I dial the phone with shaking fingers.
He picks up on the first ring.
“Jacqueline? I’ve missed you doll.”
I swallow back the acidic taste in my throat and try to pretend he’s Dante.
“I’ve missed you too, Cole,” I lie.
“Have you made your decision?”
“Mhmm,” I murmur.
“And?”
“I pick you.”
I hear him sigh. “Thank God. Took you long enough, Jacqueline.”
“It’s been hard getting away from Dante. He’s always breathing down my neck. I didn’t want to call you while he was around.”
“I get that. He’s always been a bit controlling.”
Is this really happening? Cole is making this too easy.
I whimper.
“What is it, J?”
“It’s just,” I pause, swallowing, “Been hard. He’s so possessive … it gets kind of scary sometimes,” I whisper.
As I speak to Cole, I feel tears welling up in the corner of
