Page 100

“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I don’t know how this feels, but I do know you.”

“You don’t know.”

“I don’t know?”

“Not when it comes to this. Not this time. Not now.”

“I know you love her, but…”

“THIS WAS MORE THAN LOVE!” he roared, pausing long enough to stare Jonas in the eyes, his chest rising and falling. “SHE WAS A PART OF ME. MY lifeline, my…” He killed the conversation, going back to his punches.

Jonas locked his jaw. “Tell me what I can do.”

“Nothing. Just hold your stance and let me get the anger out my way.”

Jonas nodded and stayed with his brother for the remainder of the evening.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Every minute that Carla was awake, her anxiety seemed to increase.

Besides the fact that she hadn’t heard from Jacob—in a week. Any breaking news story that popped up on television or alerted her cell phone scared her to death.

Once upon a time, Carla thought she knew Lennox well enough that he would never do something so vile as blackmail her. But the hatred she felt for him now was so deep and intense that she frightened herself.

Lennox had singlehandedly ruined everything good she had going for herself, and she couldn’t rule out the possibility that he had the power to destroy her career any day now.

That wasn’t the worst of it. Carla’s student, Beverly, withdrew from the others in the class. Where she used to be loud and obnoxious right along with Carrie and Samantha, now she stewed every second, despondent and alone, in the corner of the room.

This withdrawal caused her grades to suffer. However, that wasn’t what worried Carla the most. It was the disconnect she felt to the girl. Regardless of Carla’s positive attempts to get Beverly’s attention, reconnect her with her classmates, or include Beverly in activities, the young woman wouldn’t comply.

Usually, Carla would reprimand a student with in-school or after school detention. However, those punishments didn’t seem to faze Beverly anymore. Soon, Carla quit using them altogether.

This would bewhen she would call Jacob and confide in him about what was happening with her student. But her calls were going straight to voicemail. Not in the sense that they rang until voicemail answered.

Carla knew the difference.

She was being sent to voicemail.

Jacob was seeing her call and outright rejecting her connection. Even now, as the sunset and Carla pulled into the driveway of her apartment home, she dialed Jacob.

His phone rang, once, then twice, then…voicemail.

Carla’s head dropped back against the headrest, and tears misted her eyes and ran down her brown cheeks.

She was not one to give up, but defeat began to settle in her soul.

Wheels popped against gravel as another car pulled in behind Carla. Opening her eyes but not lifting her head, Carla listened as the driver opened their door, slammed it, and seconds later, Tina was marching up her walkway to the front porch. She beat on her front door, completely overlooking Carla sitting in the front seat of her Infiniti.

Carla sighed. It was true; she’d ignored Tina from the moment she woke up in Lennox’s bed. She was surprised Tina hadn’t made her way over before now.

“I know you’re in there, Carla! Your car is in the driveway, open this door and let me in!”

Carla rolled her eyes again. Had she been in a better mood, this would’ve likely tickled her. But her silliness took a plunge right along with her sour disposition.

Seconds turned into minutes that Carla continued to wait out her friend to see if she would leave.