Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Daisy
As much as I don't want to leave the hotel again after the meeting with Andrew, I decide that I need to stop being scared. Marcus hasn’t tried to find me, and Andy doesn’t seem overly bothered about making sure he knows where I am.
I mean, that does lowkey concern me because why doesn’t he think I could just run? I may not want to live my life that way, but Andy doesn’t know that.
I think back to his condescending words from dinner. Maybe he really does underestimate me that much.
Anyway, after working things out with Blake, this morning I woke up feeling more positive than I have lately. I’m done letting other people dictate my life to me. I’ll find a way out of this. I keep forgetting what I’m capable of, but I always find a way.
Old Daisy never got what she wanted. Daisy the Destroyer can’t take anymore bullshit.
So, even though I have second and third thoughts, I go to campus without the guys.
They don’t like it but it’s not like I’m really alone.
Two of Sauvage’s men seem to be trailing me whenever I leave the hotel now.
Going to my classes actually in person without Shade by my side today, I’m sort of glad they’re around.
I quickly realize as I walk through the halls that I haven't missed this part of college life at all. Traversing the corridors, bumping shoulders with everyone. The crowds of loud students are a barrage on my senses, and I really notice it after the weeks of not being here.
After McKinsey’s class, I see Applegate in the hallway. He still has a bandage around his hand from where he was injured in the lab fire. When he notices me, he calls me over, and the student he was talking to melts into the sea of people around us.
'Miss Evans,' he says carefully. ‘Sure you’re up to being here?'
'Yeah,' I reply. 'I need to be. Besides, I’m fully recovered. Still some headaches, but nothing major.’ I gesture to his bandaged hand. ‘How about you?'
He looks down at it. 'Still healing, but it shouldn’t be too much longer, I’m told.'
I glance around to make sure that no one's actually paying any attention to us. I see Bennett and Casey walking past. Bennett doesn’t look at me. He likes to pretend I don’t exist at all, but always gives me a very wide berth.
'I wanted to ask you about Mav's grant,' I begin, but Applegate just shakes his head, looking around as if he's almost afraid someone will hear as well.
'I can't talk about this with you,' he says quietly. 'I'm sorry, I have no other information, anyway. The grant is gone. There's a team of post grads already in place in the lab. I don't even know what they're researching in there. I've been locked out.'
'Can't you just use your keycard?' I ask, puzzled.
His lip turns upward very slightly. 'I mean metaphorically speaking. They're firing me. They're pretending it's a sabbatical, but I doubt I’ll be allowed back.'
'Why?' I ask. 'Is this because of Andy, too? What does Andy have against you?'
'I have no idea. But I've been told in no uncertain terms that I need to go quietly or I won't get my pension.
And to be frank, I'm too old to lose it, Marguerite.
I'm sorry. I wish I could have been like your dad.
He would have been raising hell over this, but I don't have it in me anymore.
Maybe I never did. Maybe it was all him. '
He turns and he's gone before I can even reply.
I go to my next class troubled and deep in thought about what Applegate has said and how the lives of everyone I know are being systematically ruined.
Is Andrew doing it on purpose, or is he just a rich asshole who doesn't give a shit, who doesn’t even notice?
Maybe I could talk to him alone, make him understand.
I don’t particularly want to, but if there’s a chance…
I barely hear the lecture and I’m surprised when everyone starts getting their stuff and filing out of the door.
I stand up, slipping my laptop into my bag.
When I come out of my class, Sauvage’s guys are waiting.
They’re only a few steps back, but there are so many people that when I look back a minute later, I can’t see them anymore.
My arm is yanked hard and I’m pulled into an empty classroom. I’m flung against the wall and an involuntary whimper makes its way past my lips as my head cracks against the concrete. I groan, a little dizzy, and open my eyes to see Marcus.
'Hey, soon-to-be wifey.'
I push myself off the wall with an angry snarl, but he forces my body back again, caging me in with his arms.
'How the fuck did you do it?' he growls. 'How did you kill my brother?'
'I don't know what you're talking about,' I say, glad that my voice comes out strong.
‘Bullshit,’ he laughs, moving back a little. ‘But I guess I should thank you.’
‘Why?’
‘You took out Joe and then with my father's little helicopter accident, I'm head of the family now. Not bad for the fuck-up spare Dad didn't give a shit about.'
He grins and surges closer, pressing me against the wall with his body. I struggle, but he's too strong.
'Get the fuck off me,' I grind out, and he laughs again.
