Chapter 57
CHAPTER 57
CALEB
I drop April off at Scarlett’s apartment. I carry her case and help her with the shopping we bought en route. At least I know she can feed herself and has all she needs, although I’m not sure how I will manage. Having April around every dinner time has become a luxury I’m not sure I want to do without, although I know I will have to, at least until I convince her to come back.
My only saving grace is the kiss she gives me. It does not feel like she’s saying goodbye. It’s filled with the same passion she’s always shown. Part of me hopes as I walk away, she’ll ask me to turn around and come back, drop to her knees, and tell me she’s made a dreadful mistake. I know that will not happen because then what? We kiss? She straddles me. It won’t help with her insecurities. It’s a simple fix of kicking the can down the road.
“I’ll see you soon,” she says, her hand holding the door.
“Count on it,” I fire back, giving her my cheekiest, well-practised grin.
Now, I’m sitting here, in my apartment, with my back against the end of her bed, staring at the empty hanging space. Space where her clothes used to hang. She may be gone, but her perfume still lingers in the air.
I pick up my phone.
ME:
I want Crawley destroyed. No one threatens us and gets away with it.
ELIJAH:
I’m on it. This man has buried a lot of bodies.
ME:
Make sure they’re all uncovered.
ELIJAH:
This is my speciality. Trust me. I’ve got her back.
ME:
Thank you
I drag myself off the floor and turn to leave, noticing the book April borrowed from my library. I smile and move over to her bedside table. A pressed flower bookmark sticks out of the top, marking her page. No folded pages. Even the spine looks untouched. She has taken such care of the book. This is what I want to do for her. Take care of her. I need to work out how, without being a stalker.
Removing imminent threats is one way, but that’s behind the scenes. I need to find a way to show her I’m in this for the long haul.
I place the book back on the side. As I make my way downstairs, my phone pings.
SAMUEL:
Has something happened?
I smile at the message. Samuel, is messaging me to find out what is going on. Even with him, her bestie, she has walls. Walls he wants gone as much as I do.
ME:
Sir Leonard Crawley.
That is all I type, wondering if Samuel has an inclination about what that man means to April.
SAMUEL:
Shit. Is she okay?
ME:
His name means something to you?
Three dots appear and disappear before my phone rings.
“He was bad news at the club—shit,” Samuel says. It’s then I realise he has no idea I know about April’s exotic past.
“It’s all right, I know all about Merryfellows.”
I’m rewarded with a sigh.
“She told you?” Samuel asks.
“No, I’ve always known.”
There’s a longer pause.
“And you don’t care?” Samuel pauses before adding, “Of course you don’t.” He laughs. “She was afraid to tell you. That you’d think less of her.”
I drop my chin to my chest.
My heart hurts that she couldn’t trust me with this, that she thought I’d think badly of her, but I’m starting to understand. She has spent so much of her life on her own, she can’t seem to see when people are there for her, like Di and Julian, Samuel.
“Never,” I say, and I hear him chuckle.
“I take it you told her that, and she clearly believes you, as she hasn’t turned up on my doorstep—yet. ”
I run a hand through my hair, not wanting to tell him how close we’d come.
“It was touch and go,” I admit.
“Ah, but she stayed, that my friend, is major progress.”
“Not quite.”
A strange tingling spreads through my chest.
“What do you mean?”
“She’s moved into Scarlett’s apartment. She hasn’t kicked me out completely, but she needs to clear her head.”
“Shit, that woman is stubborn.”
I smile as Samuel is unaware of how much his words mean.
“She is. But I’m counting my blessings. She’s still talking to me,” I admit.
He laughs. “I think you’re being a little hard on yourself.”
I groan, making him laugh even harder.
“Believe me, Caleb. April does nothing she doesn’t want to do. If she’s chosen to talk to you, even if she’s moved out, then count that as a win.”
“Thank you,” I say.
“You’re good for my friend. If you weren’t, billionaire or not, I’d have kicked your ass by now.”
It’s my turn to chuckle. “I don’t doubt it.”
I like him. He’s straight-talking and has taken care of April.
“So, what do you know about Crawley?” I ask.
There’s a pause. “Not much, only what April told me. One of the girls at the club got a little too involved with his son. Apparently, they were going to elope. The girl disappeared. His son didn’t, so they didn’t elope.”
“He could have paid her off,” I add.
“Maybe, but I also know he was on the girls’ beware list.”
