Chapter 27
Twenty-Seven
Every time Claudia tried to coax me off the floor, I didn't budge. As soon as I walked into my bedroom, I pulled the throw blanket off the bed and cocooned myself on the floor. With ugliness swarming inside, I don’t deserve the comfort of a bed.
My parents sent more staff to tend to me, but when I continued in my comatose state, they eventually left me alone. All night, I shivered under the heavy blanket.
Despite being on the floorboards, I wasn’t cold.
I was heartbroken.
As the morning glow mocks me with its happiness, I pick at the joints between the floorboards. My itchy eyes are half open. My chapped lips are parted, allowing my mouth to dry out further. I stop scraping my fingernails against the floor only when a twinge surges up every digit.
I twitch under the blanket, replaying the moment Dax stood over me as I hid in the closet. My stomach churns, and I scrunch myself into a tighter ball.
He held his hand over my mouth.
Men from his motorcycle club walked through my home as if they were invited.
And they were.
By the boy who’s supposed to care about me.
Why would he bring them here? He said he was leaving to keep me safe, but he did the exact opposite. Why lie like that?
I sit up, narrowing my eyes as an idea strikes me. Was he just baiting me with adoring compliments and sweet kisses? Working me until he got a tour of the manor and found the perfect time to infiltrate?
“Gah!” I let it scream out of me. My fists curl so tight my manicure indents half-moon piercings into my palms. I hunch over my thighs, and every muscle tenses.
I hate this.
I hate that he did this to me.
I hate that I didn’t see it coming.
He was in such a bad mood the last time I saw him at the pool house. He told me he was planning on riding with Boscoe. How did I not register that meant he’d had contact with The Scorpions?
He left the pool house, saying he’d give his brother something he wanted.
My heart aches with the memory of Dax telling his brother I didn’t come from a wealthy family.
How could I not piece together that I was something his brother wanted? I was the key to gaining a hefty loot.
I was used.
As I lift my head and blink the water out of my vision, my eyes mindlessly wander the floor. I glimpse the foot of the armoire and cringe. As I turn away, something catches my eye.
On second glance, a sunray beams through the window and shines against something on the floor. I get up, keeping the blanket snatched around me. I stand over the sunlit item and then lower to pick it up.
My heart fritzes when a bolt of panic and surprise hits me. Very gingerly, I hold Dax’s chain with the pendant his mother gave him. As it sits in my palm, I remember the remorse stinging his eyes and his anguished apologies.
I pull the chain to my chest and gulp for air.
He didn’t have a choice.
“No, it’s your favorite.” He was devastated when he took my bracelet.
I run my fingers over his necklace.
Did he leave this here because he felt my pain?
With my head hanging low, I clasp the chain around my neck.
The blanket cloaks around me and drags along the floor as I leave my bedroom. When I reach the first floor, staff members attempt to gain my attention, but they may as well be ghosts. I amble to the rear of the manor, and my heart draws me to the pool.
I nestle on a deck chair, gazing at the morning sun dazzling against the steady water. My heavy eyes are ready to close, but I sense I’m no longer alone.
“Christie’s gone,” Ash says flatly, scuffing his way to my deck chair. “Her family took her out of town, and they’re staying with her grandparents. Are you happy now?”
I squint at him. “You’re blaming me for her leaving?”
“They left because of the robbery caused by your boyfriend.”
“That wasn’t up to him. If only you’d seen his face. He was forced into it. I know it.”
“You’re making excuses for him?”
I clutch the fabric over my chest. “He’s not a bad guy, Ash.”
Ash rolls his eyes. “I’m not listening to this. And I’m not taking my eyes off you.”
I scoff. “What? You’re doing the whole overprotective thing with me because Christie’s gone?”
“No. I’m doing it because some guy has you wrapped around his finger. His grip on you is so tight, you’re still head-over-heels despite him robbing us while you were home.”
“He saved me from being seen by the others.”
“Ness, I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.
It makes me sick, you were in the manor while those guys were skulking around.
Who knows what could’ve happened? I’ll lose my mind thinking about it.
I’m glad Christie’s away until they lock them up.
” He chews his lip. “Bet you can’t say the same. I know you don’t like her.”
“I never said I disliked her. I just never liked losing my brother.”
Ash scoffs. “You left me.”
“I had to leave after the mess I made.” I sigh, looking away. “But I wasn’t wrong in my assumption.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Mom.” Swallowing hurts due to the dryness of my mouth. “She had an affair. In Switzerland. She had me keep quiet about it.”
Ash’s mouth opens and closes, figuring out the words to respond. His thumb and index finger massage his temples as he looks down at the ground. “Why are you telling me this now?”
I shrug. “Nothing else to lose.”
Ash sits beside me. “This doesn’t change anything. I still don’t trust your boyfriend, and I don’t want you leaving the estate to meet up with him.”
I gaze at the pool, frowning. “You don’t have to worry. I’m getting radio silence from him.”
Ash groans. “Ness. Are you still texting this guy? He led The Scorpions into our home.”
“I know.” The weight of tears builds inside me. “But he’s not safe with them. I wish he were back here.”
“That’ll never happen. Dad will kill him.”
I wipe under my eyes. “Then I’ll leave with him.”
Ash clicks his tongue. “And where will you go?”
“It doesn’t matter if I get to be with him.”
“How long have you known this guy?”
