Fourteen
Whit
L eaving Scarlett’s this morning after she’d left without a goodbye made me feel uneasy. I saw the uneaten breakfast on the stove and wondered where she’d gone off to in a hurry. I’m worried about her, about the things she’s dealing with, and I want to be there for her, to support her through whatever she’s going through. I know there’s things she’s not telling me. She’s so stubborn, so independent, that I know it’s going to be a challenge to get her to let me in. As I make my way through the streets of Ohio, the snow crunching under my bike, I can’t help but feel a sense of dread.
I park in front of the studio and head inside, my mind racing with thoughts of Scarlett. She’s a puzzle that I want to solve, a challenge that I’m determined to conquer. As I sit down at the table with the band, my thoughts are still on her, and I know I’m not going to be able to focus until I talk to her. I can’t get her out of my head, no matter how hard I try. She’s like a drug that I’m addicted to, a fire that I can’t extinguish.
“Ready to lay down some tracks?” Nox asks. “The first song is ready to go.”
“Yeah, man. Let’s do this.” I say, trying to push all thoughts of Scarlett to the back of my mind. The music needs to be the only thing that matters right now, but even I know that’s a lie.
As I step into the recording booth, my mind quiets when the music comes into the headphones. I start to sing, pouring my heart and soul into the words. Nox and the others join in, their instruments blending with mine in perfect harmony. We’re on fire, the music flowing through us like a river, and I know that we’re making something special.
Something that will connect with people on a deep level.
But as the session goes on, I can’t shake the feeling that something is off. It’s like there’s a shadow hanging over me, a dark cloud on the horizon.
“Let’s take a break, guys,” I shout so they can hear me. I step out and pull my phone from my pocket. Not one word from her. I can’t ignore the sense of unease that’s been building inside me all day. My heart is telling me something is wrong, but my mind keeps insisting I’m just being paranoid.
I haven’t been able to talk to her all day, and that’s starting to piss me the fuck off. I’ve been blowing her phone up without one text from her. I don’t like the lack of communication, and I can feel my possessive side starting to come out.
As the night wears on and the clock ticks closer to seven PM, I can feel the nerves creeping in. I’m on edge, my heart racing, and my mind consumed with thoughts of Scarlett.
I pull up the tracker app that I installed on her phone after she fell asleep this morning ,and see that she’s still at the university library.
What is she doing there?
Is she working on a project?
Meeting someone?
The thought of her meeting another man fills me with a burning rage that I can barely control.
“Gotta go, guys. We’ll pick this up tomorrow,” I shout, grabbing my jacket and keys before rushing out the door, leaving my bandmates staring after me in confusion.
I grip the handlebars tight as I make my way through the city streets, my eyes glued to the little dot on the screen that represents my little flame. I can feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins when I finally reach the university campus, the lights of the buildings illuminating the night sky.
I park my bike and head towards the library, my heart pounding in my chest. I don’t know what I’m going to find inside, but I can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right. I burst through the library doors, the sound echoing in the quiet building. I can feel the librarian’s eyes on me, but I ignore her, focused on finding my little flame.
A flurry of red hair catches my attention on the second floor and I rush toward it, my heart pounding in my chest.
“Scarlett?” I call out, my voice echoing in the empty library. I can hear the sound of rustling papers, and I know she’s here. “Scarlett, answer me. What’s wrong?” I demand, my voice harsher than I intended. I’m unable to stop the anger and worry that’s coursing through me. What the fuck happened?
I follow the cries, leading me to find her behind a stack of books at the far end on the floor. She’s huddled in a corner, her knees pulled up to her chest and her head buried in her arms. She’s sobbing, her body shaking with the force of her cries. I drop to my knees beside her, my heart breaking at the sight of her in so much pain. I can’t see the source of her pain, and it’s driving me crazy. I need to know who hurt her, and I need to make them pay.
“Little flame,” I whisper, my voice soft and gentle. She looks startled by my words, and I see a large angry welt across her cheek. I feel a surge of rage course through me as I take in the sight of her injured face. I can’t believe someone had the nerve to lay a hand on her. “Who the fuck touched you?” I demand, my voice shaking with anger.
“Whit, what are you doing here?” she asks, her voice hoarse from crying. She doesn’t answer my question but instead asks her own, her eyes searching mine for answers.
“Doesn’t fucking matter. Who fucking hit you?” I demand again, my fingers itching to wrap around the neck of whoever caused her harm. I need to know who did this. Scarlett shakes her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Tell me!” I yell, losing my patience. “Now.”
Scarlett jumps and flinches away from my voice, her body trembling in fear. I immediately feel a pang of guilt for scaring her. “Shhh,” I murmur, gently cupping her cheek and wiping away her tears. “I’m not mad at you, little flame. Tell me who did this.” My voice is softer now, but no less urgent. I need to know who hurt her so I can make them suffer.
“Dr. McAllister,” she finally chokes out, her voice barely above a whisper. I’m not sure I heard her correctly. Did she just say Dr. McAllister, as in my fucking father?
“Doctor Sterling McAllister? Are you sure?” I ask, my mind racing with the possibilities of how he could be involved in this. “What did he do to you?” I demand, my voice shaking with anger. “What the fuck happened, Scarlett? You need to tell me everything,” I urge, my voice low and urgent.
Scarlett takes a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “He’s been harassing me for weeks,” she admits, her voice trembling. “I’ve been trying to get some evidence against him and finally today I did. I confronted him, but he got violent and hit me. He said that I had no right to question his authority and that if I didn’t back off, he would ruin my reputation even more than he already has, and make sure my name is tarnished forever.” There is fear and shame in her eyes, and it makes me even more determined to make him pay.
