Read Online Perfect Submission by Roxy Sloane - Free Book Online Page A

a break?” I roar, furious. “You don’t even know how much hurt
you’ve caused, the life you could have ruined.”
    This girl would have taken Isabelle from me.
My Isabelle.
    “I should call the police right now!” I
yell. Then I feel a hand on my arm.
    “Don’t,” Isabelle says, sounding calm. She
looks at Britney with sympathy in her eyes. “We won’t call the
police,” she says, “On one condition. You call them first, and
withdraw your statement. Tell them you were mistaken, that you
weren’t there, and you don’t remember anything. Tell them the
truth, the real truth this time,” she says. “And we’ll leave right
now and never come back.”
    Britney nods eagerly. “Whatever you want.
I’m sorry, I’m really sorry.”
    Isabelle doesn’t blink. “I’m sorry too,
Britney. But you can’t blame me for everything that’s wrong in your
life. We were just kids back then, but you’re not a kid
anymore.”
    She turns around and walks out the door.
    I pause a moment longer. “She may be in a
forgiving mood, but I’m not so emotional,” I warn Britney. “I’m
keeping this recording. You pull anything like this again, and I’ll
be on the phone to your Sheriff. Then you can see what it’s like on
the inside of a prison cell.”
    I storm out, but when I reach the car, I
find Isabelle sobbing, silent tears streaming down her face.
    “What’s wrong?” I ask, my heart in my
throat.
    “Nothing,” she chokes out. “I’m just so
relieved.” She lifts her face, and I can see her smiling through
the tears. “It’s over. It’s all over now.”
    “I made you a promise, didn’t I?” I smile,
hugging her close. “We can go home now.”
    “Yes.” Isabelle nods. “It’s time to go
home.”

NINE:
ISABELLE
    The scene outside the car windows blurs with
my tears of relief.
    It’s over. I can’t believe it, my nightmare
is finally done. The burden of the secrets I’ve been carrying for
years melts away with every mile. I feel lighter, steadier.
    Free.
    Cam reaches over and squeezes my hand.
“Ready to get back to New York?” he asks.
    “So ready.”
    I turn to look at him. The strong jaw, those
dark eyes. Happiness washes over me, I’m so thankful to have him in
my life.
    “You never doubted me,” I realize. “Even
when the police were saying those terrible things. You’ve never
judged me either, for what happened with Brent…”
    “You don’t deserve any judgment.” Cam brings
my hand to his lips and presses a kiss on my palm. “You amaze me,
Isabelle, every day. You’ve made it through such hardship and
struggle. You’ve been strong enough to survive, and now, I swear, I
won’t let anything ever hurt you again.”
    “I couldn’t have made it without you,” I say
softly. “You were the one who gave me the strength to leave Brent,
to finally break free from him. You’re the thought that kept me
going when I was locked up in jail. It’s all because of you. When I
think what might have happened if you hadn’t rescued me that night
in the club…”
    I trail off. The thought is too terrible to
imagine. Would I still be under Brent’s cruel power, faking my way
through empty, shallow days spent trying to impress all those
society ‘friends’ with their luncheons and days at the club?
    Would I still be going to sleep at night,
feeling all alone in the world, wishing for something real,
something that I didn’t even know how to put into words? I would
never know the intense pleasure and incredible release that comes
from being in Cam’s arms. Knowing him like I do, sharing myself
with him, completely.
    No limits. No rules.
    Just love.
    I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life
with him.
    “Wait,” I say suddenly. “Can we make a stop
first, before the airport?”
    “Of course.” Cam looks over. “Where would
you like to go?”
    “It’s not far from here. Back towards
town.”
    I direct him down the old winding highways,
feeling the tension grow in my chest the