Page 46 of Landry
"You're scaring me."
"That was never my intention." His fingers tightened on hers. "Just let me get it all out before you say anything. Can you do that for me?"
She nodded.
To her credit, she managed to sit and absorb the incredible story and the reason he had left so abruptly. Varied emotions ran a gamut inside her as she listened: joy that he had been forced to leave her, and sorrow and grief at the reasons he had to.
"He's back then. You're telling me that's the same man who wants to harm your family? What does he want with me?"
"He has obviously been watching us and figured out that we're seeing each other." Letting go of her hand, he rose and paced towards the window. Was he out there, staring at the building? He wondered.
"You should have told me."
He turned at the accusation in her voice.
"I couldn't."
"You should have given me more credit. Not even a phone call? Do you know what your leaving did to me?"
"Kady-Ann, I was trying to protect you. Furthermore, I had no idea what the hell was going on. One minute we were seeing each other and the next, I was bundled into a plane and shipped out of the country. My phone was taken from me. I had no way of communicating. The threat was real, the danger present, and I had no say in the matter."
"I had a nervous breakdown!"
Her exclamation had him staring at her in shock.
"What?"
Now that it was out, she could not stop the rest. Surging to her feet, she walked over to the fire, the cold seeping into her skin. "A month after, I kept going to your house to see if you'd returned, and I snapped. I guess I was exhausted as well because I wasn't sleeping and everything took its toll. I ended up in the hospital and spent three weeks there."
"I had to be sedated most of the time. Kyle was my anchor. He helped me snap out of it."
Landry shook his head as if to clear it, and even so, he could barely think. "You were in the hospital."
"Yes."
"Jesus. Jesus Christ." He felt sick to his stomach. "I did this to you. Good God, I did this to you and now..." He felt as if he was suffocating. "I should have stayed away from you." His eyes were burning and he felt as if a fist was squeezing his heart. "No-" He held out a hand when she started towards him. "I cannot touch you right now. I need some air."
"Where are you going?" she asked in alarm as he started towards the door.
"I need some air. I need a minute. I'm sorry." With that, he bolted from the room. By the time she dragged on her jacket and headed down the stairs, she heard the front door slam shut.
"Damn you, Landry." Whirling, she raced back up the stairs and picked up her phone to call him. When she heard it ringing inside the room, she realized he had left without it. Trying not to panic, she raced back downstairs and went to look out the window. Where was he?
Dragging the phone from her pocket, she called her brother.
"Not a good time."
"I need to talk to you."
"I'm in the middle of a consult. Can it wait?"
"How long?"
"Thirty minutes at the most. What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just call me back, please."
"Kady-"
