Break My Heart (The Heart Series Book 2) (29 page)

Halfway down the alley, the pungent smell of decay and earthy dampness makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. The dark alleyway seems to narrow, closing in on us. Will keeps advancing, checking over his shoulder to make sure I’m following.

But I’ve stopped moving. “I can’t do this.”

He appraises me in puzzlement. “I thought we were just taking a look-see?”

“I promised to help figure things out, but I can’t be here,” I announce.

Shaking his head in disappointment, he turns his back on me. Lacing his fingers behind his neck, he looks to the heavens and mutters to himself.

He finally spins in my direction, a storm brewing in those blue eyes. “Well, this is rich.” Contempt and irritation guide his massive body. “So you’re not going to help me?”

Anxiety shakes my foundation. “You don’t need me, Will. Just…concentrate. Think of your family.”

“You don’t think I’ve thought of that?” he spits back.

Has he done this before? “What are you not telling me, Will?”

“Don’t make this about me. This is about
him
, isn’t it?” He squares those colossal shoulders in challenge.

Yes, of course it is. I’m not leaving him.

“It’s not that.” Even my voice betrays me.

“Fine,” he huffs in frustration. Turning his back, he marches away from me, and farther down the alley. “Goodbye, Ileana.” His sardonic dismissal lingers in the air.

“Will, wait!” I call after him and rush to catch up. “Don’t be like this. I just can’t—”

A low rumbling boom bounces between the tall buildings, bringing with it an increasing, eerie pitch.

Shit
. “Can you feel that?” My voice is merely a whisper. My spine tingles with a zap of energy, the static electricity almost palpable.

“That high pitch is back again, do you hear it?” Will’s apprehension coats his words.

I do. Without thinking, I reach for his hand, seeking reassurance.

An invisible force is closing in the walls around us. Will firmly grips my hand, eyeing the surrounding space as it grows smaller. My attention travels to the sidewalk. Passersby go about their days without so much as glance our way. Can’t they hear it, feel it?

It’s happening, Ileana, and you’re hanging on to Will
.

“I have to go.” I yank my hand out of his, pulling away as fast as I can, but Will reaches for me.

Bright light explodes under our feet, sending us both into oblivion.

CHAPTER 26

Ileana

I blink hard, trying to shake myself alert.

Blue sky. Tall grass whistling in the wind.

The field.

Shit. Will.

“Will!” God, my head feels like it’s going to explode. Painstakingly coming to my feet, I squint against the brightness. That awful taste is back. That foul, metal acid-battery taste is back on my tongue.

“Ileana!” Behind me, Will sways to his feet, as if someone sneaked up on him and hit him over the head. These little trips are like mystical hangovers from hell. We meet halfway, checking each other over.

“You okay?”

He nods. “You?”

“Yeah. I think so.”

“We’re in the field! Are we still here?” he asks with trepidation, but I don’t really know where
here
is.

“There’s only one way to find out.” Panic fights for control but I won’t let it win. Pulling out my iPhone, I check for a signal.

Four bars.
I’ll be damned.
We’re in the field all right, and we’re still in my time. We entered an alley downtown and popped out down in Bloomingfield. Just like a rabbit hole.

Scanning the horizon, I spot that lonely tree now covered in green leaves. The low, distant hum of traffic fills the air. Looking up at the sky, I spot a plane flying overhead. I can’t contain my joy. I’m still home.

Will doesn’t seem pleased with my reaction.

“We’re still here, aren’t we?” His chest heaves with frustration. His hair is in disarray, and his nose….

“Will, your nose is bleeding a bit.”

“Forget my nose.” He wipes it furiously. “We can’t stay here.”

“You mean
you
can’t stay here.” I glower at him.

He doesn’t respond. Frustration, desperation, and something else I can’t identify flicker in his scowl.

“I need to sit down.” My head spins and my stomach revolts. Plopping myself on the ground, I pull my out phone once again. Should I call for a ride? And say what? “
Hey, pick me up down in
Bloomingfield
.
My car is uptown
.”

“Shit.”

