Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
ANGELICA
I needed to get out of here.
And I needed to get out now.
I sat on the edge of my bed, my mind racing as I dragged the soft bristled brush through my hair, trying to work out what exactly changed in the hours since the reading of the will.
What should’ve happened was rage, and retribution.
For Silas to go on the warpath he always did and shut everyone out… especially his uncle, Lincoln.
But that’s not what happened.
Not at all.
Instead, it was the opposite. Secret meetings in our father’s study. Dark, ravenous stares across the living room, directed at me. It was enough to give me nightmares.
Did Silas want me out? Even if the will told me I had to stay. I hoped so…it’d give me an excuse to leave. He might even give me money…then, I’d be gone for good.
Gabe’s pain would be solely directed at Silas. They’d all fight. Which was exactly what I needed. That’d give me the time to get as far away as possible and try to forget what happened.
I dropped the brush, grabbing my cell instead and stared at the empty screen. Penn hadn’t returned my call. In fact he hadn’t returned any of them, which freaked me out even more.
I pressed the button, waiting for the message bank to pick up. “Penn, it’s me. I’m starting to worry. I need to get out of here and I need to do it now. Please, call me back as soon as you can. I’m worried.”
Terrified more like it.
Still, I couldn’t wait. I swept my hand over my dress, grabbed my purse from my ruined bedside drawer and quietly hurried out of my room. The house was quiet, my brothers were probably still asleep. I glanced at Gabe’s door as I passed, fighting a pang of regret and kept walking.
My heels hit lightly. I lifted them, muffling the sound as I reached for the rear door and fumbled for the lock. It gave a clunk making me wince as I yanked open the door. One panicked glance over my shoulder and I opened the door wider and stepped outside.
“Going somewhere?”
“Jesus!” I screamed and stumbled sideways, finding Silas leaning against the wall outside. “You scared me half to death.”
I glanced at the town car where the driver stood, his sleeves rolled up as he cleaned the windows.
“Well?” Silas pushed.
“Nothing…I mean nowhere. I was just heading to the mall.” I rushed, panic setting in.
“The mall.” He pushed off the wall. “Right, let’s go.”
“With you?”
He stopped and slowly turned. “Sure, why not.”
Fear nailed me to the spot. I glanced at the driver as he finally straightened, noticing us. My pulse raced, I wanted to do more than just go to the mall. I wanted a backup plan to escape this city given the chance. I met Silas’s scowl. I couldn’t do that with him looking over my shoulder.
“There a problem?”
“No.”
“Then by all means.” He swept his hand toward the gleaming black BMW. “Consider me your private chauffeur.”
I swallowed hard as he turned, made for the passenger’s door and opened it. Tattoos peeked out from the sleeves of his leather jacket. I stared at them, trying to quell my racing pulse and headed for the open door before I slipped inside.
The scent of leather and that new car smell filled my nose. I breathed deep, watching Silas skirt the front of the car and climb in behind the wheel. The door closed with a soft thud behind him. He glanced my way and pressed the button starting the engine with a growl.
Silas pushed the car into gear and punched the accelerator, leaving the powerful beast to respond. I clawed for my seatbelt, staring at the Ares’s family driver still standing behind the car as we tore past.
“The mall, huh? You sure you don’t want to go anywhere else?”
Click. I couldn’t get it closed fast enough. “No, where else do you think I want to go?”
“I dunno…somewhere out of the city maybe?”
Out of the city? The Order rose before I pushed it away. He couldn’t possibly know about that. It had to be something else. Maybe it was Penn? Did he think I wanted to visit my boyfriend? My cheeks burned. “No, not out of the city.”
“Suit yourself.” He muttered, sounding instantly pissed off.
He pushed the car harder, forcing me to slam back against the seat. I cut him a glare. One I knew he saw because the corner of his mouth twitched in amusement. Everyone stared as he hurled past, hugging the hard corners and swung the car into the parking lot of the mall.
Heads turned when we pulled in. He was used to that.
He even enjoyed it. But I didn’t. Heat rose as I scanned the area and pulled my belt free before opening the door.
He was always so in your face, climbing out like he was royalty.
I hated that. Hated the pretence and the lies.
More than that I hated the attention…I received enough of that as it was.
I lowered my gaze, closed the door and hurried around the car. “Thank you, Silas. I can find my own way from here.”
