Page 4 of Taking Adalisa (Montgomery Syndicate #2)

ADALISA

L ike I told Matthias, I took the bracelet off as soon as I got home, but I couldn’t find it in me to throw it away. It was a really pretty, silver bracelet. Something I would pick out for myself if I saw it in a jeweler’s window.

How does he know that’s what I liked?

After rolling my neck to get rid of the tension in it, I scoff and sit in a chair. I wouldn’t be surprised if Matthias has been following me for months and months, finding everything about me that he could.

Freaky.

Terrifying.

I should be scared and going to the police, but I can’t bring myself to. There is just something about him that makes me want to get to know him more. There is a pull between us.

I haven’t seen Matthias since the munch, three days ago. Part of me is disappointed I haven’t seen him again, but the other part of me is grateful. I’ve tried so hard to get him out of my head. Though, like he said, I think about him constantly.

Infuriating.

Annoying.

How did he know I would think about him all the time? Was it a lucky guess, or did he put something in my drink that night that makes me think about him so much? He couldn’t possibly have done that. There is nothing you can put in someone’s drink to do that.

But somehow the thought of him is firmly stuck in my brain.

I think about him constantly. Every single time I do, I get frustrated with myself. How do I get him out of my head? Every single thing reminds me of him, especially at work, where I met him several times without knowing it.

“Still thinking about the speed dating?” Margery asks.

I look over at Margery and nod. “Sadly.”

“It went that badly?” She sits down next to me at the counter.

It went that badly but at the same time, it went amazingly. I felt comfortable around Matthias until he told me everything he knew about me to the people at the munch.

“Adalisa?” Margery asks. “Are you all right? Did something happen that we need to notify the police about?”

“No, we don’t need to call the police,” I gently reply. They won’t be able to do anything.

I don’t know who Matthias is, but he has a bad boy aura about him. Him telling me the police will pretend like they saw nothing is running around my head. Who could he be that is so terrible that the police don’t want to get involved?

Unless he is paying them to stay out of his business. They would if he paid them enough.

“It went how I thought it was going to go. It was okay during times, and other times I was horrified,” I reply honestly. “Some things shocked me. I know they shouldn’t, but they did.”

Now I’m lying. But I don’t need Margery to worry about me, not when she is starting finally forget about Ethan. She should have done that a long time ago, but she really loved him.

“If any of them follow you or harass you in any way, let me know. We can go to the police. I’ve gotten to know one of them really well since Ethan died. He was there for me when I needed someone,” she whispers.

“I think he just wants to get with you,” I point out and instantly regret it. “Shit. Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. It was uncalled for and rude of me.”

Margery chuckles and shakes her head. “You think I didn’t know that already?

He was making some pretty obvious advances toward me.

I’ve told him no several times, and he stopped.

He was there for me in the end. I haven’t talked to him in years, but I know he still works there. He will listen to you.”

I raise my hand. “I don’t need to talk to him. Nothing is going on. Everything is fine, I promise.”

Another lie.

I hate lying to her, but I don’t need her to worry about me. Not when she is finally coming out of her shell. I don’t need her to retreat when she finds out someone has been to our workplace and has been following me.

That will freak her out.

“If it changes, you tell me right away.” Margery points a finger at me. “I don’t want anything to happen to you. Not when you are the only person I like in this city.”

“I thought you liked Ethan’s sister, Bonnie?” I ask.

“I haven’t talked to her in eighteen years.

We were friends, and I loved her, but she’s probably forgotten about me by now.

” Margery looks down at her hands. “I want to talk to her again, but I don’t want her to remember Ethan and it make her sad.

I don’t know if she would, but I also don’t want to trigger her if she isn’t ready. ”

“It’s been eighteen years,” I repeat.

Her shoulders slump. “Eighteen years, and yet it feels like yesterday. I don’t know how she’s feeling, but she was a lot closer to him than I was, and I was really close to him.

If I can’t look at myself in the mirror without thinking about Ethan, I don’t want to think about what Bonnie is going through. ”

I sigh. “Shit. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said it like that. Eighteen years is a long time, but you lost someone you thought you were going to spend the rest of your life with. I shouldn’t have said that.”

She gives me a small smile. “It’s okay. I know what you meant. I’m not mad. It’s just hard sometimes.”

Now I feel like a jerk for saying that. I’ve never lost anyone like Margery has, yet I’ve just insulted her for taking so long to get over him.

“No, it’s not okay. I shouldn’t have done that. It was insensitive of me.” I hold my hand in the air. “I really shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, Adalisa. I promise it’s okay.

I know you didn’t mean it badly. It has been eighteen years, and while some people might be over it and only grieve the person for a short time, I’m not there yet.

I think about him constantly. The love we had for each other was like nothing I’ve ever encountered before, and I’m sad I may never be able to feel that again.

” She gives me a small smile. “But I have to have faith that I might, or my life is going to be pretty depressing.”

I grab Margery’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “You will find love again, I promise. There is someone out there for you. Someone you will love as much as you loved Ethan. Will they replace him? No, but they will stand right next to him in your heart.”