I can feel my anger boiling over, ready to explode. “That fucking bastard,” I seethe, balling my hands into fists. “I’m going to fucking kill him.” My father has always been a manipulative and controlling asshole, throwing his own son in prison for his misconduct, but I never thought he would stoop this low. To actually attack a student, to try and silence her, to threaten her future. It’s unforgivable.
“Please, Whit, you can’t do anything,” Scarlett pleads, her eyes wide with concern. “It will make everything worse. I’m just going to drop out...”
“Like hell you are!” My voice booms through the quiet building. “You’re not letting him win.”
Scarlett’s eyes fill with tears as she shakes her head. “I have no choice. He took all the proof. He said he would ruin my life, and I know he will. It’s his word against mine.”
“What proof have you been searching for?”
She hesitates before answering, her voice barely above a murmur. “He stole my thesis. He’s been passing it off as his own work, and I have proof. He had to have been stalking me to get access to it.”
“That’s my father for you,” I spit out, my anger boiling over. “A fucking snake. He’s always been a piece of shit, and it doesn’t surprise me that he’s a thief too. He threw his own son in jail for his fuck ups. But this time, he’s not getting away with it. I’m going to make him pay.”
Scarlett’s eyes widen with surprise. “Your father? Sterling McAlli–but your last name is Lockwood...” she trails off, trying to scoot away from me. I can see the panic in her eyes, and it breaks my heart. I didn’t even know she knew my father. I should have known since he’s the head of the Literature department. She’s probably scared and confused, not knowing if she can trust me.
“Don’t you dare move away from me. I’m nothing like him,” I say firmly, holding onto her hand and pulling her back towards me. “My birth name is McAllister, but I legally changed it to my mother’s maiden name, Lockwood, when I turned eighteen. I didn’t want anything to do with my piece of shit father or that name.”
“I-I didn’t know,” she breathes, her voice trembling.
I can’t believe this is happening. The woman I’m obsessed with and the father I despise are tangled together in a web of deceit and abuse. My father has stolen from her and threatened her, and I’m going to make him pay for hurting her. He may be a powerful man, but he’s not above the law. I have the resources and the determination now to bring him down and make him pay for his actions. I will protect Scarlett and make sure she gets the justice she deserves. He’s not going to get away with this.
“I’m sorry you had to deal with that fucking bastard,” I whisper, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. “I’m going to make him pay for what he did to you.”
Scarlett looks at me, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and hope. “But how?” she asks, her voice shaky.
“We’ll figure it out together. But right now, I need you to trust me, Scarlett. Can you do that?” I ask, holding out my hand to her.
Scarlett hesitates, her eyes searching mine for a sign of reassurance. But after a moment, she takes my hand and stands up. “I trust you, Whit,” she breathes, her voice barely audible.
I cup her face gently, wiping away the tears that fall. “Little flame, you listen to me and listen well. You will NOT let him win. You will NOT drop out. You’re stronger than that, and I’m here. I’m not going to let him hurt you. Do you understand?”
She nods her head, her lip quivering as she tries to hold back her emotions.
“Good, you’re moving in with me. You’re mine and you’re never leaving. I can’t protect you at your apartment,” I pull her to me tightly. She opens her mouth to protest, and I cover her mouth with my hand. “Not another word. I’ll have you moved in this week, but tonight we’re getting you a bag of clothes and you’re staying with me.”
I feel the wetness of her tongue against my hand and I groan in the back of my throat. I pull my hand away and slam my mouth to hers, pushing her against the stacks of books. I pull her hair, tilting her head back and bite her neck. “Don’t argue with me little flame, or I will punish you right here. When you’re a good girl, I’ll reward you. Do you understand?” She whimpers as her hips involuntarily grind on my leg. “I said, do you understand?”
“Yes, sir,” she moans, her hands clutching my shirt. Hearing her call me ‘sir’ sends a jolt of electricity down my spine and straight to my cock. I grind against her, needing to feel her body against mine. I pull her off the shelf and lead her out of the library. I need to get her home so I can make her come on my tongue, then put together a plan to destroy my father.
I’m a rockstar, a bad boy who’s used to getting his way. But with her, it’s different. She makes me want to be a better man. She challenges me, pushes me, and makes me want to be worthy of her. I can’t let her drop out of college and let my father win. I won’t let him take away her dreams and ruin her life. She’s worked too hard and come too far to let him destroy her future.
But it’s not just about protecting her and making sure she gets her degree. It’s about showing her that she’s not alone, that she has someone on her side who will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. She’s not just some girl I’m infatuated with; she’s someone I care about deeply, and I won’t let anyone hurt her, especially not my piece of shit father. He’s always been a thorn in my side, a constant reminder of the darkness in my past, but I won’t let him taint her future.
“Whit, I don’t know if we should do this.” Her voice shakes with fear and doubt. “He’s a powerful man with a lot of connections. He could make our lives a living hell.”
“He’s not going to touch us, little flame,” I reply, pulling her close to me. I can feel the heat radiating off her body, and it sends a jolt of desire through me. I know it’s not the time or the place, but I can’t help the way my body reacts to hers. “We’re going to get through this together. We’re going to take him down and make sure he never hurts anyone else ever again. Trust me, Scarlett. I won’t let him hurt you again. No one will, I swear.”
She nods, and I can feel some of the tension leaving her body. She knows she can trust me, and I intend to prove to her that she made the right choice. Together, we’re going to take down the man who tried to take everything from both of us.