Page 4 of Broken
“She’ll order something,” Jeff said. “We need a minute.” After the server left, Jeff continued, “I thought I was taking you to the airport.”
That had been the plan.
She cleared her throat. “Jeff—”
“I wanted to ask you something before you left for your long weekend,” he interrupted.
“Uh-huh.”
He leaned forward. “I know things have been super chill with us, but I’m ready to take this to the next level. I want you to be my girlfriend.”
Jacqueline’s eyebrows shot into her forehead.This is going in the absolute wrong direction.
He set a key on the table. “The key to my heart.” He chuckled. “And my apartment.”
Her hands went clammy.Here goes. “We’ve actually been spendinglesstime together.”
“That’s because you’ve been so busy at work.”
While shehadbeen putting in long hours, she would have made time for him if he’d been important to her.
“I’m sorry, Jeff, but I don’t think it’s going to work out for us.”
His brows pinched together. “Wait, what? Are you breaking up with me?”
She stared into his deep brown eyes and studied his cute face. There was absolutely nothing wrong with him, except he wasn’t The One. She’d known that from the beginning, which is why she’d kept things chill between them.
“Yeah, I just don’t think—”
“Take this—” he slid the key toward her— “and think about it over the weekend. Maybe mention me to your family. Mom’s love me.” He tossed her a cheesy smile. “Let’s go. I’ll follow you back to your place. You can leave your car—”
The server moseyed over and Jacqueline jumped at the opportunity. Grabbing her small handbag, she pushed out of the booth. “I’m gonna take off.”
She didnotlook back as she hurried toward the exit.
Outside, the sun burst out from behind a thick cloud. Jacqueline slid on her shades and tilted her face toward the bright light. A few months ago, Jeff had told her he didn’t want anything serious, so she’d gone out with him. He was cute, had a good job, but the spark had never erupted into anything. Jeff was a nice guy who would make someone happy.
She just wasn’t that someone.
An hour later, she was checked in at the airport and waiting at her gate.
As she eyed the people walking past or sitting nearby, her thoughts wandered to dark places. Was he another stranger in the crowd? Had he stayed on the east coast or was he living in another country far, far away? Was he stalking his next victim or had he stopped killing altogether? As a federal agent, she’d spent countless hours trying to find him, but all her efforts had led nowhere.
She hated having to look over her shoulder. Hated that for ten long years she’d been living a lie. Pretending like she was okay when she wasn’t. Living in fear wasn’t really living. And living with the guilt was starting to take its toll.
She would never truly be free until he was behind bars, but finding him was like chasing the wind. Impossible.
Her phone buzzed with an incoming text.
“I’m kinda in shock,” Jeff texted. “What am I missing? I thought things were great between us.”
With her thumbs poised over the phone, she stared at his text. Rather than reply, she pulled out her laptop and started working.
She hadn’t been home since she’d been transferred—exiled—out west, and she couldn’t wait to spend the next few days with family and friends.
The flight to Dulles International Airport in the DMV—District, Maryland, Virginia—was uneventful. She worked, half-watched the in-flight movie, and opened an app she hadn’t used in months.
Eight. Long. Months.
