I shrugged. “He knows I’m in London. Not even my family knows exactly where to find me. But they have my number, and my mom gave it to him. I don’t know how the system works here. I’m more than a little worried he’ll show up to drag me home.”

Alexi hung his head. “Is the phone in Faith’s name?”

“No. Sophie’s. Why?”

“Well, most people port their numbers and take them with them. The system is so backward that it likely will have Sophie’s last known address attached to it. We can check on that.”

I shook. I’d hadn’t given any thought to Easton finding me. I should have taken more precautions. But then I reminded myself that the last time I’d seen him, he’d been on the business end of a knife. He wouldn’t likely underestimate me again. “I’ll need to check and change it if I can.”

“And every time I’ve seen you, I’ve given you no reason to not be afraid of me. I’ve practically mauled you every chance I had.”

No. He couldn’t think that. “Alexi. Don’t. You’re the first man I haven’t been afraid of in five years.”

“Don’t do that, Abbie. Don’t gloss over how I’ve treated you. I knew something was up, but I pushed you too fast. Any time we’ve been alone, I’ve put my hands all over you. Jesus, I’m a prick.”

I put a hand on his knee. “Stop, Alexi.” The sound of his name on my lips must have calmed him a little because the tension ebbed out of his shoulders. “From the moment you pulled me off the street, I’ve felt safe with you. In the first thirty seconds I knew you, my instincts told me I was safe with you. I knew you wouldn’t hurt me.”

“God, Abbie, I wish I’d known. I’ve probably been freaking you out these last couple of weeks.”

“No. You’ve been opening my eyes.” And that was the truth. I didn’t have to live in a constant state of fear with him. It was easier than it ever had been with Easton. Even though there was a hazy edge to Alexi, I’d known from the beginning he would never hurt me. Physically anyway.

“Can I ask you a question?” He gazed at me through lowered lashes.

Now that my deepest darkest secret was out, I didn’t have anything left to hide. “Yeah, shoot.”

“How did you get the courage to break up with him? Men like that are dangerous.”