Plotting
Chapter twelve
Alex
“Thanks for coming by Seth,” I tell him as I lead him to the door.
“No problem, man. That was intense. I was afraid I hurt him.” He looks worried.
“No, it’s okay. It’s better to know. Now we have an idea of what we’re up against. That’s invaluable. Before you got here, I was just running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I had no idea what to do.”
He nods. “If you need anything else, just let me know. I can come back out and help out with whatever.” He looks around the house wistfully.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
After saying goodnight to Seth, I head back to Jake’s room and spend the night comforting him as best I can. After seeing what happened to him, the violation he endured, he was wiped out emotionally. I lay next to him on his bed, not touching, just offering what comfort I can.
He must be okay with me being here because he doesn’t kick me out, but he doesn’t say anything either.
I don’t really know what he could say. Hell, I don’t know what to say.
I’ve promised to kill Andrei for him, and I intend to keep that promise, somehow.
Maybe I’ll take my time with him, give him the same amount of mercy he gave Jake.
I think I remember seeing a warehouse somewhere on the property, far enough away from the manor that no one would be able to hear his screams, his pleas for the sweet release of death.
I weigh the pros and cons of my plan for a few minutes, imagining all the things I could do to him.
I need to figure out the Kayla situation as well.
She didn’t mean to kill me, I’m pretty sure of that.
Just incapacitate me. That crazy bitch has an incredible swing.
She should have been a baseball player. I’m pretty sure she cracked my head open like a watermelon.
I’m torn about what to do with her. On the one hand, we need her here to assist in managing the hotel.
On the other hand, she helped cover up my death and is working directly with the guys who hurt Jake.
Kayla being tangled up in criminal activity was never on my bingo card.
I put a pin on that line of thinking, saving it for later.
Right now, the focus needs to be on Andrei. He’ll be able to tell me exactly how complicit the Covington’s were in Jake’s abuse. Don’t get me wrong, they are going down no matter what. I just need to decide what magnitude of pain I need to dish out before I send them to hell.
I look over at Jake again. He’s curled up in a ball on his side, facing away from me.
I want to run my fingers through those silky looking locks of his, murmur sweet nothings, take his pain away.
Against my better judgement, I reach out with a finger and lightly run it through his hair.
He tenses up for a minute before relaxing.
I bring my finger back over to my side of the bed.
“Sorry,” I murmur. “I don’t know what to do to help you.” With a deep sigh he turns over to face me, curling back up in a protective ball. His eyes meet my gaze for a moment before he looks down, studying the absolutely hideous comforter we’re lying on.
He swallows roughly and is quiet for a moment, I assume trying to organize his thoughts. I’ll give him all the time in the world if that’s what he needs.
Finally, he starts to speak. “Dying is one thing. I was dealing with that, coming to terms with the idea of being a ghost and spending my afterlife here, with you. It’s not so bad.
You’ve helped me a lot just by being you.
You push me out of my comfort zone, you make me smile with your crazy antics.
I know I haven’t had the decency to show you my appreciation for all you’ve done.
” He pauses for a bit, and I want to tell him that it’s okay, but I don’t want him to stop talking.
He needs to work through this. He can show me how much he appreciates my charms later.
“I can’t believe that bastard killed me.
I wish I hadn’t seen it.” He rubs his eyes with his knuckles.
“God, I keep replaying it in my head, over and over and over. I’ve never been that scared in my life, of anything.
My father’s status has always given me a certain level of protection; it never occurred to me that there would be a time it wouldn’t. I hate seeing myself that weak.”
“I’m really sorry you had to see that, Jake. I’m sorry you had to experience it.”
I grab his hand gently and pull it to my chest like I’m protecting it. I can feel tears forming in my eyes and I’m doing my best to keep them from falling, but looking at his face is breaking my heart. He looks so defeated.
“It felt like an eternity. The worst part is that he didn’t even mean to kill me.
He was choking me, trying to keep me quiet.
He said he wanted to keep me, like a pet or something.
” He shudders, and a tear falls down his cheek.
I gently wipe it away with my free hand.
“The idea that that could have been my life still terrifies me, even though I know he can’t touch me anymore. I just wanted to get away from him.”
“I want you to look me in the eyes for what I’m about to tell you.
You’re not weak. You went through all of that and you’re still standing.
” I wince. “Technically that is true. It takes a strong person to process what you’ve been through, find a way to live with it, and move on from it.
Things that were forced on you don’t define you as a person, and they don’t make you weak, or less than.
You’re not broken or damaged. I’ll tell you that as many times as it takes for you to believe it.
That roid raging psycho will never get near you again, that is my solemn vow to you.
Here and now. I’ve decided you’re mine, and I protect what’s mine.
I’m going to tattoo ‘property of Alex’ on your ass so you don’t forget it. ”
“What if I want to be the one protecting you? I don’t even know what I have to offer you.”
“You give me a purpose. I have something to take care of,” I rest a hand against his un-beating heart and continue.
“You deserve that care and I like giving it to you. And you love my lame jokes, which really is all it takes to win me over. Plus, you haven’t rearranged my face with a frying pan, so you have that going for you too.
You can protect me from Kayla, how about that?
I still can’t believe she’s the one that ganked me.
With a frying pan, Jake! You’re not the only one with trauma.
” I give an overexaggerated shiver, hoping to make him laugh.
I always want to make him laugh, and right now it feels like the only thing I can do.
“You have low standards.”
“Yeah…” I sigh. “Can you hold me for a minute, I’m feeling vulnerable.
” I turn around and give him my back. He wraps his arms around my waist and buries his face in my hair.
I love how he envelopes me so completely.
He says he doesn’t feel strong, but right now all I feel is his gentle strength wrapped around me with so much care.
How he can’t see himself like I do, I’ll never know.
“I know what you’re playing at, brat.” We lay there in silence for a while. We might be staring at the same crack on the wall. I don’t want to ruin the moment by asking him about it.
“Have I ever triggered you?” I ask eventually. “With the teasing? I know I can come on strong. I’m worried that I overstepped and accidentally hurt you.” I suddenly have to know the answer. I’d never forgive myself if I reminded him of his abuser.
He smiles against my hair. “No. You are a persistent little thing, but… I don’t know. I kind of liked you chasing me like a lost puppy.”
I gasp in mock outrage. “A lost puppy? You are way off with your assessment, Jake.” We lapse back into a comfortable silence for a while.
Eventually, I ask, “Can I take you on a real date? There’s a lake I wanted to show you, and it’s perfect this time of year.
The water is crystal clear, and the trees are lush and green.
This manor might not be much right now, but the land around it is gorgeous.
I can’t think of a better place to spend my afterlife.
Also, I’m pretty sure your dad submerged my car in that lake.
I have no proof of that, but I’ve got a feeling and I’d like to say hi to it. ”
“I’d like that,” he says and I’d swear he holds me just a bit tighter.
As we lay there, I make a mental note to ask Brandon to get Seth back out here. We need to learn more about this ghost business so that I can dismember Andrei and pee on his corpse. Then, I’m taking Jake on that date.