Black Romance Chapter 53

For the first time ever, I had a way out . I could save the girls at the Canary, I could save myself, I could put Virgo behind bars .

Checking to make sure he was still fast asleep, I slowly and delicately slipped out of the bed . With tender feet, I walked on the tips of my toes around the giant bed . I was stunned as I kept the phone in my sight, unsure if it was really true .

I hadn't been that close to a phone in years, at least not one that I could possibly use . Virgo and Vin had their cell phones, but that was it . And there wasn't a chance in hell I'd ever be able to get my hands on either of those .

Stopping a few feet away from the end table, my hands tingled at my sides, eager to snatch it up and make a call .

Who will I call?

AdvertisementThe police?

The operator?

The lobby downstairs?

It wasn't like I had family to call . . .

My eyes fluttered to Salt as my thighs hit the edge of the table . He was still snoring, his mouth partially open . With shaky fingers I reached for the phone, pulling the receiver off . Lifting it to my ear, the sound of the dial tone was like a symphony in my head .

Closing my eyes for a moment, I let my brain remember the noise, allowing it to open old memories from my childhood . Calling my grandparents to wish them happy holidays, calling my friends from school to make plans .

My mind flooded with snapshots of my mother laughing as she talked to my grandmother and cooked dinner, the phone pinned between her shoulder and ear . Her smile as she danced around the kitchen, pulling food from the fridge and pans from the cupboard as she chatted away without a care in the world .

Tears filled my eyes as I opened them back up and muscle memory worked the keys as I made my call .

Each button made its signature beep as I pressed them down with a trembling finger . Holding my breath, I pushed the phone firmly against my ear, praying that my memory was right and the number would work .

'Mi dispiace, il numero che stai cercando di raggiungere . . . ' An Italian automatic message came through, telling me that number was out of service .

Fumbling with my lip, I listened to the operator repeat the phrase, not wanting it to be true . Pushing the phone harder against my ear, I felt like if I just waited it out, if I didn't give up, that if I listened a little bit longer, maybe it would miraculously connect .

Without warning, the phone was yanked from my hand . Salt growled, tearing the phone from the wall and throwing it across the room . Crashing against the wall, it shattered into pieces .

My heart sank in my chest as I looked up at Salt, his eyes cold and angry . Stalking forward, he grabbed me by the arms and shoved me against the wall .

The edges of his fingers dug into my arms, his hands firmly holding me in place . Glaring at me, his nostrils flared wide as his jaw clenched .

"What the fuck did you just do? Who the hell did you just call?" His eyes darted between mine, furious and irate .

"No one," I said, my voice stern and full of truth .

"Bullshit . " Taking in deep breaths of air, he spoke through gritted teeth . "Who the fuck did you call? Was it the cops?"

Shaking my head, I thinned my lips . "No, I . . . " Pausing, I closed my eyes slightly, feeling stupid for having even tried the number to begin with . "I called home . "

His hands tightened, jaw crooking . "Home? You expect me to believe that?"

Forcing my voice to steady, I could feel the tears sitting right there, ready to spill . But I didn't want to cry, I didn't want to allow those tears to consume me . "You can believe whatever the hell you want to . " Yanking my arms hard, I was able to pull them free . Standing taller, I stepped into his chest . "But don't worry, the number doesn't work anymore anyway, because she's dead . "

Salt's face went slack as his eyes softened . "What?"

"My mother, my father, my family, they're all gone . " Leaning back, I let my body rest against the wall . "They're gone . I just—" Stopping myself from saying what I was about to, I waved my hand dismissively . "It doesn't matter, forget it . "

"Finish what you were going to say . You just what?"

Chapter end