Chapter 9
9
CHARLOTTE
M y eyelids drooped heavily as I rose back into consciousness. Where am I?
Taking in my surroundings, I realized that I wasn’t in my home and thought my worst fear had come to life.
The last thing I remembered was Rowan kissing my cheek and telling me to go with Thomas. I didn’t want to go. I wanted Rowan to stay with me, and I remembered the way he held onto me, before passing me over. Why didn't he come with us? Is Thomas a traitor too?
My hands flew to my throat and found it clear, the collar no longer sitting heavy on my neck, and I sucked in a breath of relief. The room was bright with different shades of yellows and sky blues through the sheets and other decor. It brought me back to Hawaii. I need to look at the damage. But did I really want to?
My feet swung over the bed hitting the floor lightly and a pain spread across my abdomen, along with a heavy feeling within my core. Still, I made my way to the adjoining bathroom to take a look at myself.
Taking a few deep breaths my eyes met my reflection in the mirror, disgusted. Although my face was clear of the makeup that was coated and stuck to my face for days, you could still see the black stain that formed around my eyes and fell down my cheeks. There were bruises down the side of my face, the black and blue resting above my lip.
Moving the shirt down from around my neck, I gasped as the pads of my fingers moved to the red and irritated skin. The ring extended around my neck and was almost numb to the touch.
Reaching carefully, pulling the shirt over my head, I threw it to the side in sorrow as I looked at the bruises and superficial marks that littered my body. Now I understood why Roe was so adamant about covering them up. They are hideous, there for life.
I dropped to my knees and my mouth fell open, wanting and trying to will a?scream from deep within me to fight its way through, but I couldn’t bring myself to. I am alone.
Tears cascaded down my face as I thought about everything I had lost, I may have survived. But what was survival if there was nothing left on the other side? My heart raced and my body started to shake as I made my way to the toilet, wrapping my hair in my fingers to heave up anything I could. I couldn’t look at what Lacey did to me, not right now; I couldn’t bear to face what they turned me into.
Wiping my mouth on the back of my hand, a pair of footsteps found their way to the bathroom, and I went on the defense seeing Thomas in the doorway. He didn’t say anything at first, just respected my space and threw my shirt over to me.
Finally I spoke. “Are you coming in here to tell me he’s dead Thomas?”
He sighed leaning against the doorframe of the small bathroom and only shook his head.
“He will make it out Lottie, I would much rather know how you are doing. Are you hungry or anything?” His words were flat and questionable.
“I’m not eating anything from anyone,” I snapped, bracing against the counter to pull myself up. “You left him Thomas, how could you? Unless you're working for them.” My voice was shaky, but I stood my ground.
“Listen, I’m trying to be nice. I don't really know what to do here, and I apologize for that. Charlotte, I’m sorry it took so long, really.” He ran a hand through his hair.
“No,” I said. “Just be patient with me please, there's so much to feel and right now the only thing I can land on is disgust Thomas. Did you see what they did to me?” my voice cracked as new tears formed and his eyes glossed over in response. “What they made me do?”
In an awkward attempt of comfort, he held his arms out, offering a hug, but I shook my head. I don’t want to be touched by anyone, and the fact it was coming from someone who doesn't normally show affection in the slightest, is laughable at best.
“We have to go back Charlotte, so I can answer your question, and hope my own brother is still alive.”
I was being harsh to him; his own brother went into the trenches to save us and somewhere deep he was worried too.
“I need time Thomas; are you against taking the reins until I gain back my strength? Then, I want Richard Walker's head on the trophy shelf in my father’s office.”
He nodded and I followed him out. The thought of going back sent fear coursing through my veins, but I needed to know Rowan was alive, then I would rest and try to work through everything.
Rowan
I took slow, quiet steps through the hallway, searching for Walker and Jason like a tiger hunting its prey. Thomas, Arthur, and Charlie had overtaken the house before our escape, and I could hear the distant gunfire as the bullets ricocheted off the walls. A hand clamped down on my shoulder and I spun around fast, trapping them against the wall in a vise-like grip.
