Cry For You (Fallen Star #2) (15 page)

I got the shop and that crazy bitch was waiting for me. Brownie had driven me but he waited out of sight in the car. We had no idea how that bitch would react if she knew someone else was with me. Even with the police on the way, this was up to me. I couldn’t trust them not to cock things up.

“I knew you’d see sense. That you really did want to be with me. We’ll be together forever now.”

I couldn’t let her touch me. I had to find out where Ruby was and get her free.

“What’s wrong, Tex?”

The crazy bitch leaned against the pizza shop counter. She gave me a look that churned my stomach.

“Where’s Ruby? You told me you’d let her out when I got here.”

I walked through to the back of the shop. The smart thing would’ve been to keep sweet-talking her, letting her think that I was playing along with her sick game, at least until Ruby was free but I couldn’t stand the thought that Ruby was so close.

“Let’s get to know each other first.”

She moved closer to me and ran her fingers along my cheekbone. That repulsed me and I had to step back.

“Remember you told me you liked my hair? I did it like that again.” She smiled at me.

How could she even talk like that? The crazy went right to her bones.

“Release Ruby and we can talk.”

“Not so fast. She’s not going anywhere.”

As she said that, her gaze went to the back of the shop. Ruby had to be back there somewhere.

I ran to the back of the shop. The door was locked but there had to be a way back there. She followed after me, pushing me against the door with her body.

I turned and flung her off me.

“I’ve done everything for you,” she said.

“You’ve done nothing.”

I glared at her. She was so close to me, I could smell her rancid breath and the sour sweat smell of her body.

“You want me, you know you do. Just admit it and we can release that witch later. If the rats haven’t eaten her.” Then she laughed.

That made me so angry. I grabbed hold of her and flung her against the wall. A glow of victory lit up her eyes. I pressed my arm against her throat. I wanted to smash her face in, to obliterate her but I couldn’t. I wished she was a man so I could let out every violent urge I had inside me.

“Where is the key to the back door?” The door was solid wood. I needed that key.

“I don’t know.”

Again, her gaze betrayed her. She looked at a shelf near the door. I reached up and found a set of keys.

“They’re not the keys and she’s not here. I lied. I’ve got her somewhere else. Somewhere safe. You’ll never find her.”

She rushed at me, grabbing for my arms. I tried to get the key in the lock but she kept at me. I’d push her away but she’d back, clinging at me.

“I just wanted you to love me. You do love me, don’t you, Tex? You came here for me…” She sobbed and cried and gripped onto me.

In the distance, I could hear sirens. The police had finally been spurred into action.

One of the keys had to fit in the lock.

“Just give me five minutes,” she pleaded.

Finally, I found a key that fit. I turned it in the lock and the door opened.

“Don’t leave me. You promised me. I’ve loved you for so long. Just let me explain.”

I ran from her pleading. The back of the pizza shop was a rumble. Some cars were parked in a courtyard and there were a few tumbledown buildings.

I could hear a thumping noise and rushed towards it. That building in the back corner, it sounded like it came from there.

A rusty bolt held the door locked. I pulled it back as I heard the police siren outside the shop. They could deal with the crazy woman. She had followed me out but had collapsed in a heap in the courtyard.

I dragged the shed door open, praying Ruby would be inside and she’d be safe.

I wasn't sure what happened after that. I was in shock. I heard sirens and things going on around me but I just wanted to get out of there and go home.

"We have to wait. They want you to go to hospital and you'll have to make a statement to the police."

I nodded but I wouldn't let them take Tex from me. I needed him with me. I never wanted him to let me go. If he tried to move, I cried out. He'd cut the tie around my hands and put his jacket around me. Someone gave me a bottle of water. I trembled in his arms, almost afraid to believe that this was real and he was with me.

When they wanted to take me in the ambulance, I screamed out. I didn't want to move or go anywhere. I wanted to stay in Tex's arms. I gripped him tight.

"Don't cry, Ruby. I'll be with you."

I clung to Tex. If he was with me, I'd be okay. But they gave me a sedative and I woke up in a hospital bed. I wasn't sure where I was and panicked that I was back in that shed. I clawed for something safe to hang on to. Tex took hold of my hands and held me until I calmed down. He sat on the side of the bed and stroked my hair.

"It's okay. She's been arrested. She can't hurt you now."

I didn't say anything; I just gripped him tighter.

"I'm sorry I didn't protect you. You told me from the start there was something wrong with her. I thought I’d try to calm you, to convince there was nothing wrong but that made it so much worse."

I tried to talk but I couldn't. He handed me a cup of water from the bedside table and held it to my mouth. It was then I realised I had a drip attached to me.

I took some sips from the cup. Then I noticed the things around me. Balloons and flowers. Even some cards set up on my dressing table. Wow, for someone with no friends, there sure were a lot of things around.

"Most of those are from Hannah and Lizzie. The roses are from me." He blushed a little when he said that, like he was super embarrassed about buying flowers. "The teddy bear is definitely from Lizzie."

"How long have I been here?" I asked. I hadn't realised I'd been there long enough to accumulate gifts.

