Broken Lovers

Chapter 3

Bali was an experience I’ll never forget; volcanic mountains, idyllic waterfalls, chilling at the beach, swimming in the crystal clear waters. I didn't want to come back, but Liam was informed while we were there that he had two serious cases waiting for him at the office. I had my phone off all the time, preferring to get right away from everything at home and really unwind, although I admit I did use Liam’s phone to make several calls to my mom. I didn’t turn mine back on until I arrived home, and I immediately wished I hadn’t. There were eight text messages waiting, all of which had been sent over the past week, and after the first one, which made reference to Benjamin, each consecutive one became more threatening and abusive. I was totally numbed. I just sat on a chair staring at the most recent one, which I’d received yesterday.

Tomorrow your life will begin to disintegrate. Come to the address previously mentioned. Be there, b***h!

The door opened and my mother came into the room. I’d woken her upcoming in late. She kissed and hugged me warmly in her usual manner. I tried to sound cheery, but I obviously didn’t succeed, as she kept asking me if I was okay. Every time, I repeated I was exhausted from the trip and eventually persuaded her to go back to bed. I went through to the kitchen with the phone in my hands. I looked at my watch. I had two hours before the anonymous person would begin to ruin my life. The phone fell from my weak grip and hit the floor hard. I cursed, and when I picked it up, it rang. It was Liam.

"How’s my baby?"

"Still unpacking. How are you?"

"Trying to catch up with everything. One of the cases is more complicated than I expected. My client was using his restaurant to smuggle drugs. Can you believe that?"

I didn't say a word.

"Are you still there, baby?"

"Yes,” I whispered.

"I need to sit down with Theo and the team to build the defense, so I won't be able to make it tonight. I’m sorry."

"No worries. Do what you have to do."

“Are you okay, baby? You sound kind of down.”

“I’m just very tired.”

"Okay, sleep well. I’ll catch you tomorrow.”

"Oh, before you go, which restaurant is it? Would I know it?”

"It’s Benjamin's Bar and Restaurant."

I made a non-committal grunt. "I’ll talk to you tomorrow."

"Kisses."

We disconnected. I felt like someone was playing a sick joke on me, but I knew it was far from being that. The person who’d snitched on Benjamin was now going to take me down as well. What was I to do? Did this person really have the evidence he claimed he had? Was it a trap? Was I in any physical danger? All I knew was that I couldn't speak to Liam. How could I tell him that I was one of the people involved in the drug smuggling? I hadn't put my working at the restaurant on my résumé - I’d felt too embarrassed to admit that I’d been skivvying for one of their clients. To admit to it now was not an option.

There was only one hour left. I had to make a decision.

It took me fifty minutes to reach the address I’d been given, and with the clock ticking down, I rang the doorbell. My hands were shaking and I was close to tears. I wanted to run away but knew I couldn't. This person held my life in his hands. What I couldn’t understand was what he wanted from me. The door opened a few centimeters.