Chapter 16
16
LYLA
I have a bad feeling I started a war with my boss by trying to end things last night. I hid it well, but I got several more thinly veiled threats from blocked numbers during our date, and it spooked me.
I’m sure Aidan can handle himself, but Sebastian is a nightmare and I can’t let Aid be romantically linked to me unless I can guarantee that he and Crew will be safe.
Several texts arrived this morning while Aidan was in the shower. I think he could tell something was up when he came back in the room and I freaked out and almost tossed my phone. All the texts came from different numbers, each scarier than the last.
Unknown
It’s cute that you thought running would save you, little bunny. If you think I’ll let some other man touch what’s mine, you’re in for a rude awakening.
Unknown
I can’t wait to see my marks on your creamy white throat again, Lyla. Diamonds don’t hold a candle when you’ve got a necklace of bruises in the shape of my hand.
I’ll be seeing you soon, future wife.
Shudders wrack my body as I once again block the numbers, but this time, I save screenshots of the messages just in case.
The fear that would have sent me spiraling only a few weeks ago is at a manageable level even after reading the texts, and I can’t help but think it’s partially because of the family I’ve found here in Charleston. Or the strength I feel every day from Aidan.
Honestly, I should have said no to this whole weekend trial he suggested in the first place, but clearly, I’m a weak woman when it comes to pretty blond men because one smile had me brushing aside every reason there was to say no. Okay, that’s not entirely fair. I wasn’t weak for Sebastian. I was naive and afraid of disappointing my father.
My stomach churns with guilt thinking about my dad. I haven’t seen or spoken to him in nearly a year, and the more time passes, the worse I feel.
When I left Maryland, I wasn’t just running from Sebastian. I was running from my life as Lyla Kingsley. Growing up and only being known as Colin Kingsley’s talentless daughter was incredibly isolating, and he never once seemed to notice or care.
South Carolina was my chance to start over and be known as Lyla Taylor and nothing more, but I can’t help but wonder if I should reach out to my dad. Does he even care that I’m gone? Or will he be angry I messed up his business deal with Sebastian Senior?
I pull out my phone, discreetly making sure I’m still alone in the friends and family box before unlocking it. I’m pleasantly surprised to see I don’t have any new messages, either.
Taking advantage of the first moment alone I’ve had all weekend before the box fills up for this afternoon’s game, I make sure my number is blocked before quickly dialing my father’s personal line. Anticipation makes my hands shake so hard I have to try multiple times to get the number right.
My heart is in my throat, but as each ring passes with no answer, sadness begins to eclipse any hope I had of hearing his voice. When a robotic voice picks up letting me know his voicemail box is full, my eyes burn with tears. I know he likely ignored it because I blocked my number, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less.
“What’s up, Ly-bear!” Wren’s hand on my shoulder startles me so bad I nearly fall off the high stool I’d taken up for my failed attempt at reconciliation. I look up in time to see alarm flash in her bright blue eyes as she grips my wrist to pull me upright. “Woah there, killer. You okay?”
The innocent nickname is the last straw on the camel’s proverbial back, and I lose it, a harsh sob breaking free. My panicked best friend pulls me into the private bathroom and flips the lock before whirling around to sweep me into a tight hug. Her sweet apple and honey perfume tickles my nose where it’s pressed into her collarbone.
“Lyla, I need you to breathe, babe. If you pass out on this disgusting floor, I’ll be forced to spray you with bleach before I let you in the rental car.”
Her ridiculous threat has a choked laugh escaping me between sobs, but with a little effort, I do manage to pull in a full breath. It’s only after I do that I realize my vision is spotty, and I’m lightheaded. A hard knock on the door sends a choked squeak from my aching throat.
“Wren? Lyla? You guys in there?” Copeland’s deep voice has both relief and anxiety flowing through my tense frame, and I sag back against the concrete counter.
Wren’s worried gaze tracks the movement but with my nod of assent, she lets him in the small bathroom. Copeland Hawthorne cuts an intimidating figure.
At maybe an inch taller than Aidan, Copeland towers over me, and every inch of his visible skin is covered in colorful tattoos from his fingertips to the top of his neck. Toss in the piercings in his ears, eyebrow, and apparently, his tongue, and he looks like someone you wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley.
In other words, he’s kind of scary.
Everyone has assured me he’s really a giant marshmallow underneath his rough exterior, but I don’t know him well enough to tell one way or the other. I think if Wren weren’t here, I’d be on the verge of running out the door.
As soon as the door slams shut behind him, Copeland’s eyes lock on mine. I cringe knowing how red and puffy I probably am from crying so hard.
“What the fuck happened?” he demands gruffly.
“What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be warming up?” Wren scolds him.
He shrugs, holding his palms up. “I came to find you. Rhodes wouldn’t shut the hell up about his pre-game kiss. But don’t change the subject. Why is Lyla crying?” He turns to me. “Did something happen?”
Wren already gave him Sebastian’s name and some of the basics, so I decide to come clean about everything. The sooner this is taken care of, the sooner I can beg Aidan for a second chance after shutting him down yesterday. Heaving a breath, I hold up a finger so I can step into one of the two stalls and grab some toilet paper to blow my nose.