"Overnight. I've been here all night, watching over you. I'm so sorry that I let that happen to you. I've met some freaky fans in my time but nothing like that. I should've taken you seriously when you told me about her."

I shook my head. "I was the stupid one. I got a message from you, but she’d faked it somehow. I went into that shop. I should’ve been more careful."

Tex squeezed my hand. "She's been arrested. The police want you to make a statement. There's more than enough evidence to convict her but if you want to testify, that will make the case so much stronger."

I nodded. It'd be difficult but I didn't want that woman out in public inflicting her crazy on other people. If she was locked up behind bars, she’d not be able to reach me.

"When can I go home?"

"Soon. You have to get strong. And it's been a huge shock for you."

"But I came through it."

"You sure did."

I moved my blanket so it half covered him as well. I couldn't get close enough to him.

"And you never believed that message? That I'd leave you?"

"Hell no. Not for a minute." He laughed. "You'd never leave your laptop behind."

Our eyes met, the shock of his smile being far too intense for me in my weakened condition. Warmth flooded all through my body. I could hear all the noises of the hospital, doctors being paged and machines working. I sure as hell didn't need my heart monitored. It pounded so loudly.

I remembered the pact I'd made with myself in that shed. There were words I had to say to him but they'd be the hardest words I'd ever have to say. I couldn't handle it if he looked away from me, not able to respond. Still, a pact was a pact.

"I love you, Tex," I whispered. I waited, butterflies going crazy in my stomach.

He moved to kiss me. "I love you too," he whispered back.

I never thought I'd be the type of girl to walk the red carpet but I dug deep inside myself to find the strength for Tex. The thought of all those eyes and cameras on me was worse than the thought of facing up to a room full of big, hairy spiders.

I'd also never imagined I could look so good. It was like a miracle. A miracle of good makeup and expensive fashion. Of course, Hannah was responsible for that. I wouldn't have even known where to start. The dress, I'd have never picked something like that in a million years. It fit tighter than a glove with hardly anything in the back. Tiny sequins covered the fabric so that I sparkled with every move.

My face didn't even look like my own. My skin was so flawless and my eyes were as big as saucers. Saucers surrounded by huge eyelashes. Wow! I thought I’d never stop looking at myself but then Tex walked into the room dressed in his tux.

Holy shit! That man was sex.

"You are playing guitar in that?" I asked.

"No, I have to do a quick change before we perform. I look like an idiot." He tugged at his shirt.

"You sure as hell don't."

Even though I’d not been out of the hospital long, they’d thought I was okay to go to the Awards so long as I didn’t exert myself. It would be the first time I’d left the house since all the shit had gone down. I’d mostly been relaxing. Tex fussed around me like I was an invalid but there really hadn’t been that much wrong – mainly dehydration and hunger. And some bruising.

I wasn’t sure how I’d be able to walk on the heels but I had Tex to lean on.

When I got to the front door, my legs almost collapsed beneath me. All the breath was being squeezed out of me by a leaden weight. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t go out there.

Sweat flooded my body but I shivered from the clamminess.

“Are you okay?” Tex asked.

I shook my head, unable to talk. I couldn’t go out there. I couldn’t leave the house. The flood of anxiety and panic overwhelmed me. I wanted to do this one thing for Tex but I felt like if I left the house, I’d die.

How could I expect him to understand? All those old issues had come flooding back.

My head swam as Tex helped me back inside. This was it. The end. My world was about to shatter. I knew it and I could do nothing to stop it.

Thanks for reading Cry for You. I hope you enjoyed it.

Coming up next :

So finally our house has been rebuilt and Tex is on track with his career. But where does that leave me? Tex thinks we can build a future together but I worry that I’m too damaged to be with him.

It doesn’t help that the man who almost destroyed me in the past comes back into my life.

How can Tex help me when he has cracks appearing in his own life? He thinks he’s dealt with his sister’s death but he’s in denial.

Is the love we share enough to overcome the ghosts of our pasts?

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Hannah Sorrento never planned to be a band manager. She’s a princess and the toughest obstacle she's had in life is finding shoes to match her outfit.

Then her father disappears and leaves her with only the money in her purse and a management contract for hot, indie band, STORM. She plans to sell the contract, one way or another, then pack up her designer wardrobe and head back to law school. But lead singer, Jack Colt, has other ideas. 

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Tamaki is everything Jack isn't and, with their similar backgrounds, he and Hannah form a bond. He offers her safety and security as well as a return to her luxurious lifestyle. But the passion Jack arouses in Hannah won't be denied.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J83LEVO

Life is sweet for Hannah and Jack. Finally, they're together and Jack’s band, Storm, have been signed to a major label after completing a successful tour. Then tragedy hits the band, sending Jack off the rails. Hannah wants him to make peace with the demons from his past but he refuses to take action. Meanwhile, Hannah has problems of her own when her father’s crimes are exposed, and are much worse than she’d ever expected.

Are they damned beyond repair or can their love redeem them?

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Or get the complete story in one book (it’s cheaper that way)!

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