Chapter 4

"Don't give me that pathetic look."

Leonard grabbed my arm. "Get in the car. You're going to apologize to Xandra."

I looked at him and shook my head. "Leonard, you're married. You have a child. Why won't you just let me go?"

He froze at my words. Then he caught the foul smell coming from me and covered his nose in disgust.

"You haven't been back to the villa all day, and now you show up looking like this. Are you trying to avoid taking responsibility again?

"Willa, I'm not the same Mr. Jasper I used to be. I can't protect you anymore. Come with me to the hospital and apologize to Ms. Sullivan. Do you really want to end up in jail?"

I looked up at him and let out a broken laugh.

"Leonard, search your conscience. What exactly do I owe you?"

A dull ache in my lower abdomen made my vision go black.

"You said you'd take me home. You said you'd give me a happy life. Instead, you pushed me straight into hell."

His expression changed instantly when his eyes fell on my bloodstained clothes.

"Why are you covered in blood? What happened last night? Why didn't you come back to the villa?"

Just then, Xandra's video call popped up on his phone.

Leonard hesitated before answering.

On the screen, Xandra lay propped up in a hospital bed, staring fearfully at something off-camera.

"The doctor said I'm bleeding again! Leonard, the hospital doesn't have any RH-negative blood. What am I supposed to do?"

"Don't worry! Willy has RH-negative blood. I'll bring her over right now!"

Leonard hung up and turned toward the car, but I grabbed the door and held on with all my strength.

When he turned around, the irritation in his eyes was almost palpable. "Willa, stop it!

"She's Ms. Sullivan. You can't just leave her without help!"

My fingernails dug deep into the metal edge of the car door, but I barely noticed the sharp pain in my palm.

"Leonard, look at me!"

I pulled open my torn, disheveled collar and exposed the bruises covering my neck.

"Those people at the church last night weren't priests at all. They were hired by Xandra."

"Enough!"

He violently shoved my hand away. I stumbled into the side of the car, my lower back striking the sharp edge of the door handle.

Leonard dragged me into the car without a second thought, then went straight to the driver's seat and started the engine.

"If we waste any more time, Ms. Sullivan and her baby could be in danger!"

Leonard gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white. The speedometer needle continued to climb.

Xandra called again. "Leonard, I'm in so much pain."

"Don't be scared. I'll be there in ten minutes.

"Good girl, Xandra. Just hang in there a little longer. We'll have Willy's blood in you soon."

Leonard spoke softly to her through the phone. He was so frantic that he didn't even realize what he'd called her.

My dazed profile was reflected in the rearview mirror, but Leonard never spared me a single glance.

The shadow of the overpass swept across the windows as I stared down at the endless stream of traffic below.

"Leonard, just let me go."

I used every bit of strength I had to throw myself against the car door. Leonard stared at me in shock as I tumbled out of the car.

"Willa!"

I didn't look back. I struggled to my feet and climbed onto the guardrail of the overpass.

"Leonard, stop pretending. You're married. You have a child. Just let me go."

I jumped without a moment's hesitation.

Leonard lunged toward where I had jumped, his knees striking hard against the gravel.

His fingertips barely grazed the hem of my clothes, but he caught nothing but cold air.

Leonard dropped to his knees in the middle of the empty roadway, completely lost.