Chapter 19 Welcome Back, River!

RIVER

“What do you mean I’m leaving? Did they catch him? Is he in police custody right now?” I was torn between celebrating and feeling down at the same time. It would only mean one thing that I wouldn’t get a chance to see Krew again, but he seemed okay with it, though.

I was drenched with sweat while he looked all mighty in his dark blue suit with a crisp white shirt, his hands in his pockets like he was born to bark around. Of course, it was. Who am I kidding? He was the big bad wolf.

“You’re leaving, and not yet.”

“Then how could you just throw me out if he's still at large?” My anger brewed in my blood quicker than I thought. I was throwing him an incinerating stare, fuming with anger while he didn’t seem to give a damn at my outburst. “Is this because you failed to convince me to accept your offer? And that I didn't fall for your devious plans?”

“No. It has nothing to do with that. You’re not interested then I was only respecting your decision. I arranged something else for you back in the city. You’d be safe there, and you'd have a chance to see your friend. You’re gonna like—”

“What do you know what I like? You don’t even know me to know what I like, but then this is all but an arrangement. I should be grateful, right? Well, you got it. Thank you very much for your help.” I stomped away from him out of the mini gym. I was an ungrateful bitch, but my fury had gotten over me.

After I took the quickest shower, I changed into a crop top, jeans, and sneakers. Whatever his plan was, I made sure I had my own. Just in case I needed it.

I took the phone he gave me, and that was it. I was leaving this house for good. Before I walked out of the room, I looked at the guitar one more time and let all those good things that happened in here go.

The driver was indeed waiting for me. He followed me outside the house, opened the door of the black SUV, and I entered silently. When I thought Krew was still willing to have a word with me before I left, I was wrong. The vehicle started, drove to the driveway of his home out of the gate. I regretted right away that I didn’t talk to him, thanked him for keeping me safe for me for the past few days.

My eyes watered, and my stomach knotted. It felt like there was an enormous hollow inside my chest that I left like that with unsettled arguments. I stared outside the window and let those lush greenery passed by like a blur with those chances.

I paid no attention to the man at the airport who introduced himself as Conner. He said he would be the one to send me to the place Krew had arranged for me.

“Do you have luggage, Ms. Rouge?” He was not older than his early thirties, but I was not in a mood to have a delightful conversation right now. It was ridiculous—what I felt. The moment I was happy, then it turned me to the dark place—I was suddenly sad. I felt terrible, unsafe again in spite that this man hired to protect me.

“I take that as a no.”

Once I found out about our flight, I texted Journey.

I hadn’t said a word other than no thank you throughout the flight. Conner was sitting next to me had shut his mouth for good when I only answered was a glare.

I sighed in relief as soon as the pilot announced that we were about to land. I still felt sorry. I had this unsettling feeling in the pit of my belly that I left angry. I took note to myself to send him a text that I arrived safe and thank you for your hospitality. But that would be too much, plus, he didn’t give me much of a choice other than barking at me that I would be leaving his house today.

Fuck him. I didn’t want someone like him to scratch my itch. There were a lot of men who could respect me and give me what I wanted, and certainly not someone like Krew Selik.

As soon as the seat belt sign was off, I unbuckled mine. Conner did the same thing. The passengers rushed to the aisle, grabbed their belongings from the overhead bins while I forced myself to find a way out. I knew without a doubt that Conner would follow me.

“I need to use the restroom. I hated doing it on the plane. The space is too small,” I told Conner once we were on the jet bridge.

“Sure. Anyway, I have to inform the boss that we just landed.” Of course. I forced myself not to roll my eyes. Instead, I smiled tightly.

“Great. Thanks.” Saved by the ring. My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I knew it was from Journey. After how Krew threw me out of his castle, there was no way in hell I would receive a message from him.

Conner was still with me as I followed the sign towards the nearest ladies' room.

“It would be quick,” I assured him.

“Take your time, Miss Rouge.”

I quickly saw Journey in the bathroom. Her bluish-green eyes widened in shock to see me walking closer to her.

“Oh, my god. Oh, my god. I thought I just lost my maid of honor. Where the hell have you been?” She inspected me from head to toe and shrugged as if disappointed “You look just fine.”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Well, I got a visit from a man in a blue suit telling me that you were somewhere. That’s all he said, and nothing else even how many times I grilled him with questions, he didn’t budge as if I was taking years of his life he answered me. Alł he said was it’s for our own safety. What did he mean by that?” She looked angry and shoved to me the stroller she carried with her. “What’s going on, Ri? I’m your best friend for God’s sake, yet I knew nothing about your life for these past months.”

