I stepped onto the elevator and thought about my approach here. Acting like a drunken fool was definitely tempting. And giving him a check was a nice backup plan. But…maybe honesty would work best with Mr. Pruitt. After all, he was a father. He must want what was best for his daughter. And Isabella certainly didn’t love me. I nodded to myself. Lies had messed things up with me and Penny. I was done lying. My fresh start had to be built on honesty. I stepped off the elevator, walked down the hall, and stopped outside the Pruitts’ door.
I’d tried to drink Penny away. I’d tried to exercise her away. But all I did was prove how much I needed her. I could feel her in my veins. I wanted to taste her skin again. And breathe in her exhales. The lines between want and need were blurred. But I didn’t even care. I’d win her back. I had to. I didn’t know if getting my divorce finalized truly made me worthy of her. But what I did know was that I was tired. I was just so fucking tired of hating myself so much. For just a brief moment, Penny had helped me remember what living felt like. What breathing felt like. What being happy felt like. How could I ever stop craving that feeling? Craving her?
I’d found love in a place where it wasn’t supposed to be. And no matter what anyone said, a piece of me would always know it was wrong. I knew Penny could have a better life without me. And yet…I couldn’t stay away. I wouldn’t. Not when I knew she needed me too. And I’d do everything in my power to make her happy. I’d be a good man for her. There was no other choice here. I clenched my hand into a fist and knocked on the door of the devil’s father.
As soon as I had Penny back, I’d be able to sleep again. Eat again. I’d be able to stop drinking. I’d be happy. Living life without my girl beside me was torture. I had to end this. I had to win her back. This had to be enough. Because it was all I could offer her as an apology.
And I wasn’t strong enough to let her go. I wanted to be. I wanted it desperately. But I’d never been one to resist temptation. It was how I’d wound up in this mess in the first place.
Literally. I wouldn’t be standing outside the Pruitts’ door if I had my shit together. If I’d been sober enough to put an end to this train wreck sooner. I knocked on the door again, louder this time. Where the hell was he?
I took a deep breath. Standing outside this door reminded me of all the shit I’d been through to get to this point in my life. I just wanted to be happy. With Penny. I felt the corner of my mouth lift. How could happiness be bad? Just thinking about her freely made me breathe easier again. I wasn’t sure I could exist without her.
Finally the door opened. But Mr. Pruitt wasn’t the one who answered.
And just like that, I couldn’t breathe again. I was in hell.
The woman staring back at me might as well have been a stranger. She smiled, the skin on her face stretching oddly thanks to a fresh dose of Botox. “James, darling. You’re just in time. Daddy had to step out, but I’m sure we can reach an agreement together. For old time’s sake. Here, your favorite.” She tried to hand me a drink.
“Isabella.” Saying her name out loud made me feel sick to my stomach. I ignored the drink in her outstretched hand. She knew I had a problem. She loved when I was in pain. She loved watching others suffer. She loved watching me drown. And I was drowning without Penny in my life. I couldn’t fucking breathe without her.
“It really looks like you could use a drink,” Isabella said, lifting the glass higher.
Fuck it. I needed something to get me through this terrible discussion. I grabbed the glass Isabella was offering and swallowed the liquid in one big gulp, feeling the burn down my throat.
“Feeling better?” Isabella’s words were slurred.
Or was I hearing them slurred? I tried to shake my head, but I felt dizzy. Dizzier than I should have after one drink. I wasn’t exactly a lightweight. “What did you put in here?” I said.
Isabella smiled her wicked smile. “Nothing. You feel better because you’re with me.” She put her hand on my chest and it was like I could feel her coldness seeping into me. The exact opposite of how Penny made me feel. I tried to push her away but my arms were suddenly really heavy.
“You drugged me, you psychotic bitch.”
“Language,” she said. “You know I hate when you curse. And I didn’t drug you. That would be crazy. And I’m not crazy anymore. You know I got help with that, darling.” Her eyes narrowed at me.
She most certainly was still crazy. My vision blurred and then blacked out completely. I knew better than to come here. Once you make a deal with the devil…you can’t escape the darkness.
* * *