“Beware list?” It didn’t take a rocket scientist to work out what that list was .
“I think you know what I mean. Crawley and his friends are wealthy, didn’t like to be told no.”
“Didn’t management step in?” I ask, my blood running cold. People in power take advantage of those they see beneath them yet again.
“They did. But some girls were willing to add extras off the books. Didn’t mind being slapped around. They protected the younger girls.”
By the time he’s finished, I rub my jaw to release the tension.
“April?”
“She stayed away from him. She’s savvy, our girl. Always was streetwise. If he’s gone after her now, it’s because he considers her forbidden fruit and perceives her as vulnerable or at least did. He may have been all bluster; see how easily she would roll over if at all. Sound like she didn’t, so only time will tell. But Caleb, don’t think you’ve got away with it. By being seen with you, Crawley is one of many, who might recognise her. You’ve placed her in their crosshairs. Don’t get me wrong, we are talking about a small number. Most of the patrons were decent guys, or so the girls told me. I may not have worked at the club, but when I wasn’t working, I would walk them home. April and I lived with five of them in a bedsit. I heard things.”
Shit. Who would have known? How many more of my parents’ friends do I need to watch out for?
“It won’t happen again,” I promise him
I hear a noise in the background.
“April has just turned up,” he says.
I’m unsure whether to be elated or worried. He is her best friend, and she needs to talk to him. He understands her better than I ever will.
“Call me,” I say before he rings off.
By the time I make it into the office, my family is all but blowing up my phone. Funny how April has ingratiated herself into their lives and isn’t even aware of the impact she’s had. They appear to love her and are in a state of outrage.
When my phone pings again, I’m not surprised to see Gabriel’s name flash up.
GAbrIEL:
What the hell’s going on?
So typically, Gabriel, straight to the point.
LEAH:
What he means is, are you both okay?
I smile at Leah’s message. We have our own little group chat. Leah, Gabriel and I.
ME:
I’m hoping we will be.
GAbrIEL:
What’s that supposed to mean?
ME:
April has moved out, but not dumped my sorry ass.
LEAH:
She’s left? Why?
ME:
It’s complicated.
The messages remain silent until my phone rings. Leah’s number pinging up.
“Hey,” she says, her voice soft.
“Hey, you,” I reply.
“What happened? April didn’t look like someone who was about to walk out on you. She looked the opposite.”
I sink down onto the sofa and stare out of the window. Leah is right, we had gone from special to almost dead in the water in less than twenty-four hours.
I fill Leah in, on what occurred at the party, leaving out none of the details.
“I knew I didn’t like that man. I met him once. He gives off serious creeper vibes.”
“His particular Sir is hereditary, handed down. Old school makes him think he’s a cut above the rest of us,” I add.
“April’s lucky she’s got you. And with Elijah on her side—he looked like he was about to tear apart the world last night.”
I smile at Leah’s words. She and Elijah got off to a rocky start, but that is ancient history now. I think our eldest brother would take a bullet for our sister-in-law.
“She’s not alone. She means too much to me. But I’m not sure it will be enough.”
There’s silence for a moment, and I hear Callum gurgling in the background.
“Tread gently. Be patient. April is smart, but she’s had years to build up some major defences. She’s been through a lot. She wasn’t raised with the security you and I had growing up. That has to leave scars.”
“I’ve told her I want to be there for her.”
“Telling and showing are two very different things. April’s not going to drop her shields overnight. But if you show her she can trust you, that she can trust us,” Leah says.
“When did you become so wise?” I ask her, chuckling.
“I’ve always been wise, jackass. How do you think I deal with your brother? ”
I hear the laughter in her voice, followed by a, "Hey, I heard that!"
I smile even more. My brother did good when he finally opened his eyes and heart, letting Leah into his life.
“Thank you for welcoming April. I know she appreciated it,” I say to Leah.
“It’s no hardship. She’s lovely. And Caleb, it’s clear you make each other happy. This is a test. All relationships have them. Gabe and I had our own, as you well know. If you’re meant to be together, it will sort itself out.”
“I know.”
“I’ve got to go, little man wants feeding. Your nephew is a hungry soul.”
“I’ll leave you to it,” I say, about to disconnect when Leah adds.
“If April wants someone to talk to, tell her to call me.”
“Thanks, Leah.”
I end the call as my nephew lets rip an angry cry. No one keeps that baby away from his food. Like father, like son.