Chapter 11
Ididn’t last a week. Hell, I didn’t even last a day. I overheard Elsa telling her husband she was going to be giving Lottie dance lessons as a wedding gift. I never miss an opportunity to take advantage of knowledge I shouldn’t be privy to.
Brooke was not happy with how the evening ended; her alone in her bed without me there to warm it. I didn’t even pretend to be a gentleman and walk her to her door, nor did I open her car door for her.
With Brooke in my car, I got to thinking about the first night Lottie had come to Le Mier. When I had helped her to the bathroom I witnessed a scene that didn’t sit right with me and I analyzed it while I drove.
Before helping Lottie to the bathroom, I made sure Don and Louis were tending the bar. I had a perfect vantage point from the hallway where the bathrooms were. My eyes were on the bar, but my ears were trained to the women’s bathroom door. I was listening for any signs of a splash so I would have an excuse to go in there and save Lottie.
I was so lost in thought that I had barely registered as Brooke and two of her minions walked past me. Brooke’s fingers glided across my chest as she walked by. She flashed me a seductive grin as she filed into the bathroom with her group.
I couldn’t hear what was being said behind the bathroom door, but sounds of high pitched laughter that could only be described as cackling came rolling out in waves. I knew nothing any of those women had ever said, combined, warranted the enormous amount of laughter coming from behind that door.
Brooke could be cruel. That is why I thought we had been on the same page. Her heart was as cold as ice and anyone in her way would feel her wraith. I had made it perfectly clear to her that we would never be more than two people who fucked. I didn’t mince words in order to avoid situations like this. It was not my fault she expected more than she knew I was willing to give.
The door swung open and all three cackling hens walked out, giant shit-eating grins on their faces. Brooke’s was more of the cat that got the canary variety. I should have gone in there right when they made their way out, but I didn’t. I left Lottie in there after whatever Brooke had said to her.
It was a long time from when Brooke left the bathroom to when Lottie finally made her way out. She had tears streaming down her face. I had never felt my heart sink to my stomach before and it was a feeling I never wanted to feel again. The hurt in Lottie’s eyes made me want to end whoever put it there.
When Lottie said she wanted to go home I didn’t hesitate to find Nathaniel. I would have driven her myself, but with her being an engaged woman, it wasn’t appropriate at the moment. I didn’t want to push anything on her in her condition. I found Nathaniel with a woman and they were practically eating each other’s faces. He barely acknowledged me as I told him I was bringing Lottie home.
She hadn’t listened to me and went outside. A speakeasy full of drunk men, a dark alley, and a woman did not a good combination make. I walked outside to the sight of a man on top of Lottie. I am not sure how I was able to transverse the slick concrete to make it to Lottie without slipping. I pulled the drunkard off her, throwing him on his back to the ground and made his face my punching bag. Blow after blow didn’t quench my thirst for his blood. I felt a soft grip on my wrist as I wound up to hit him again. It was Lottie. She was up. I checked her over to make sure she was physically okay.
She told me what happened. I wasn’t completely sold on leaving the man who almost violated her alive, but he would be feeling his hangover and his face in the morning. As soon as Lottie spotted my hand she wanted to take care of me. I didn’t know anywhere that would be appropriate for us to go except my house.
While we were in the bathroom of my house, watching Lottie tend to my hand, I had an overwhelming feeling of guilt. I couldn’t do this to her. My plan wasn’t only going to ruin Cameron’s life, but hers as well. If she had been anyone else, I wouldn’t care. I could easily destroy anyone and not feel a morsel of remorse. This woman though, my Carrots, how could I knowingly hurt her?
It would be best to cut ties now. Bail on my plans and try to figure out another way to hit Cameron where it counts. When Lottie looked up at me with those warm brown eyes, my mind was made up. I stood up abruptly and made my way out to the car. It would be easier if I was a dick. At least, that’s what I told myself.