“Stop.”
I froze, finding his stare.
He scowled. “We’re family,” then stepped closer. “I can’t leave you here.” He scanned the crowd obliviously heading in and out of the mall. “Don’t want you in danger now, do we?”
Rage simmered in his stare. My lips parted, the words on the tip of my tongue. Right now the only danger to me…is you.
“Do we?” He took a step forward and I fought the urge to move back.
I swallowed and shook my head. Gotta get away from him. Gotta get away from all of them. That urgency rose as he motioned toward the entrance. I turned away, hurrying along the parked cars to the crossing as my mind raced.
They barely acknowledged me before. Pretending as hard as they could I didn’t exist…until now. Now they knew I existed a lot, and I didn’t like it. I hurried through the doors. My panicked plan slipped through my fingers.
I pulled my cell out of my purse, glancing at the empty screen.
Where the Hell are you, Penn? Not here, that’s where.
Not anywhere I needed him. Silas was a dark blur at the edge of my focus, bearing down on me.
I scanned the stores and made for the first place I could get away from him… Honey Birdette.
Bras that weren’t even bras greeted me. They were nothing but black straps designed to cover your nipple, because they wouldn’t cover anything else. My cheeks burned hard, memories pushed in. You’re to wear white for now. Red is for training…black is sold, do you understand?
Black.
Black was sold.
“You like that?” His deep voice was at my back.
I spun around, knowing I still stood in front of the mannequin wearing the kind of lingerie I was sure Silas was used to. “What?”
He glanced at the barely there bra. “Do you like that?”
“No.” I shook my head and looked away, praying to God no one heard us. “No, I don’t like that.”
He gave a huh, and pushed past me. “Maybe this is more your taste.” He picked up a black lace thong.
I looked away, mortified.
“Or this?” He pulled up a soft apricot color. His thumb sliding back and forth over the thin strap as he settled that dark stare on me.
I swallowed hard, shaking my head as my core clenched. Still, his thumb never stopped rubbing, rubbing…rubbing.
A pang ripped across my chest, burning as I released my breath and stumbled away.
“What?” He called out. “I’m just trying to help you.”
But he wasn’t. He wasn’t helping me at all. Just go away! Go away and leave me the hell alone. Panicked, I grabbed the first thing I liked. White, lace and not a thong and hurried to the register.
The young woman stared, watching us intently. Had she heard him?
“Looks like your boyfriend knows his way around a thong.” She murmured, staring at him as she rang the purchase up.
I pressed my card against the machine, waited for the beep before I snatched the bag and hurried out of there, mortified. “He’s not my boyfriend.” I murmured.
He never left me alone, crowding my steps as I raced from store to store.
I didn’t even know which ones I went into.
All I cared about was getting away from him.
He strolled casually, his long, predatory strides eating the distance while I scurried, hiding around towering clothes racks and ducking between shelves until for a second I lost him.
I stopped at the end of an Asian grocery aisle and glanced around searching for him, the pungent scent of salty and sweet filling my nostrils. But he wasn’t there. He wasn’t anywhere.
“Thank God.”
But then there he was, trailed by some woman outside the store. He turned around, grabbed her wrists, pinning them together as she stared up at him with desire and hope in her eyes.
He said something to her. Whatever it was, she didn’t want to hear it.
She shook her head, but he was cold and cruel, pushing her away and turned his back.
He turned his head, that callous glare finding me.
The woman followed his focus and stopped.
Rage burned in her eyes. She said something that made Silas flinch before she turned and stormed away.
I didn’t stick around to see the fallout, slipping out of the grocery store and kept walking toward the food court. The crowd grew thicker, pushing against me. I spied a woman standing on the outer edges, trying her best to hand out flyers and headed her way.
“Charlie Hunter Women’s Shelter needs your help.” She called those walking past. Her smile, hopeful, but they ignored her, striding past.
“I’ll take one.” I pushed through them toward her.
Her eyes lit up. “Really? Oh, great. Charlie Hunger Women’s Shelter is a non-for-profit organization…”
I shook my head, glancing over my shoulder. My mind was already racing as I turned back to the number in bold, trying to fit it all together.
Escape. The word filled me. I could slip out tonight, then call for help. They’d come and pick me up, and wouldn’t even ask any questions. It’s what they do. “It’s okay. Thank you.”