Margery wipes away tears from her eyes. “I hope so.”

The bell rings, signaling we have a customer.

“Welcome! If you need anything, let us know. We’ll gladly help you.” Margery raises her voice.

“Is there an Adalisa who works here?” a man calls out.

My whole body freezes as I look up. Is Matthias here? He can’t possibly be; that isn’t his voice. Whenever I think back to helping those guys, I remember their voices were the same.

“She’s right here,” Margery says for me. “What can we help you with?”

“I have a package for her.” The delivery man walks over to us and holds out a small package.

I take him in, trying to find similarities with Matthias, but he doesn’t look anything like him. He’s much shorter than Matthias.

“Thank you,” I gently reply, grabbing the package.

I look down at the box in my hand, not wanting to open it here. I know it’s from Matthias.

“Who’s it from?” Margery asks once the courier leaves.

“An old friend,” I lie. “I wasn’t expecting this for another week. I thought it was coming to my house, not work.”

“Is it something bad?”

I shake my head. “No, it’s not.” Another lie.

“Well, open it then,” Margery urges me. “Open it and show me what it is.”

I hold it against my chest. “I don’t think I want to right now. It’s really private if I remember correctly. He wouldn’t want me to show it to anyone else.”

“What is so private? Is it his semen? Or maybe some dick pictures?” Margery chuckles. “It can’t be that private.”

I have no idea what it is, and that worries me. What is Matthias sending me now?

“Come on, I promise if I ever meet this friend that I won’t tell anyone. You can trust me.” She winks.

“I do trust you, but I don’t want to betray his confidence.” I look at her.

“Did he tell you that you couldn’t show anyone?” Margery asks.

“No, he didn’t,” I sigh.

“So, open it. You may want me near you in case you get emotional,” Margery suggests.

Taking a deep breath, I rip open the package and nearly drop the contents if it weren’t for Margery holding my hands up.

“A bracelet?” Margery questions. “There is nothing special or embarrassing about that. Unless there is some hidden meaning behind it.”

It isn’t just any bracelet. It’s the bracelet I took off the night of the munch and left on my nightstand next to my bed.

“Oh! There’s a note!” Margery squeals, picking up the piece of paper before I can.

“No!” I raise my voice, but it is too late.

“Oh,” she whispers as she reads it.

Worry churns in my stomach as I stare at her. What could he have possibly written in there for her to just say, “Oh?”

Is it something bad? Naughty? Stalkery?

“Give it to me,” I demand, holding my hand out.

Margery hands me the note, and I quickly read it.

Matthias

You left this on your nightstand. I want you to wear it when you go out. Protection. Wear it at night if you want me to know.

“An old friend who you left your bracelet at his house?” Margery asks. “Is there something more with him? What aren’t you telling me?”

I open and close my mouth several times as I stare at the note. What am I supposed to say?

“Adalisa?” Margery gently touches my arm. “Are you okay? Do you need to go home? You know I can look after the shop if you need to leave. I’ve been here several times on my own. No one has to know you went home early.”

I shake my head. “No, I don’t need to go home. I’m just a little shocked.”

“How?”

“I didn’t think I left it at his house,” I whisper. “I thought I had misplaced it at mine.”

All a lie, another one I will need to stay on top of. How am I going to tell her the truth? I can’t ever, not unless I want her to look at me like I’m crazy and completely out of my mind for not going to the police when I first met Matthias.

“I swore I left it on my nightstand, but I couldn’t find it,” I mumble, lying even more.

“What does he mean it will protect you? Do you have some kind of kinky stuff going on with him?” Margery asks.

I stare at her with wide eyes. Her question immediately pulls me out of my shock.

“No!” I shout. “We don’t and we never will. We are just friends. I don’t want any more with him.”

We aren’t even friends, but he knows me better than my best friend.

“Why don’t you want anything else with him?” Margery asks. “If he cares about you this much, you should go with it. It’s time you found someone who loves you for you.”

If only she knew the truth, she wouldn’t be saying those things. But she doesn’t; she can’t.

“It’s complicated,” I mumble. “Everything is complicated with him.”

“You can talk to me about it if you want. I’m a good listener.” Margery places her hand on my shoulder.

“I don’t really want to talk about it, but thank you. I appreciate it.” I smile at her.

I look down at the bracelet, running my fingers over it. It’s my style, and I want to wear it, but I don’t want to give Matthias the satisfaction of knowing I am. I don’t want him to think I have any interest in him.

I can’t.

“Well, put it on,” Margery urges me. “Did he buy the bracelet for you, or did you just leave it at his house?”

“He bought it for me.” I can’t help but tell her the truth.

“He knows you well. Simple and elegant. Wear it so you don’t lose it. Then, when you get home, you can put it away safely if you don’t want to wear it anymore,” Margery suggests. “But if you don’t want to, we can put it in the safe until you leave.”

I bite my lip, looking down at the bracelet once more. “No, I’ll wear it until I get home.”