“Could you stop cursing?” Will’s reprimand gets my attention like a loud clap. Hands on his knees, he takes deep breaths and shakes his head, mumbling to himself.

“Hey, I didn’t land us here. I was trying to help you.” It’s not like I asked for this.

“You don’t get it, do you?” he barks.

“I do, I get it. You might be stuck here. Believe me, I can sympathize.”

My brain is still playing catch up when Will approaches like a predator sneaking up on its prey. Those bright sapphires home in on me, like two blue missiles. I don’t like it. Something is going on inside that steel trap of his.

“Will, what are you doing?” I ask, getting back up on my feet and retreating from his massive frame.

“I just want to try something…,” he whispers, then his strong hands are gripping my jaw, his lips slamming down on mine. I barely have time to react before he tilts his head and deepens the kiss.

What the hell!

I shove him away with all I have left, alarm bells going off and tension flooding every part of me. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I screech as anger takes over, because I want to kill him. This man is infuriating!

“Ileana?” Shock and surprise ring in my name. He stumbles back, wearing a deflated and disheartened scowl, like kissing me would unlock all the answers, but he had the wrong key.

“Yes, Ileana! Who the hell else would it
be
?” My head pounds in confusion. “What type of game are you playing, Will Shaw?”

“It’s your heart, Ileana. What’s in your heart?” he implores.

I don’t have to think about it. “Tommy. He’s my heart.” He’s always in my heart.

Something like displeasure flashes in his expression. He stomps off, yanking up a strand of long grass then throwing it down. But the wind mocks him like it does me, snatching up the grass strand, and making it soar away like a bird taking flight.

“Will, wait.” I hurry after him, catching up only to collide with his angry gaze.

The thought I’ve disappointed him somehow eats me up.

“I’m done waiting,” he spits. “Don’t you ever wonder why?”

“Why what?” Uneasiness crushes my chest.

“Why you didn’t tell your precious Tom the truth.”

How does he even know that?

He closes in on me, grabbing my arms. “You confided in me. Told
me
the truth. You weren’t scared I wouldn’t believe you, were you?”

“No.” My voice is small, my frame responding to his proximity. I can’t peel my eyes away from him, and I don’t know why. He does something to me. Something I don’t understand.

“That’s right. You know why?” he whispers thickly, roughly.

I just shake my head no, trapped in his spell.

“Because there’s a place deep inside of you that’s known me all along.” His sapphire gaze scans my features. “You don’t wonder why that is?” he breathes, mere inches from my lips.

A high pitch pierces my skull and before I can utter a word, blinding light swallows us whole.

CHAPTER 27

Tommy

“Did you get her to sign the papers?” Victoria asks over breakfast.

“Not yet. I’m hoping my lawyer can hold the flames to her feet, and maybe she’ll give in.”

“I think it’s sweet.” I stop mid-bite and gape at her. “You know,” she shrugs, “that you don’t want us to make love until you’re divorced.” She bats her eyelashes as if it’s the most adorable fucking thing in the universe.

I smile, but not for the reason she thinks. I smile because if she was Lil and she found out the guy she was seeing was married, he’d have woken up with his own dick in his mouth.

“I don’t want to start our relationship on the wrong foot.”

It’s so easy to lie to this girl.

“I’m glad. How is working for my father going?”

“Good. The man is keeping me busy. You think he likes me?” I wink her way and she blushes.

“Of course, you’re making his little girl very happy. I’ve stopped partying, I’m officially dating, what is not to like?” she ponders suggestively.

My scalp prickles and a sense of doom strikes me, like someone just walked over my grave.

Lil
.

“Speaking of which, I’m going to call my lawyer before I forget,” I say, shooting out of my chair at the bistro.

Exiting the patio onto the sidewalk, I put my sunglasses on to hide my eyes from Victoria. She’s watching me like a hawk. I try Lil first, but she won’t pick up.

Fucking hell
. Will. He did something to her. I know it.

Lil said she needed him for information, and that’s the only fucking reason he’s still breathing. She wants to handle things on her own, so I plan to give her time.

