Free Hold On - Part Three (The Hold On Series Book 3) by Tabitha Levin

Chapter 1
     
    Seeing the gun in Ethan’s hand is making my blood run cold. I can feel the icy shiver as it makes its dance up and down my spine. All I can think about is what it’s capable of doing to someone. My mouth is dry and I swallow in a futile attempt to wet my throat.
    Lili is standing to my left. She’s close enough that I can smell the shampoo in her hair. I know the scent well because it’s mine. My shampoo. She’s taking over my house, my boyfriend, my life. Ever since she has come into my life, everything has gone wrong.
    I ignore Lili’s last comment to me. She’s trying to unnerve me. She’s trying to unhinge me. If I let her, she’ll succeed.
    “Ethan, I need to talk to you. Right now.” I push further into the room. The tone in my voice makes it very clear this isn’t something he can brush off. I’m tired of him not taking my concerns about all of this seriously.
    I thought we had something together. I still do, but he has to tell me straight what’s going on. He says he wants to protect me, but I’m tired of being protected. My chest heaves as I take a deep breath to settle my nerves.
    He stands up and tilts his head to the side as he studies my face. As he looks between Lili and me, he agrees. “Yep, okay then.”
    Finally.
    The gun is still in his hand and I shudder before tearing my gaze away from it. Seeing him holding that weapon makes everything real. He’s no longer just my roommate with a bad past anymore, this is right here in my face, in my apartment, in my life. In my heart.
    As I take a step toward him my cell phone rings. I’m momentarily distracted and I turn my head in its direction. I don’t know who is calling me right now, and I don’t care. I’m not going to answer it. I can’t.
    “It’s your sister,” says Ethan as he glances down at the screen. He reaches over and picks it up, holding it out for me. “Are you going to answer it?”
    I stride past Lili, ignoring the scowl that has returned to her face, and take the phone from him pressing the decline button. I can talk to my sister, Tessa, later when this sorry mess is over. Now is not a good time.
    I place my phone back onto the counter and turn around, taking a step away from Ethan. As much as I want to be close to him, to let him take all this away, I can’t be near him while he’s still holding the gun in his hand. I’m not sure I can even be in the same room. I look down at it in his hand, and notice the muscles in his arm are tense and alert.
    “Ethan, please put that thing away and come down with me to the beach where it’s quiet and I can think straight. We can be alone there.”
    He looks across at Lili and then back to me, nods once then bends down, placing the gun back into the brown bag and takes it into his bedroom. He closes the door behind himself after he returns. It’s a subtle gesture that indicates he doesn’t want Lili going back in there. I don’t look back over at her to see whether she gets the hint or not.
    My phone rings for the second time, but I still ignore it. I’ll check my messages when I get back. My sister can be persistent, but she needs to understand I have my own life.
    I grab my keys and walk ahead of him. I know he’ll follow me but I don’t wait, I can’t. I take the stairs down to the ground floor in two’s.
    The sooner I get the answers the better and I’m tired of waiting for him to provide them. I won’t wait anymore - this is it. He either opens up to me and tells me everything, or I walk away. I’m still strong enough to do that.
    I hope.
     
     
     

Chapter 2
     
    When I reach the water’s edge, I kick off my shoes and wade in ankle deep to where the waves lap at the shore. I need to ground myself with this simple gesture before I turn and question him. The breeze is gentle and cool against my face and I can taste the salt air on my lips.
    I close my eyes and take a deep calming breath before I turn around.
    Ethan is watching me carefully, his