“It doesn’t matter. I knew how I felt as soon as I met him.”
Ash folds his arms, looking at me like I’m being ridiculous.
“And how long did it take you to tell Christie you love her?” I bite back. “You should know it doesn’t matter how long you’ve known someone. When you know, you know.”
Ash searches my eyes. “You love him?”
I rub the heel of my palm over my chest and nod. “It’s love.”
Ash places a hand on my back. “Do you really feel like you lost me?”
“We didn’t have the same relationship when I came back. And yes, I know it’s partly my fault for leaving in the first place.”
“You have to know you’re still a top priority in my life. I guess I didn’t realize how swept up I got in Christie.” A soft laugh puffs out of him. “I mean, have you met her?”
I lower my guard and mumble a laugh. “It’s still so weird seeing you all loved-up. When I left, you were so adamant you’d never date.”
“Like you said, ‘when you know, you know.’”
“Is that your way of saying you accept my feelings for Dax?”
“Let’s just say, I understand. Accepting might be a stretch.”
“It wasn’t his fault, Ash. His brother controls him. I’ve seen the abuse.”
Ash’s back stiffens. “You were around when they were brawling?”
“What are you not getting, Ash? It’s one-sided. Dax is a victim.”
Ash sighs and rubs his temples again. “I just hate that you’re infatuated with a guy, who gets himself in dangerous situations.”
I groan. “Why don’t you just follow your girlfriend?”
“Because I’m not bailing on my family.”
His words hit me in the heart.
“Dax doesn’t have a family to stand by him,” I whisper, holding back the urge to cry. “They’re his enemies.”
“Our enemy too,” Ash replies, standing. “They came into our home and stole from us. That won’t be forgiven.”
“It wasn’t Dax’s choice.”
Ash gives me an incredulous look. “Did he tell you that when he strolled through our hallways like he owned the place?”
“Like it even matters. We have an obscene amount of wealth. It’s not like we can’t replace what they took.”
Ash crosses his arms. “It’s not about the items. It’s about the violation.”
I lower my head and pick at my fingernails. “I know.”
“You’ve been making some really dumb choices lately. I get that you don’t want to be with LJ, but…”
“My feelings for Dax have nothing to do with pushing LJ away.”
“You made me watch you put on a show with LJ only a few nights ago.”
I push past my brother, moving toward the manor. “I can’t deal with this right now.”
“Where are you going?”
I keep pacing, not looking back. “To get a glass of water. Is that okay with you?”
At a furious pace, I burst into the kitchen, startling Marcella as she prepares lunch.
“Sorry,” I mumble, moving to the fridge.
“Let me get that for you, miss,” Marcella blurts, rushing toward a cupboard.
I pluck out a glass and pour the water. “It’s fine. Just pretend I’m not here.”
Marcella fidgets and stammers, with no clue how to act.
After a large chug, I gesture at her prep station. “Go back to work. I don’t need you.”
She slinks away. “Yes, miss.”
“Miss?” Claudia enters the kitchen. “Oh, Miss Ashworth, I thought you came this way. Can I help you with anything?”
I slam the glass down on the counter. “No. I want everyone to stop trying to help me.”
I pace toward the door, and Claudia moves out of the way. As I pass her, she whispers, “I saw your boyfriend.”
I stop dead. “What?”
She nods. “When we were tied up.”
I gasp. “Did you say anything?”
Claudia purses her lips, shaking her head.
I clasp my hands together, thankful. “Okay, but why not?”
Claudia places her hands over mine. “He wasn’t like the rest of them. When they weren’t looking, he told me everything would be okay. That, as long as I stayed quiet, I wouldn’t get hurt.”
My eyes brim with tears, and I sniff hard. “He did that?”
Claudia nods. “He made sure the binds weren’t too tight over my wrists. I had to tell the police I saw Scorpion jackets, like the other staff members, but it was clear he came here against his will.”
I exhale my first steady breath since yesterday. “He wanted to make sure we were all okay.”
Claudia smiles kindly. “He’s messed up with the wrong kinds of people.”
I nod. “I begged him not to go back to them.”
“Maybe we should talk to the police about getting him out? We can vouch for him being a good person.”
“Right now, the police think it was a copycat group. If we say anything, they’ll think Dax masterminded the whole thing.”
“So how do we help him?”
“If Dax’s brother thinks he pulled off the robbery without any hitches, maybe Dax can break free of him.”
Claudia looks around our immediate area with fretful eyes. “Do you think he’d come back here?”
An answer pops into my head, and my heart pounds with hopefulness. “No, he’d hide out. And I might know where. Will you cover for me?”
Claudia gasps. “Cover for you? You shouldn’t be going anywhere. Your parents want you home while the police investigate.”
“I can’t leave him alone. Just tell my parents I’ve gone to the third floor to be alone.”
Claudia’s eyes dart to the nearby hallway and then back to me. “But where are you really going?”
I smooth back my hair, pretending I’ve got it together. “I’ll take a car so I can be tracked. I just need a head start.”
“No, Miss Ashworth.” Her eyes water. “I don’t like this. You can’t go.”
I lean in and kiss her cheek. “Thank you for everything you do for me. You’ve always made my life so easy. I know this is the hardest thing I’ve ever asked of you, but I need your help.”
She sucks back her tears, and nods. “Okay. If you’re sure.”
I smile and nod. “I’m sure.”