Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Eloise
The bathtub in Cannon’s bathroom is huge. The bathroom itself is gigantic, but the tub would fit two people easily. When I step up to it, I turn and look at him. “It will take too much water to reach those jets.”
He frowns. “What do you mean?”
I point at the holes around the tub, the ones he just explained to me are going to push water out and keep my bubbles alive when I turn them on. “It would take forever for the water to reach that height, and it would be very wasteful. Plus, the hot water would run out long before it got there.”
Cannon shakes his head. “Angel, that won’t be an issue. I promise.” He bends over and turns on the water.
I flinch and take a step back, shocked by how much pressure there is and how fast it comes out. Steam rises in the room in seconds.
Cannon feels the stream several times, adjusting the lever. “There. That should be about right. I set all your cherry blossom supplies on the edge. Do you want me to pour some bubble bath in?”
I nod, still staring at the stream of water. It’s filling so fast. I’m mesmerized by the fact that Cannon doesn’t seem the least bit worried about the volume of water that will first get cold and then go down the drain.
None of the families I stayed with growing up were very poor, but in every home we were supposed to hurry through our shower or bath and not be wasteful. If we used the last of the hot water, there would be people in the house who couldn’t take a warm shower.
Westin had a conniption every time I bathed. I was lucky if he let me have one minute of hot water. He shouted about it as if I were the most wasteful human alive every time. “Three minutes, Eloise. I’m setting a timer.”
I shake myself back to the present and giggle as bubbles rise in the water. At least this time I don’t have to worry about putting too much in. Cannon did it.
“See this button?” he says.
I look at the spot on the edge of the tub and nod.
“Push it when you’re ready. Wait for the water to be above the jets, though. They will be kind of loud when they come on. I don’t want them to startle you.”
“Okay.”
He turns to me and sets his hands on my shoulders.
“Eloise, prepare to be dazzled.” His grin is infectious.
“Women go gaga for whirlpool tubs. I suspect I’ll never be able to get you out of here.
” He kisses my forehead and turns to leave.
“Yell if you need anything. I’ll leave the door open an inch and sit in the bedroom so I can hear you. ”
“Thank you.” A part of me wants him to stay, but that wouldn’t be appropriate.
He did see my naked chest earlier, and I did have my first orgasm by grinding against his cock, but I guess it wouldn’t be right for me to ask him to stay while I get in.
It speaks volumes that I kind of want him to. I never expected to be in a situation where I met someone I would want to see me naked. That seemed like something I would avoid until I died. After all, my experiences with boys and men have been less than desirable. To say the least.
I’m trembling as I remove my clothes and put them in the hamper that Cannon showed me. He put a fresh nightgown and panties on the vanity. My towel is hanging on a heated rack next to the tub.
A heated rack… The concept is mindboggling.
As soon as I step into the water, I sigh. Heavens. It feels so good. Even better than yesterday. It’s deeper, and the bubbles smell so good.
Even though Cannon warned me about the jets, I still let out a little yelp when I push the button. The noise makes me jump. But it’s worth it. I can’t keep from grinning as I slide into the water, letting it cover me all the way up to my neck.
I close my eyes and take deep breaths. It’s hard to keep my demons at bay.
In my head, I don’t think I deserve this.
My mind toys with me. I’ve never done anything that would warrant me meeting someone good who would show me another way of life.
A life where I might be free. A life where I don’t have to look over my shoulder constantly.
In this apartment, I can sleep without fear of being taunted, groped, blackmailed, drugged, kidnapped, sold into slavery…
In this apartment, I’m treated with kindness and respect. No one shouts at me to clean the kitchen or make dinner. No one orders me to take cold showers. No one takes away my lamp and forces me to sleep in the dark, even though I’m scared.
I open my eyes to make sure it’s all still real. I’m still in this heavenly tub with water at the perfect temperature, cherry blossom scent popping all around me. I can move my back around so that the jets hit me just right, working out my sore muscles.
My stomach is full of delicious foods I chose. I don’t have to work the night shift and sleep in my car, wondering when and where I’ll get my next meal.
I’m safe…
I’m safe…
Cannon was right. The jets keep the bubbles alive. They make me smile as they pop and then reform all around me. The sound of the jets is soothing.
When a soft knock draws my attention to the slightly open door, I’m not scared. “You okay, angel?”
“Yes. Thank you. Do I need to get out now?”
“No, Little one. Stay in there as long as you’d like. I just wanted to check on you.”
“Thank you.” I close my eyes again. This time, I’m not assaulted with bad memories. This time, I see Cannon behind my lids. He’s so good to me. He’s a genuinely kind human being.
I should be concerned about his plans for Larkin.
I know he and Blade discussed him while June and I were shopping.
I know their team killed Pete Stark yesterday.
