Choosing You (Gravity Hill #3)

40. Chapter 37

H er words stop my heart, my brain, my very blood. I can see it the moment it hits the rest of the family. Everyone is waiting with their breath held, waiting for her to say something else.

Not that.

“Charlie,” Creed's tone is even, but his face is a range of fury. “Tell me what you know.”

“I’m sorry, Banks.” She’s still looking at me, but her head drops a few inches. “Bridgett was my cousin. She was obsessed with the idea of becoming one of you. I heard all about you and your unorthodox family. She wouldn’t stop yapping about you all like she knew you. As if she was already a part of your family and hadn’t even met you.”

She pauses, but no one speaks. We all want to hear everything she has to say as she turns towards Creed.

“When we were notified of her death, my uncle was outraged. He wouldn’t listen to anyone, convinced you got her killed on purpose so you wouldn’t have to marry her. After Fern’s accident, you and your brother came and tortured him. For days, we had no way of knowing if he was dead or alive. When my father found out you killed his brother and two dozen of his men that night over another woman, he went blind with rage.”

“I wanted to tell you, Banks.” Her voice breaks as she finishes and finally looks at me. “He planned to have you all murdered.” She says casually, gesturing to every man in my family who helped raise me. “But he started, and failed, with your family.”

She looks at Dad, his face is a stony mask, but I can see the turmoil in his eyes. The reminder that his wife is gone because of a grown man’s tantrum.

“I wish I knew the specifics so I could tell you everything. He meant for all three of you to die in that fire. He wanted to send a message, but something went wrong. Sometimes, when he overlooks me, he rants about not getting it right.” Breathing deeply, she finishes, looking directly at Creed. “He wanted to take away something you loved, Creed, and he targeted the only family he could easily get to. Then, when he threatened Fern, I knew he wasn’t bluffing. There’s already so much bad blood between our families. I just wanted it to end.”

Everything she’s saying digs further and further into my chest.

“I swear, I didn’t want to hurt any of you. I wanted to find out who you were. What kind of people you are. I know Bridgett was obsessive, but two lone men rumored to take out twenty-four of my father’s best-trained men in one night? Unheard of, and I thought, maybe if I could get close to one of you, I could convince you to help me. I don’t want the Romero name or the headache of running a syndicate.”

“So, the marriage contract. It was fake?” I ask.

“Oh no, the marriage contract is very real to my father.” Her eyes are back on mine, and I can see the apology sitting there. “I’m so, so sorry Banks. I didn’t know you already had someone who loves you, and I didn’t expect to care about you, not like I do now. But I never had plans to go through with what my father wanted. That’s why, after your game…” She trails off and looks away.

Shame. The thought is like a fresh breath of understanding. She’s ashamed of what I witnessed, the abuse from her father.

“That’s why he hit you,” I finish for her. If Creed and the rest of the dads are going to help her, they need to know everything they’re up against. “Last night, he slapped you because you had no information to give him.”

She nods, and damn her, she’s stronger than I am because not one tear falls.

“He thought over the break I should have had something he could use against you. But your family,” she swallows and drops her head. “The way you all love each other, it’s beautiful. I can’t let him ruin that any more than he already has.”

“When did you know?” I ask, ignoring all the voices around us. I have to know if I fell into her trap or if it was a coincidence.

“That Fauna was your mother?” She asks before her breath quickens and her shoulders shake. “The moment I saw you on campus.”

“The party,” I’m piecing it together now. She saw Toby first, invited him to the party, and when we all came, she could have easily pieced together who was who if she had any identifying information. Which I’m sure she did, considering her father was hell-bent on offing us.

“I swear, I haven’t and won’t ever give him anything that could potentially hurt you or your family.”

“I believe you,” Nile says, and the rest of them grunt their agreement. “You’re safe here, Charlie.”

“But I’ll be needing your phone,” Dad says, holding his hand out expectantly.

Charlie looks down at his hands, and I can see the pity there. To her credit, she doesn’t say anything, only hands over her phone and nods.

“I’m sure you two could use some time alone,” Dad’s eyes stare pointedly in my direction. “Or a nap,” he finishes, and I nod, recognizing my dismissal. His sharp gaze tells me that our conversation about my drinking isn’t over, but for now, he has something to do, so I’m off the hook.

Charlie stands with me, following me out and into my room. Dad wasn’t wrong, a nap sounds fucking wonderful. Since I’m in last night's clothes, I rummage through my closet and pick out sweats and a long-sleeve shirt, then realize that Charlie needs some new clothes and would also probably enjoy a shower.

“Cin may have some clothes in Talon’s room, if you want me to go look,” I offer, heading in that direction.

“Do you hate me?” Her question tugs at my heart, whispering softly as if she’s scared of the answer.

Sighing, I close my door and turn back to look at her, “Honestly, after a nap and a hot meal, I’ll probably have to have you explain everything again. But hating you for something you had no part in wouldn’t bring my mother back, and I’m positive she would have really liked you. So no, Charlie, I don’t hate you.”

She nods, sucking in her lips and blowing out a breath.

“Now, I would like to shower,” I tell her, looking down my body and back up. I feel gross. “After that, would you like to take a nap?” I ask because I’m exhausted, and I don’t think I’m going to be able to function if she wants me to stay awake.

Her tears fall in slow rivulets down her face, but she nods. Instincts tell me to hug her, but my brain tells me that would only make the tears worse, and I hate seeing her cry.

“I’ll go get something of Cin’s, okay?”

She shakes her head and coughs out a laugh, “I don’t think that would be wise, Cin looks like her and I could spar for hours and she wouldn’t get tired. You may not hate me, but she does.”

“You’re probably right,” I chuckle, running my hand down my neck. I hate to do it, but Henry’s clothes are probably going to be our best option since she won’t fit into mine. “What about Henry’s clothes? Would that be okay?”

I have to swallow down my unease, it’s just a shirt and some sweats. She’s not trying to replace him, but maybe she can help me get him back.

The only thing I know for certain is that I hate myself for leaving Henry alone last night.

I won’t make that mistake again.