Please Natasha.
I'm frantic.
I love you more than anything.
I stand and start to shake my hands. Should I go back? Maybe I should just listen to him? It was just once. I cry out loud as the pain lances through my chest. Once is one too many times, asshole.
Natasha,
Please tell me you are alright.
Where are you?
I pull my feet up into a foetal position. My phone beeps a message. I look at the screen. It's Max.
Natasha, it's me.
Let me come get you.
Can I trust him? I put my hand over my mouth as I think. He texts again.
Where are you?
I will not tell him.
I stand as I exit the stall and start to pace. I catch sight of myself in the mirror. Bloody hell, I look like something from a Halloween movie. Makeup is smeared all over my face.
Natasha, trust me.
You have my word.
Fucking hell. What am I going to do? My hands shake as I put them over my mouth to think. My phone beeps again. Joshua
Tash, I'm begging you.
Come back. Let me explain.
I grab my head in my hands. How can you explain having sex with someone else? There is no explanation. The harsh reality is that while I hit rockbottom on the other side of the world, after murdering my father, he was making passionate love to another woman. A woman he swore he had no feelings for. A woman who I know he loves and could no longer resist.
A text beeps. It's Max.
Natasha, listen to me.
He is tracking your phone as we speak.
You need to tell me where to meet you.
I have your passport and ID with me.
Holy shit. He's tracking my phone. Why does he have to be so damn smart? Fuck, Fuck, Fuck. I shake my hands as my body courses with adrenaline.
I text.
I need to get back to Australia.
He replies.
I know, honey. He has men on the way to the airport.
He's beside himself.
Are you sure you want to do this?
I text.
He's been sleeping with Amelie.
He replies.
I'm not sure if that's true.
I text back.
Forget it. I don't want your help.
He replies.
Meet me at the Greyhound bus station
1716E 7TH Street
Los Angeles
Take out your simcard and put it in the bin.
Holy crap. Simcard in the bin. What do I need from my phone?
I quickly run to the counter and ask the attendant. "Have you got a pen please?"
She smiles and nods. "Sure."Her eyes scan my face and I can see her brain ticking at my frantic appearance.
I quickly take it and copy the address from Max's text onto the back of my hand. And write down Bridget and Abbie's phone numbers. I hand back the pen. "Thank you." My stomach fills with dread as I remove the simcard and put it into the bin. I then turn and, running on total autopilot, walk straight out the door and hail a cab.
Natasha's haunted eyes search mine, the door opens and we both look in its direction. Amelie walks in.
"Get out!" I scream.
"He's all yours." Natasha cries as her face falls.
I lunge for her as she dives out of the way. "Natasha … Natasha come back." She bursts out of the door and runs down the corridor.
The heart-rate monitor starts to scream as the nurses burst through the door. "Get the fuck out of here, Amelie." She looks at me in shock. "Where the fuck are the bodyguards?" I scream at the nurses.
"What the hell is going on with you? You're acting crazy," the nurse snaps.
"Unhook me … please hurry." I glare at Amelie. How could she do this to Natasha?
"And so she runs again," Amelie whispers as she folds her arms in front of her.
My anger hits a new level. "So help me god if you don't get out of my sight I'm going to fucking kill you!" I scream and the nurses gasp at my threat. I am finally unhooked and I run down the hall looking for her. I'm frantic, and my heart rate is going through the roof. I find myself close to tears as I run up and down the corridor desperately searching the rooms for my love. She's hurt … and it's my fault … again. The lift opens and Cameron walks out. He frowns as he sees me shirtless frantically running down the hall.
"What the hell are you doing?"he frowns.
I put my head into my hands. "Amelie told Natasha. She made it sound like I was in love with her."
Cameron's eyes widen. "Where's Tash?"
"I don't know. She ran off before I could explain. She's alone and she has no money. This is my worst fucking nightmare. She has been gone for ten minutes."
"Have you called her?" Cameron asks.
My eyes widen. Shit, why didn't I think of that? I run back to the room to retrieve my phone. Amelie is sitting on the bed.
"Why are you still fucking here? I told you I want nothing to do with you. I told you that on Friday night," I scream.
"Joshua. You love me, I know you do," she cries.
"No I don't, you're delusional." I shake my head and dial Natasha's number as Cameron walks into the room.
"I've had enough of you. What a bitch you are. How could you do that to Natasha?" Cameron yells.
It rings out and I start freaking out. Pick up baby … please pick up, my heart starts to thump through my chest. "Where are the guards? Where's Max?" I yell
Cameron shakes his head as he grabs Amelie by the arm. "I said get out."
"I only listen to Joshua," she snaps as she rips her arm from his grip. I dial the number again … it rings out again. What am I going to do? My glare turns to Amelie. When Tash comes back, I do not want her here. Max walks through the door with three coffees.
"Here we go." He smiles.