But something is not right.

Fuck this. Charlie it is.

“Agent Ryan.”

“Hey, Charlie, are you with Harper?”

“No, why?”

“I can’t get a hold of her. She’s with that son of a bitch, Charlie. What if —”

“Calm down, man. She texted earlier. She’s uptown checking something out. I gotta get a hold of her anyway, it’s about work. I’ll text if I hear from her.”

“Copy that. Thanks, Charlie.” I end the call and turn around, almost running into Victoria.

“Who was that?” she demands, attempting coyness.

“My lawyer. He can’t get a hold of my ex.”

“Oh.” She smirks, her eyes ablaze. “You think maybe she jumped off a bridge?”

Jesus. She’s giddy. This chick is one twisted broad. “No, that’s not her style. More like delay tactics.”

“
Poo
. We should be so lucky, right?” She giggles, getting on her tiptoes and kissing my lips. I pull away and return my phone to my pocket.

“Why do you have two phones?” Her tone goes up on the last word.

Oh shit. Here comes the waterworks. The last thing I need is yet another one of her meltdowns.

“This one is on her account so she has access to it. I use my new one because I don’t want her going through my calls and trying to dig up something, using it against me.”

She looks skeptical, but pensive. Maybe she’ll buy it. My jaw ticks with pent up frustration.

Lil is alone with that so-called Will, and she’s unreachable. Meanwhile, I’m stuck babysitting this head case.

“Fine. But I don’t want to see that stupid phone again. Not when we’re together, okay?” She pouts.

“Okay.” I show my teeth in my best attempt at a smile.

She buys it. “Good. Take me shopping.”

The second she turns I check my messages to see if Lil responded. Nothing.

I try calling her again, but it goes to voicemail. By the time we reach Marcus, Vic’s bodyguard and driver, I’ve tried reaching her twice.

“Put it away!” Vic shrieks, and I glance at Marcus, both of us sighing in unison.

I can’t wait ‘til this fucking case is over.

Nothing matters but Lil’s safety. If she doesn’t answer in an hour, the hell with work;

I’m going after her.

CHAPTER 28

Ileana

My frame crashes against a brick wall, hurtling me onto my back.

Every single cell in my body hums. I’m still breathing heavily, shaken by the jolt.

One second we were in the field, and one blink later, we’re…where are we?

Struggling to get up, I scan my surroundings. The sun is battling its way through small crevices between the buildings in the cavernous alley. That pungent, putrid smell is back. I wipe dirt and debris from my palms and clothing.

Wait. I’m back in the alley, but
when
?

Christ. Please let there be a signal. There is. It’s forty minutes from the time we were standing amidst the tall grass down in Bloomingfield.

We’ve been gone for forty minutes? It felt like five.

My phone dings away, retrieving data, while I try to stop my body from shaking. There are multiple text messages and missed calls from both Tommy and Charlie. There’s also a voicemail from Tommy. I glance at the time stamps. Sent over half an hour ago.

Jesus.

I quickly shoot Tommy a text:
I’m good, please don’t worry. I’ll call you soon.
Hitting send.

“Ileana?”

Will is leaning against the brick wall a few feet away, struggling to get on his feet. His skin is bone white. With my head still spinning, I rush to help him.

“Are you okay?”

He doesn’t answer. Instead, he turns his back to me and staggers away, leaving me behind.

“Will, stop. We need to talk.” I follow behind but his long legs give him a lead.

Like crossing an invisible line, we join the world the second we step out of the alley. We’re heading toward the public parking across the street, and are just steps from my car when he slows and sways. Still trying to catch up, I don’t make it before he falls to his knees.

“Will!” By the time I’m hovering, he’s blinking away the dizziness and struggling to pull himself up.

“Please. Stop. Just, hang on—”

“I’m fine.” He holds up his hand dismissively. “I just need some rest."

He won’t even look at me.

“We lost about forty minutes and moved from one location to another.”

“So what? I’m still stuck here.” His words are clipped and bitter as he staggers to his feet.