, try and take it off. Lose some skin and bleed with even more pain than it was putting it on. I’m fine with it. I dare you.” Alaric taunts with a twisted smile on his face that causes me to break out in goosebumps.
“I, I have to finish my shift.” I say and begin to walk away.
Alaric stands and grabs my wrist turning me back to face him. He towers over me as he moves from my wrist to my hand.
“I’ll always be watching you.” Alaric leans low but his eyes are on me as he kisses the ring on my finger.
My eyes widened at his action. Alaric puts down more than enough cash for the food and leaves the diner yet I can’t move.
I’m paralyzed. Not because there’s butterflies in my gut.
No! Not ever but there is this other feeling.
It’s daunting, filled with dread and I know his words are right.
He’s done nothing to me yet and by the time he lets me go, I might be descending six feet under.
Buried in an empty field where no one can ever find me.