Nowhere to Run (Stephanie Carovella) Read Free

land.
    “It’s late. What if she’s not on it?” He snapped, quelling the urge to light up a cigarette. He’d quit smoking four weeks ago after Angel had forced him to and his girlfriend, Ana, was making him stick to his promise.
    Smiling, he knew if he lit up then Ana would make his life a living hell until he begged for forgiveness. She had that effect on him. There was only one other woman who could drive him just as crazy and she was 45 minutes late.
    He didn’t know what made him more nervous – the fact one of his best friends would be back where she belonged or the fact his heart seemed to be skipping an extra beat just at the thought of seeing her again.
    Not wanting to dwell on his feelings, he glanced at the man standing beside him. He didn’t like the way Jesse was reacting to Angel’s death. He acted like it wasn’t such a big deal; as if he hadn’t discovered one of his best friends raped and murdered. It wasn’t right. It wasn’t natural to grieve like this.
    Yet, he also understood Jesse’s desire to block the grief out. He hadn’t completely grieved himself. It was still too surreal for him. Every time he thought of Angel dead, his heart constricted. Nothing felt like it was ever going to be the same again.
    “Plane’s landing.” Jesse muttered, staring at Ben from behind dark shades he refused to take off. He started walking towards the arrivals terminal, not waiting for Ben to follow him.
    Part of him had dreaded seeing Ben again when he’d arrived back in L.A, and the same feelings were now reserved for Stephanie. He knew she’d tell him to mourn, but he couldn’t. He wouldn’t mourn until he buried the bastard who’d hurt Angel. He wouldn’t sleep until whoever killed Angel was sent to hell.
    Stephanie strode through L.A.X’s arrival terminal, scanning it for Jesse and Ben. Spotting them immediately, she slid on dark shades to hide her shadowed eyes.
    She was suddenly filled with a deep sadness, the urge to run to both Jesse and Ben and hold them tightly, almost overpowering her. She wanted to just hold them, and never let them go. Quelling the urge to cling to them and break down crying, she took a deep, calming breath.
    “And then there were only three,” she whispered to herself.
    Her smile faltering, she lifted her hand and waved. Drinking in the sight of both of them, she smiled at the obvious contrasts. She’d never been able to work out how she could have been involved with two men so completely different.
    Ben was blonde, with a dazzling smile and piercing blue eyes, which could rock a woman to the core. He was gentle and sweet, yet brutally honest. He also had a devastating effect on women, which was only heightened by the fact that he was so oblivious to it.
    Even now, standing in the airport in faded jeans molded to his thighs and a Green Day T-Shirt, he was unaware of the admiring stares.
    Stephanie smiled wryly. Knowing Ben as well as she did, he was craving a cigarette and wishing he hadn’t quit.
    She turned her attention to Jesse. Dark eyes, which were almost black and could pierce a woman’s very soul, watched her from behind sunglasses. Jesse was as intense as Ben was laid back, but with the same devastating effect on women. It was an effect he was well aware of. Even now, her body hummed in remembrance of his touch.
    She smiled widely. It never failed to shock people when they discovered these two polar opposites were best friends. Her smile faltered when she thought of Dominic, the man who had shared characteristics with both of them. He had brought them together as friends and had balanced out their friendship.
    Ben was the first to speak when she reached them.
    “I was afraid we’d missed you,” he said huskily, his arms automatically wrapping around her without hesitation.
    Stephanie’s own arms slipped around Ben, holding him tightly. She whispered, “Never.”
    Stepping back, she was surprised at Ben’s reluctance to let her go. Lacing her fingers