“Relax Rowan, it's just me” Arthur choked out before I released him. “You don’t have to speak, let's just finish this.”
We walked silently around the house, and I started thinking about the younger Davies brother. Our relationship was terrible to say the least, and I never really understood why, but as I sit here now in my time of need, he was the one who came to find me. He was the only one here while Thomas tended to Lottie.
“I killed Lacey,” I told Arthur, unable to keep the sense of satisfaction out of my voice.
He nodded, a proud smile on his face. “You escaped at just the right time to join in the leg work,” Arthur replied, and then we began our hunt.
As I stepped toward the kitchen, I could see the light from the refrigerator appear and then fade away, signaling that it had been opened and closed again. I peeked around the door and saw Jason sitting at the table, two cups of coffee and the creamer set out in front of him. I signaled for Arthur to go on without me and he took off down the hall.
It appeared that he was waiting for someone. Does he know I’m coming? Is he meeting someone?
He smiled when he saw me and motioned for me to join him. “I was hoping you’d come find me,” he said, pushing a mug of coffee across the table.
I didn’t let him distract me. The anger I felt toward his betrayal cut deeper than I could handle, and I’d be damned if I let him sweet talk me.
“Why is that?” I humored him.
“So, we can handle this like men.”
“You missed that chance, Jason. You could have handled it like a man years ago when Walker told you his plan,” I said, hoping to bring any guilt he may have to the surface.
His expression softened. “Rowan, in the beginning, I was focused. I did what was asked of me because I needed the money and hurting people brought me pleasure. But I never expected that our friendship would take the turn that it did. I love you like a brother, man, and I’m sorry for everything. The last few months have been solely because Richard threatened Nicole and I couldn’t let them hurt her,” Jace said, a pained look crossing his face.
Instead, he traded Nicole for Lottie. But I would have done the same, without question. Yet, I hesitated. It was the same speech that Benny had given me before he’d sacrificed himself in the explosion. I could tell that Jace truly felt guilty, and I didn’t know how to handle that.
“Did you hurt Charlotte?” I asked, my tone cold. “After the office.”
Jason shook his head. “I did choke her once, but I swear it was to get her to move that’s all. I would never hurt her, man, not the way they did. At least, I don’t think I did, I blacked out . You have to believe me. If you let me go, I’ll leave and never come back. I’ll never bother you again, I promise.”
“Stop using your blackouts as an excuse man. There's a part of you that always knew what you were taking part in.”
Jason looked like he was going to cry. This was a cold man, forced to shove his emotions down in order to complete what was asked of him. I had seen him cry only twice in all the years I had known him. He wasn’t lying.
My judgment was skewed by Jason’s double life. The entire time I knew him, I’d confided in him and told him things nobody else knew. And he’d ended up turning that against me. How could I trust him? I just wanted this to be over with.
I opened my mouth to speak, but I felt something wrap around my neck, and was suddenly yanked backward, cutting what little breath and energy I had left.
“You cost me a lot of money, you stupid piece of shit. All for some cunt.” Walker said viciously in my ear.
I struggled to breathe against whatever he was choking me with, and it brought me to my knees. I didn’t come this far for nothing.
I had one hand trying to claw at my neck and a hand reaching out toward Jason, who took off out the door of the house without a second thought. He solidified things just then, choosing to run, instead of doing the right thing. He better run far enough, if he steps one foot in this city again, he won’t get a second chance.
Growling out my frustrations, my mouth opened wide to suck in a lungful of air.
“See Rowan, who would care about you, just a loser and a junkie,” he grunted. I slowed my breathing and used the last amount of built-up energy I had to flip my assailant over my shoulder.
I stared Walker in the face as he hit the ground hard.
“You're wrong, and I’m not scared of you anymore.” I rasped and punched him square in the nose, knocking him out cold.