Pulling up to Brooke’s house was almost mindless at this point. She sat for a minute, waiting for me to open her car door. Once she realized that wasn’t going to happen, she had a few words for me before throwing the door open and then slamming it shut. I didn’t even wait to see if she made it in safely. Truthfully, I didn’t care. Not after remembering those tears running down Lottie’s face.
I had a few things to do before I would be ready to “bump” into Lottie on her way to her dance lessons. I hadn’t heard a time for the lessons so I would need to be up bright and early to make sure I wouldn’t miss Lottie.
I got home and picked out a suite and matching tie. I took out the coat and shoes I would be wearing. I made sure to shower and shave, putting on cologne before dressing. My stomach was feeling a little queasy. I needed to calm my nerves somehow. I rubbed one out and felt a little bit better, but my stomach still wasn’t feeling right. I was nervous. I didn’t get nervous. Everything I was ever taught was to override any feelings of self-doubt since your enemies could sniff out any bit of leverage they were able to gain over you.
All these new feelings were so foreign to me. Nervousness was just the newest of the feelings Lottie was bringing to the surface. She made me feel longing and want in a way I didn’t know was possible. She made me want to do anything I could to put a smile on her face.
I made sure I was at her house before the sun had even risen. It was four hours before Lottie finally made her way out of the house. She was alone. Marco and Russel were nowhere in sight. She started walking towards the trolleybus. I almost blew my cover to drive my car up to her and give her a ride.
Was Cameron so pissed about last night that he was going to pull her security duty to spite her? There were plenty of people other than myself who would take any opportunity to get at Cameron any way possible. I made a mental note to bring this up to Lottie whenever she allowed me to talk to her again.
I followed her to the bus. She got on and I got on right behind her. She was so distracted that she didn’t notice me. I kept my head down and sat as far away from her as possible. She started reading a book, completely ignoring the people around her. She really wasn’t aware how dangerous it could be for her. I knew where Elsa’s studio was, but I wasn’t sure Lottie knew evident by her getting off three stops past the dance studio.
I had gone over in my head how I was just going to follow her; no interactions would take place. That was until some random prick bumped into her without even apologizing. I gave myself away by yelling at the buffoon. She had to have heard me, so there was no hiding anymore.
Lottie would barely glance my way the whole while we were walking together. Her eyes kept darting around, looking for an escape. When she finally turned her face fully towards me, my stomach dropped to my feet. Her eye was bruised. Blind fury took over as I shoved her into the nearest store I we passed.
That son of a bitch Cameron did this to her. I knew I shouldn’t have said my last little jab in the hallway at the orchestra because Lottie paid the price. I knew she didn’t want to tell me. I wasn’t going to give her that option. If she confirmed it was Cameron, that would be my go ahead to end his life. No one would disrespect Lottie like that and remain breathing. I’ve killed men for less.
Her eye was just the tip of the iceberg. Her arm had a deep purple handprint engulfing the top. Cameron had to have grabbed her arm extremely hard to leave a mark like that. I felt my blood boiling with white hot rage. Lottie could read my expression and tried to calm the situation.
When she told me she handled the situation I found it comical. I didn’t see any marks on her hand indicating that she didn’t fight back. She told me what she said to him and how she just walked away afterwards. Cameron hates not being in control. He could not stand that he couldn’t control Lottie the way he does everyone else.
I had been so focused on her injuries that I completely forgot to lay everything out for Lottie. How my plan had gone from messing with Cameron to falling for her. I needed her to know the truth. I don’t know what her knowing the truth would do for the situation. My delusion is thinking that she would leave Cameron and end up with me. Now would have been my perfect opportunity to take advantage of the fact Cameron had hurt her to make my case seem more sympathetic.
Lottie had already divulged way more than she wanted to and I didn’t want to press her any further. I would take the next opportunity I get her alone to put my heart out there to her. If she rejects me, then I will leave her alone. I didn’t know how easily done that would be for me, but I would have to relent if she chose Cameron.