She sighed with relief. Now all she had to do was grab her passport and identity document, pack a small bag and she’d be on her way. A shiver of fear ran up her spine. She reminded herself of how Ellis had just lain there on the floor. He’d looked broken. She didn’t want him to be dead but she hoped that he was still incapacitated. She prayed hard that she wouldn’t run into him. Not now, not ever again.

Please, no!

She took a couple of deep breaths. She was being silly. Ellis wasn’t waiting for her. The back of her neck prickled despite the pep talk she’d just given herself.

Candy inserted the key into the lock and quickly let herself in, locking the door behind her. She put her back up against the door. She was safe while she was inside.

Her house was quiet. It smelled musty. “Shit!” she said. Her voice the only thing that sounded in the house. Her plants were brown and limp and dead. On the up side, it didn’t feel like anyone had been in her space. She huffed out a breath.

Right, she needed to get packed and to get the hell out of this town. There was nothing left for her here. She felt a pang. If she left, Torrent wouldn’t know where to look for her.

Stop it!

He wasn’t coming for her. He was a huge asshole of epic proportions. Guys with egos like him didn’t ever admit to being wrong. They blamed the other person. They didn’t chase after anyone, nor did they apologize. It wasn’t going to happen. Even if it did… by some small miracle… there was no way she could ever forgive him. He’d hurt her too badly. Candy had spilled her guts to him and he’d really hurt her.

To think that he expected her to just jump into bed with him when he presented her with jewelry. She could see he was hurting and angry but it was no excuse. Sky had been wrong, he was never going to be able to get over her past. He was the biggest damned hypocrite alive. She wasn’t going to think about him again.

Not ever!

It floored her how he could be so kind and loving and so cruel. Why had he done it? What had gone through his mind?

No!

She wasn’t thinking about this. It hurt too much. So much so that she struggled to breathe. A sob left her and she covered her mouth and squeezed her eyes shut. It was done. She wasn’t about to cry. Torrent didn’t deserve her tears. Asshole.