My mouth was dry, I couldn't speak, my body was covered in blood, and I lost the ability to tell the difference between theirs and my own a long time ago.
I crawled away from Walker and collapsed to the floor, unable to get back up. I was so tired and right now I had nothing left to give.
I looked up to see Arthur standing over me. He was speaking to me, but I couldn’t hear him. So, I peacefully rode the waves that carried me under. All that mattered was that Lottie was safe.
My head swam, and I was in and out of consciousness for a few days. I had no way of knowing how much time had passed, I only knew that my head was pounding, my hand was sore, and my body ached all over.
Charlotte….
That one name was always in my head, but I just couldn’t stay awake. I succumbed to the ever-present darkness repeatedly, resigning myself to death. Finally, I lifted my eyelids to a dimly lit room and the sinking abyss was gone. I groaned, turning my head to see where I was and recognized my own room within the Bennett Manor. Memories of the few hours before I passed out came back to me, and I sat up in alarm instantly regretting the movement.
“Whoa, buddy,” Thomas said, grabbing me by the shoulders and laying me back down. “Don’t move so fast, you’ll make yourself faint.”
“What happened after I passed out?” I asked, worry thick in my voice.
“We took the house back. The Walkers have been abolished from our territory, for now and we’re holding our ground. Walker is in the basement waiting for you, I figured you would want to be the one that takes care of him.” Thomas said. “And now that you're awake, I can be a total asshole and make fun of you for the interesting items I found in your drawer. You should really try to hide them better…”
I flushed, knowing exactly what items he was talking about, and Thomas chuckled before a serious expression crossed his features. “I want you to get a little better before you deal with him, do you hear me?”
I nodded, in no condition to argue with him. I relaxed against my pillow and took a glass of water that Thomas proffered. I held my four-fingered hand up and examined it and my bottom lip jutted out into a pout. Thomas must have stitched me up because the bleeding had stopped and bandages were wrapped tightly around the site of my missing finger.
“Did you find the others?” I asked, remembering what they’d done to Charlotte.
“We found most of them, but some are gone. Jason got away,” he said, hesitating before finishing his sentence. “Rowan, Charlotte is in really bad shape. She needs you. We are doing all we can, but she won’t let anyone within five feet of her. Maybe you can get through.”
I nodded, clenching my teeth together. I knew she needed me, and I needed to see her too. Already planning my revenge, I wouldn’t be able to rest peacefully until I took care of all the people who had a hand in hurting her, even if it only made me feel better. Charlotte was mine to protect, and I’d failed her father by allowing them to hurt her.
I sat up slowly and set the glass of water down. “I’ll go check on her now.”
The room spun as I gathered my bearings, but the feeling quickly dissipated, and I took a few tentative steps forward using the wall for support. I nodded to Thomas, and he rose from his chair, opening the door for me, allowing me to walk out.
I moved slowly down the hall toward Charlotte’s room, eager to see her, being mindful not to overwork myself so soon after waking up. I knocked on her door and was greeted after a moment by Nicole and stiffened as she exited the room. Right now, I couldn’t trust that she didn’t just go in there and hurt her further.
“Hi, Rowan,” she said softly, her eyes full of empathy.
My jaw ticked when she said my name.
“Stay away from Charlotte, do you understand me?” I growled at her.
Nikki looked hurt at my words, and she took a step back. “I had no idea about Jace, Rowan,” she defended herself, choking on her words.
“I don’t care, and I don’t believe you. How could you not know? You spent every moment with him,” I said, moving past her and standing in the doorway, blocking her view.
Nikki didn’t respond. She just wiped a tear from her cheek and moved down the hall, leaving me to tend to Charlotte by myself.
Quietly, I walked across the soft carpet of her room, until I saw her. She lay unmoving on her side, staring off into space. The sight of her caused my words to stay lodged in my throat as I approached her.
“Charlotte, I’m so sorry for everything,” I finally choked.