'I'm not like my brother.'
He licks my cheek, and I turn away in disgust, wiping it off with my sleeve roughly. 'I'm not going to wait.' He puts his mouth close to my ear. 'I think I'll fuck you right here in this room.'
I almost freeze like I always do, but fury rises in me. I stand up straighter, my fists balling, and look him almost in the eye.
No. This isn’t happening again.
I prepare to fight.
Then I hear the door creak open, and Marcus steps away from me quickly as one of Sauvage’s guys walks into the room.
He sees me and positions himself between me and Marcus immediately, murmuring the number of the classroom he’s found me in, I guess to his partner. His hand delves into his jacket where his gun must be.
‘Are you okay, ma’am?’ he asks, turning his head a little in my direction while keeping Marcus in his sights.
I nod and Marcus shrugs. ‘I was just talking to my fiancé.’
My eyes narrow at Marcus.
‘It’ll be a cold day in hell before I marry you!’ I growl.
Marcus chuckles. ‘We’ll see.’
He saunters out like he didn’t just threaten to assault me and I push myself off the wall, my eyes narrowing as I watch him go.
I heave a breath and thank Sauvage’s guy who just gives me a nod.
I leave the room, making sure my bodyguard is close this time. The halls have cleared now and there’s no sign of Marcus, though Sauvage’s other guy is hurrying toward us.
‘Where the hell were you?’ my savior mutters to him.
‘I’m sorry, okay? I got turned around.’
Feeling a little weak in the knees, I make my way to Grinder, thankfully finding my bestie working today. I put on my apron and do the rest of her shift with her, telling her about Andrew being my guardian now and what Marcus just did between making lattes and cappuccinos.
Lu is pissed on my behalf.
‘What a fucking psycho!’ she seethes. ‘Too bad my PopPop can’t just get rid of him.’
I give her an enquiring look and she shakes her head.
‘He doesn’t do that anymore.’
‘Do what?’ I murmur as I make a latte.
‘Get rid of people when the grandkids ask,’ she replies quietly.
‘What?’ I can’t help but exclaim because for this to be a Garrett family rule, it had to have happened before.
‘There was a thing with my nephew…’ She gives a wave of her hand. ‘Doesn’t matter. PopPop won’t help us.’
‘Right.’
‘And anyway, what kind of freaks are those rich people?’ she goes on. ‘Like, if Marcus did die, too, would they make you marry the sister?’
That makes me chuckle, but Lu just looks pissed and mutters something about it being time for Shade to make good on his promise. But I'm not sure what she means and we’re suddenly very busy so I don’t have the chance to ask.
A couple of hours later, one of Sauvage’s guys comes up to the counter and clears his throat.
‘Ma’am, I was told to ask you to check your phone.’
‘Oh. Thanks.’
I delve into my pocket and see I have some messages.
I have a voicemail from a number I don’t recognize with a transcript that begins, ‘This is Detective Anders,’ and a message from Shade.
I read Shade’s message first and find out that he wants to drive to New York this afternoon.
I guess it’s a good thing. Get it over and done with. Maybe we’ll get something out of them.
‘I have to go,' I say to Lu. 'I need to go to New York City with Shade.'
'Be careful, Daisybear,' she says with a thumbs up. ‘Tell me if you get anything out of the suits. Later.’
I nod, taking off my apron and stowing it in my locker in the back before leaving with Sauvage’s guys in tow.
I meet Shade out in the lot. He's in his Jag, and as soon as I open the passenger door, my henchmen shadows disappear.
He smiles as I get in the car, but his good mood quickly evaporates when I tell him everything that happened this morning with Applegate and then Marcus.
We leave Richmond in the rearview, Shade’s knuckles clutching the steering wheel in anger for at least the first half an hour. Traffic isn’t bad, so we get to the city in just under two hours, though it takes another thirty minutes to find the place and get parked down the street.
The building that we arrive at is very Art Nouveau. It’s towering and spans the whole block, majestic and cold, with hints of intricate stonework and an air of wealth.
I shiver as we go up the steps and into a lobby where a doorman waits. I'm afraid he's going to ask us for identification, but he just nods, and we go up to the 11th floor where the lawyer's offices are.
We're buzzed in and find a well-appointed collection of rooms with fancy furniture and the kind of old-world elegance that is echoed through the rest of the building.
There's a receptionist at a desk by the door.
'Hi,' I say with my practiced smile. 'My name is Marguerite Evans. I’d like to see one of the partners, please.'