Among the Echoes(76)

"You are so full of shit. Now tell me what the f*ck is really going on?" I demand.

"Just tell her I went to run an errand, maybe close down the old apartment or something."

"I’m not lying to her. If that’s the bullshit you want to tell, then do it your damn self," I bite out, closing the bedroom door just to be sure she can’t hear the conversation.

"I can’t live like this anymore," he says in a sad tone that is more alarming than the actual words.

"What the f*ck is going on with you? You’re not making any sense here. Are you going on vacation to clear your head or are you leaving for good?"

"I don’t know yet," he snaps as his frustration wins over the turmoil. "Here. I wanted you to have this. It’s the file I’ve been making since I was undercover. It documents everything from the first night I met Erica to the present. If anything happens while I’m gone, you turn that over to the police. I left the phone number of my contact at the program. If anything happens, you call them first, get her sorted, then you disappear. She won’t leave you, but you have to swear to me that, if you can’t get in touch with me, you will leave her in their custody."

"What the f*ck are you talking about? God damn it. You are not leaving her like this. Not until you start making sense and tell me what the hell is going on," I bark, but he ignores me and continues to talk about Erica.

"It will break her heart to lose you, but you have to swear you will put her back in the program."

"No," I say simply, but that one single word makes him explode.

He suddenly pushes me back against the wall, holding a forearm against my throat. His eyes are feral and his chest heaves as he pins me. "God damn it. I’m not f*cking around here. Swear to me!" he roars.

"What’s wrong?" Erica questions as she rushes into the hallway. She’s soaking wet and wrapped in her bathrobe.

As if a switch was flipped, Leo instantly transforms. He takes a step away, plastering on a fake smile as he turns to look at her.

"Hey, babe. Your boyfriend here was just pissing me off. Same shit, different day." He smiles and takes a step toward her. "I’m going to go run some errands. You want me to pick up dinner?" he says nonchalantly, blatantly lying.

Her eyes flash between us, but even as I stand stunned, Leo looks positively unaffected. It doesn’t take but a few seconds before she lets go of her concern. Knowing Erica, she doesn’t really want to know if something is wrong anyway.

"No, I’m going to cook tonight."

"All right. Well, I’m heading out." He gives her shoulder a squeeze, but his emotions manage to escape from behind the mask.

"Where are you going?" she asks, sensing his discomfort.

"I’m just going to hit the store, maybe pick up some movies. Any requests?" He gives me a nod and turns to walk away.

"You’re lying," she calls as she follows him down the hall.

He walks towards the door, pausing only to pick up his duffel bag. "I’ll be back," he says, never turning to face her.

"Since when do you need a bag to go to the store? Seriously, where are you going?" she asks, and I can see the panic escalating inside her. I try to pull her into my arms, but she bats my hands away. "Where. Are. You. Going?" she finally yells at him.

He turns around but he doesn’t look at her. Instead, his eyes find mine. "You need to hold on to her. She can’t follow me down and make a spectacle on the streets."

"Where are you going?" she yells again while stepping up into his face. But even though she’s crowding him, he ignores her completely.

He holds my eyes from across the room and gives me one final plea, "Swear to me."

And with those words, I know without a doubt that this will be the last time I ever see Leo James. Where he is going and why are still a mystery, but as I look into his eyes, I know that he has absolutely no plans of returning.

"I swear," I respond even though I’m not sure I could ever let Erica go, but I have a feeling he needs to hear it.

He sucks in a deep breath and closes his eyes. A small smile of relief tilts the corner of his mouth as I can physically see the invisible weight lifted from his shoulders.

"Leo, please talk to me. Where are you going?" Erica begins to cry as she begs for the answers I can tell he has no intention of giving her.

He suddenly opens his eyes and pulls her into a hug, breathing in the scent of her damp hair. "I love you. You’re safe now, Erica."