Free What the Lightning Sees: Part Two by Louise Bay Page B

You’ve done so much for me already. Thank you for telling me. Does Haven know?”
    “No, she knows we have a history and that I hate him. I’ve begged her to stay away from him, but I haven’t told her any details. She’s having her follow-up date with him.”
    Her eyes widened. “She is? You can’t convince her not to?”
    “I’ve tried. The other two guys can’t do Saturday apparently and she’s on some deadline for Robert. He’s told her to bring a passport.” I pushed my hands through my hair.
    “Wow.”
    “She’s agreed that if I can’t go with her—I bet the sleazeball will try and pull some stunt to get her away from me—that she won’t go.”
    “Okay, well that’s good. He’s not going to physically hurt her. And if Saturday’s the last time they see each other, then that will be the end of it,” Beth said. She seemed very composed.
    “If it were up to me, he wouldn’t be breathing.”
    Beth rested her palm over my clenched fist. “He didn’t turn me into an alcoholic, Jake. It wasn’t all him.”
    “I know but . . . but I want to kill him,” I said.
    “Yeah, well, you in prison is the last thing I need so calm down. And I need to know you’re not going to lose it on Saturday.” Beth looked at me, waiting for my reply.
    I nodded. “I promise you.”
    “I’m going to call my sponsor,” she said as she got up.
    “I love you, Beth.”
    “I know, and I couldn’t love you more. I’m okay. Honestly. It’s a preventative measure.”
     

     
    Haven had agreed that I could meet her at her place as Romano was picking her up at nine in the morning and he hadn’t told her where he was taking her.
    “A stretch limo? Really?” I said as we stood at the top of the steps to her building, under the awning, avoiding the rain as the car pulled up.
    Haven laughed. “It’s ridiculous. It’s like we’re going on a hen party.”
    “A hen party?” I asked.
    “Translation alert: a bachelorette party,” she explained.
    I nodded. She was right; it was tacky. “That would be far more preferable.”
    “For you, I’m sure. Loads of drunk women who aren’t wearing much,” she teased and poked me in the ribs. A jolt of energy ran through me.
    I smiled at her and she smiled back. I wanted to reach out for her. “I’m not going anywhere without you,” she said.
    Her reassurance relaxed me and I followed her down the steps to the car. She’d worn her hair up today. It placated me slightly and made me think that she was keeping a part of herself back. A part of her that I’d seen.
    Romano stepped out of the car to greet us. “Haven, my princess. You look so beautiful.” He kissed the back of her hand. I could do nothing but stand there and watch.
    “Mr. Harrison, or should I call you our third wheel?” He laughed heartily at his own joke. Haven smiled tightly and I glared at him in between capturing photographs of our ridiculous transportation.
    We got into the car and Romano made sure he was sitting next to Haven on the back seat while I was to her side. He arranged himself far too close to her.
    “Are you ready for the time of your life, Haven? I’ve got something very special planned for you.”
    “Are you going to tell me what it is?” Haven asked.
    “I’m taking you to Paris,” Romano replied.
    My heart stopped dead. Paris? Paris was our city. Going back there might just kill me. It had been the place I’d cracked through Haven’s hard shell, the place where she’d given herself to me. I glanced over at her but she looked away as soon as our eyes met.
    “I don’t think I can,” Haven said. “I have to be back. I’ve got house guests, I—”
    “Nonsense, we’ll be back this evening. Unless of course, by the end of the day, you’d like to stay over. I can arrange that too,” Romano said.
    My fists were clenched by my sides.
    “Louis—”
    “Shhhh.” He placed a hand on Haven’s knee, silencing her.
    “You have a ticket for Jake, right?” she