“I’m so sorry. I will tell you everything, I promise.”

“Sure you will, or I will replace you with someone else. You’re my best friend, River, but I feel like you’re turning into a stranger.”

“Not here, Journey. Please?”

“Okay then. Go ahead and change. Don't worry, I’ll be right here waiting for your long explanation. And you’ll have to pay for the ticket if I can’t refund it.”

“I will.” Before I entered the toilet, I asked, “Have you heard from Briar lately?”

“I thought you two broke up.” She looked at me with a confused look.

“We did.”

“Is it true that he crashed my engagement party?”

“Yeah. I’ll explain it later, too.”

I quickly changed into a cheap skirt, blouse, and coat to disguise myself as a flight attendant. Good thing Journey had access to the wardrobe where she worked as a production assistant in one of the film studios in the city.

My heart kept on thumping violently as I walked out of the ladies' room, dragging the stroller with me. I asked Journey to take a few steps ahead of me the moment I saw Conner. He has pretty occupied with his phone. Thank God he did not notice me as I passed by in front of him.

I let out the breath that I held for too long as soon as I reached Journey’s car. Glaring, she grabbed the stroller from me before I climbed into her passenger seat. Once she pulled out of the parking area toward the busy street, I turned off my phone and pulled out my wig.

“Now that we’re here, you better start talking, River.”

I took a deep breath before I started. I told her everything from the very beginning on how I met Briar to our breakup. She knew the detail about my issue with the Selik. I met Krew because of saving her job in the first place.

“Why the hell did you not tell me that that psycho has been harassing you, Ri?” She shook her head in disappointment. I would feel the same if the situations reversed.

“You’re happy with August, and the last thing I want before my best friend gets married is to drag you into my mess. I want you to be happy and free from any trouble before you enter the marriage life, Journey. Just keep it that way.”

“I can’t just watch you get harassed, Ri. You know me better than that. And why did you escape from that Conner guy if Krew is doing something to catch Briar?”

“I told you—”

“There’s more to it that you’re not telling me, Ri. But I want you to know that you can trust me with everything.”

“I know, but I was hurt. I mean my ego.” My cheeks burned. “Maybe there’s a way to end this without Krew’s involvement. Since you're at August's, I want you to stay there with him and never comes to visit me. Just until this matter is over.”

She laughed. “Wow! So that you can have the best time of your life with Krew alone? Go ahead, Ri. I won't come to see you unannounced. Bang him hard and make him feel what he missed in the world.”

I rolled my eyes. “I won’t see Krew again. I’ve got enough humiliation that could last light-years.”

“Oh, you would bang him. Trust me. The Selik has a good specimen. You would miss the best sex of your life if you won’t bang one of them.”

“I’m serious, Journey. I’m afraid that Briar might pay a visit once he knows that I’m back. I’ll dial 911 as soon as he appears. I can’t live like this, always looking over my shoulders. My paranoia is getting worse every day, and I'm sick and tired of running away. He has to be locked up if he won’t want to follow the restraining order if I got him issued.”

“I’m always here for you, Ri.” She squeezed my hand before she parked the car in front of the apartment building. “If you need anything, all you have to do is call, okay?”

“Thank you.” I breathed before I pulled her into a hug.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay here alone? Should I inform Krew Selik, or do you need a gun and shoot that piece of crap on his junk?”

“No.” I widened my eyes at her. “He can’t know that I'm here. And as if he even cares. No gun either. I don’t wanna be locked up in jail for murder.”

“Fine.” She rolled her eyes and tucked her blonde hair behind her ear. “Call me if you need anything.”

I climbed out of her car and waved goodbye.

As paranoid as I was, I looked around to make sure that no one was watching me. I did the same before I unlocked the door of my apartment and before I shut the door behind me. It seemed everything was in the right places before I left. Journey was a neat freak, and the apartment was spotless even if she was already with her fiance. I went directly to my room, locked the door, doubled check the windows and bathroom to make sure no one was hiding there.

I settled for instant noodles and a can of soda. Once I finished, I got back to my room and changed into something comfy. I tucked myself into my blanket, and I instantly went into a deep slumber.

***

I woke to the light assaulting my pupils. I jolted up. My heart leaped up to my throat when I remembered that I turned it off before I slept. Goose flesh erupted on my skin, and I instantly felt that someone was watching me. A surge of fear flooded through me. For the first time, I felt the real horror. It only proved one thing--I was hostage by my own fear.

With my hand on my chest, I gasped while I felt the color had drained on my face. In one quick shift, I felt my back hit the headboard. Unblinking, I froze in place as if I turned to stone while I stared in horror at the man in front of me.