They’re going to kill Larkin, too. I’m not sorry because in my heart, I know Larkin is still kidnapping girls and trafficking them. He needs to die.
I’ve often felt guilty about all the women he’s stolen from their lives over the years. How many did he traffic before me? How many since me? I couldn’t have done anything about the women before me. I didn’t know what he was capable of at the time.
But after I woke up in Westin’s basement, I knew Larkin was a monster. Maybe I should have run. Gotten help. Found someone who would believe me. Maybe I could have stopped more girls from being kidnapped and sold.
I jerk my eyes open when I realize my mind has drifted to horrible thoughts again. I reach for the button to turn off the jets, but it’s not until a sob escapes my mouth that I realize I’m crying.
Not just crying. I’m sobbing. I gasp, trying to draw in oxygen.
“Eloise?” The door opens, and Cannon rushes forward. He drops onto his knees next to the tub. He reaches out and pulls me against him, soaking himself in the process. “Angel, what’s wrong?”
I wrap my arms around him and let him lift me out of the tub. He lifts my naked body against his chest before grabbing the towel and wrapping it around me, cradling me. He stands and rocks me back and forth, kissing my temple.
“How many?” I manage to ask on a sob.
“How many what, Little one?”
“Girls.” I can’t catch my breath. “Maybe I-I-I could have s-s-stopped him.”
Cannon holds me tighter. “Oh, angel, no.”
I cry harder, holding on to his shirt. I didn’t realize how much this was weighing on me until now. The dam has broken.
“Eloise… Oh, angel. Let it out.” He doesn’t tell me to suck it up or stop crying. He lets me cry. He actually encourages it.
And I do because I’ve held this in for so long. By the time I’m able to pull myself back together, I’ve soaked Cannon’s entire shirt and probably his jeans. I’m wrapped in the towel, but it’s wet, too.
Without a word, he dampens a washcloth and cleans off my face. Next, he sits me on the vanity, pulls the towel away, and quickly eases my nightgown over my head. When he stands me on my feet to put my panties on, I lean into him.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
He lifts me into his arms and carries me into his bedroom, where he sits in a giant armchair with me in his lap. “Now, you listen to me, Eloise Manning. You’re not responsible for anything Larkin did.”
“I know,” I say without looking at him. “But maybe if I had run away and gotten help. Maybe I could have found someone who believed me and stopped him. Sometimes I feel like I was a coward for staying with Westin for three-and-a-half years.”
He tips my head back and looks me in the eyes. “You are no coward, Eloise. You did what you needed to do to stay alive. You had to assume that if you ran, you would end up in prison on a litany of false charges. How would that have helped anyone?”
I sniffle. “I know, but…”
“No buts. According to Larkin’s lies, you never would have survived escaping that mountain with no shoes, angel. And for what? You didn’t think you could go to the police, Little one.”
I nod. He’s right. It’s good to hear it from someone rational. There were a million times that I stared at the sky at night, wondering how many girls had died or worse while I lived.
I swallow and ask the question I’ve been dying to ask for hours. “Did Blade and the others check to see if the police are looking for me?”
“Yes, angel. No one is looking for you. Larkin lied. There is no record anywhere of you ever committing a crime or being accused of one or even being stopped for jaywalking.”
I suck back new tears. I don’t even know if they’re happy or sad tears. I’m glad no one is looking for me, but I feel renewed guilt for being duped. “Will you catch him?”
“Absolutely. One of our team members is heading there now. Tank. He’s a great guy. He will gather data and bring it back here.”
“And then what?” I sit up taller, suddenly worried that Cannon will go to Virginia and leave me here. I grab his wet shirt. “You can’t go there.” I’m shaking.
He sets his forehead against mine. “I don’t need to, angel.” He draws in a deep breath. “My team is going to lure him here.”
“How?” I frown, confused.
Cannon hesitates. “Trust me when I say I never would have agreed to this if I thought you would be in danger. You will never be in harm’s way.”
I stiffen.
“When we have more information, we’ll sign you up for in-person classes to get your GED. The center will request the records from your high school. I’m confident this thought has occurred to Larkin, who’s watching for a records request frequently.”
It takes me a moment to catch on. “Oh, then you think he’ll come here to kidnap me.” I start shaking.
Cannon frowns. “Yes, angel. He will, but you won’t actually be attending any classes. You’re not leaving this apartment, Little one. It’s just for us to entice him. My team will wait for him outside the center and capture him without you ever setting eyes on him.”
“Oh.” I nod, feeling silly. “Okay. That makes sense.”
He pulls me close to his chest. “I’m getting your clothes all wet. We’re both going to need to change.”
I hold on to him. He’s right, but I don’t want to move from his embrace just yet. I never want to get off his lap. I like it here.