Back to the Top (Ross Records) (3) Read Online Free PDF

you didn’t tell us that you knew them,” Jenny said and, even though I was starting to like her, I could have happily throttled her.
    “I agree,” Brad said through clenched teeth. “I can’t believe she didn’t tell us either.”
    Sensing her mistake, she took my other arm. “But I understand. I mean, you haven’t seen them in years. I bet you never thought you’d see them tonight.”
    “I didn’t,” I mumbled. “Like I said, I lost touch with them years ago. I wasn’t even sure they’d recognize me if they did see me again.”
    “Apparently, they did,” Brad said. “And were extremely happy to see you. As a matter of fact, it seems as if they’d like you to remain in contact with them.”
    I shrugged. “I don’t think that will happen. I have a new life, now. They’ll be busy with their career and stuff.”
    Brad loosened his grip on my arm. I must have said the right thing.
    “Let me give you my number,” Jenny said. “Maybe we can get together again. I don’t know my way around town and I’d love to go shopping.”
    “Okay,” I said, wriggling my arm from Brad’s grip. I retrieved my phone from my pocket and exchanged numbers with Jenny. It would be nice to have a female friend my own age, again.
    We reached our cars, turned down Kevin’s offer of a nightcap, and left. Brad remained silent as he worked his way through the complicated Chicago roads. I began to relax in my seat, watching the city lights slowly disappear from my window. I longed to weed through everything that had happened tonight but preferred to do so in the privacy of my apartment without my fiancé present. Who knew how my heart would react once I finally grasped what had happened.
    Brad pulled into the lot of my building and killed the engine. Ever the gentleman, he always insisted on walking me to my door. Usually, it was fine with me, but I was eager to be rid of his company so I could collect my thoughts.
    Once I unlocked the door, I turned to him, ready to thank him for a wonderful night. But he was having none of it.
    “Aren’t you going to invite me in for a drink?” he asked.
    The dangerous glint in his eyes stopped me from making excuses. I just opened the door and walked in, him following. As soon as the door shut, I turned to him, about to ask what he would like, when he grabbed my arms, squeezing like a vise.
    My breath left me at once as he slammed me against the wall. My heart thudded in my ears as he leered in my face, maniacal grin smeared across his lips.
    “Did you forget to tell me something, Iz ?”

 
    Four
     
    Wincing at the sharp pain in the back of my head, I shook my arms, trying to break his grip. “Let go of me, Brad.”
    “Not until you tell me what I want to know,” he said. “What was that all about?”
    “I met them in high school,” I gasped, my arms burning under his tight fingers. “I haven’t spoken to them in years.”
    Strengthening his hold, he yanked me forward to shove me against the wall again. “And I didn’t know this, why?”
    “I didn’t think it was important,” I said, fear adding an extra thump or two in my heart. I’d witnessed his temper before, but never had it escalated this far.
    “You made me look like a fool, Isabella,” he shouted, his face purple with rage. “All evening you sat there, pretending like you didn’t know those…crack heads. It certainly would have saved me some embarrassment had you told me that you knew them. The way they greeted you…”
    “I’m sorry,” I mumbled. “I never expected that we’d see them.”
    The purple hue of his face darkened as he squeezed my arms tighter. “We stood in that line for an hour. What did you think we were waiting for, the restroom?”
    “I didn’t think that we’d get in,” I explained, terror shaking my legs. “And we probably wouldn’t have if Greta hadn’t recognized me.”
    “That doesn’t explain why you didn’t tell,” he said, loosening his hold. He continued to eye me