“It’s downstairs, sir,” a man answered. “Stay here. I’m sure the police will want to talk to you.” They pushed me aside and started working on Trevor. He was pale…almost grayish.
Instead of waiting like they’d asked, I ran toward the emergency staircase and pushed through the door. Trevor had said rooftop so I could only hope I’d find Micah there…alone. Seven flights but I raced past each and every one, praying that the boy I’d fallen in love with was safe.
When I reached the door that led to the rooftop pool, I shoved through and searched the area. Empty. No security guard and no Micah. My eyes scanned the area, saw no one, but noticed the hidden ladder behind the cabana. As I raced toward it, I kept asking myself why he’d run. Why hadn’t he stayed in the room where he was safe?
I froze. Oh, fuck. What had he heard? What did he think he’d heard?
My feet scrambled with the ladder and within seconds, I was on the upper roof. A strange feeling washed over me when my eyes spotted Micah’s cell phone lying on the ground. Slowly, since I was terrified, I walked toward the phone. Everything was in slow motion as I bent to pick it up. My finger swished across the screen and I punched in his password.
Trevor: I’m sorry you’re sad, Micah. You’re my best friend, even if I’m probably not yours. If I can do anything, let me know. Don’t do anything stupid. No man or woman is worth it.
Micah: You’re right. He isn’t worth it, but I’m finished…just finished.
I walked over to the edge of the rooftop. My legs trembled and my heart broke. At the edge, I looked down. People were gathered around a form on the ground and police lights flashed in every direction. Even from where I was, I could easily see the form wore a white T-shirt and black sweats…exactly what Micah had been wearing when I’d gone into the bedroom to take the call from Ari.
I fell to my knees. My heart broke. A wail of anguish ripped from my throat. He’d left me. I hadn’t been enough, but he’d become my everything.*****JinxMy head ached and my stomach rolled. Something wasn’t right. Where was I? What had happened? Where was Landon?
Memories smacked into me like a tsunami hitting land. Landon on the phone, talking with his lover, vowing he hadn’t lied to him. The words had cut me deep and broken my heart. I’d ran because it was what I always did. Trevor in the hallway. Paying the security guard to give me some time alone. Climbing the ladder. Vowing to fight for the man I loved.
Turning around and seeing my father…
“I know you’re awake, Jinxi,” he mocked. “Go ahead now; open your eyes. No reason to play games. It’ll all be over in a few minutes.” He laughed. “God, I’ve waited so fucking long to do this.”
I cracked an eye open and found him kneeling right next to me, his eyes locked with mine.
“Do you have any idea just how much I hate you, Jinxi? How much pain you’ve caused me over the years? You and your bitch of a mother,” he said. “You’ve both always thought you were better than me. She was some supermodel while I was just the man who got her knocked up, right? That’s what they all said. Do you have any idea how much that hurt me, Jinx? Nah, I guess not. You wouldn’t because you’ve always been focused on your own damn life, not pausing long enough to worry about anybody except yourself,” he spat. “Well, baby boy, it’s time to worry.”
He looked and talked like a fucking wild man. I’d never really believed my father to be a stable man, but I hadn’t known he was as crazy as a fucking loon. As I looked into his eyes, I realized there was nobody home. Sanity had pulled a full-time evacuation of the bastard. Another memory tugged at my brain.
“Oh, fuck. You killed that guy!” I accused and then rolled my head to the side, so I didn’t throw up on myself when my stomach lurched, and all the contents emptied. My own father and the four other men with him had forcibly removed my clothes and then made one of the guys in the group put the T-shirt and sweats on. After he’d done it, clearly unaware of what was about to happen, three of the guys had forced him over the edge.
His scream. I’d hear it in my head forever.
They’d killed him, just shoved him over the edge without a thought or care.
Then my father had taken my phone away, typed something in it, and dropped it on the ground. I’d tried to run, but it’d been useless. There was nowhere for me to go…unless I wanted to join the guy in my clothes. My futile escape attempts didn’t last long. The last thing I remembered was them knocking me to the ground and then shoving something over my mouth and nose. It had burned and then everything had gone black.