Wren snickers at the noise, but Copeland still has a terrifying scowl on his face. Shoring up my reserve, I meet both of their eyes.
“Something did happen, but I think I should start from the beginning. My name isn’t technically Lyla Taylor,” I pause. “Well, I mean, it is. But my full name is Lyla Taylor Kingsley. Daughter of Colin Kingsley and almost-heiress to the Pennington family fortune.”
My voice takes on a haughty tone with the last sentence, but my attempt at levity falls flat when Wren lets out an exaggerated gasp and Copeland chokes on air. “ You are the missing Pennington fiancé? Is that why you had me digging up dirt on Sebastian Junior?”
I sigh out a heavy breath of relief, my shoulders relaxing for the first time in a year. Sebastian didn’t call the police. The rest of his words register, and I wince.
“They said I went missing? God, I bet Bas has women all over him trying to comfort him. His dad is probably spinning it to secure sympathy from his investors,” I murmur bitterly. Their confused and angry stares prompt me to explain, so I do.
“Almost three years ago, my father introduced me to Bas at an industry party. He used a technique I now know is called love bombing to make me fall for him quicker than I thought possible. It was all flowers, jewelry, sweet words, and elaborate gestures until he convinced me to move in with him after only a few months together. Then he started making cutting remarks and doing little things to control me.”
A shudder wracks my shoulders as memories from that time come back in vivid detail. “He started restricting my food intake and monitoring my weight because he cared . Every time we left the house, I had to be meticulously made up, or he would punish me for it by ignoring me or flirting with other women in front of me. And then he proposed, and I was young and na?ve and afraid of disappointing my father, so I said yes. That’s when he started getting physical.”
I ignore the angry growls and curses from the two people in front of me, studying my chipping nail polish instead.
“The day I left, he had accused me of cheating on him during the two hours I was alone after I had spent the day watching his sister’s kids, all because the living room was still messy. When I told him I had been doing homework, he choked me, hit me, and nearly snapped my wrist. He tried to drag me up the stairs with the intent of teaching me a lesson, but he kept a bat in the hallway…”
“I panicked and hit him. I knocked him out, and when I was sure he wasn’t dead, I packed a bag and got the hell out of dodge. I haven’t seen or spoken to anyone from my old life in over a year. The breakdown you just saw was the result of too many things happening at once.”
Two wide-eyed gazes meet mine when I finish up my tragic tale, but I’m not expecting Wren to break out into hysterical laughter. “Oh my god!” she screeches. “My little Lyla, who was working under the table for a pottery painting shop when I met her, is a millionaire who was almost an heiress to a multi- billion dollar company.” Her blue eyes are shiny with unshed tears from how hard she’s laughing.
Sighing in exasperation, I roll my eyes at her, and she finally pulls herself together. “Sorry, I’m not trying to make light of the situation. I just love you so much. And I think I might be in shock.”
Copeland pins me with an assessing stare, but he doesn’t seem angry. “So this is what you’ve been keeping from Aidan? That you were a victim of domestic violence and did what you had to do to get away? Forgive me if I sound like an asshole, but why bother keeping it from him at all? Why reject him when it sounds like things were going really well?”
I shouldn’t be surprised he told them, but it makes this part that much harder to admit. “I have to protect Aidan and Crew. Sebastian is a vindictive asshole who doesn’t take no for an answer, and I fully believe he would hurt them to get back at me. To punish me for leaving him, for landing a hit on him and marring his cosmetically perfected face.”
Embarrassing tears sit on my eyelashes, but I’ve done enough crying for the day, so I dam them back. “I would willingly go back to him before I let Crew or Aidan get hurt.”
The intimidating man’s whole face softens with a small but genuine smile, transforming him from scary as hell to the marshmallow everyone says he secretly is. “That’s all I needed to hear.”
Huh?
“Needed to hear for what?”
Copeland smirks. “For this,” he says smugly, handing me a small flash drive he pulls out of his pocket. “I have a friend at the FBI, and we have a meeting with him in three weeks to hand that over. I did some digging and found out that both Sebastians are into some pretty shady shit in their business and personal lives. Funds that were allocated to the business or their charity are being used in… let’s just say, less than legal ways. Add in all the lewd services and people they’ve paid off to look the other way? They’re looking at some pretty serious federal charges.”
My heart threatens to beat right out of my chest, and my eyes widen so much that they start to burn. “You’re serious?” I choke. “Will he actually go to jail?”
He barely starts to nod before I’m tackling him in a giant hug. “I don’t know how I can ever repay you.”
“Just love them how they deserve to be loved,” he murmurs, surprising me when he hugs me back even harder.
“Now,” he pulls back. “Why don’t you let Wren help you fix the raccoon thing you have going on here.” His hand waves in a general way over my face, making me snort. Glancing in the mirror, it’s obvious he’s not exaggerating.
There’s mascara running down my cheeks and all around my eyes, making it look like I’ve never slept a day in my life. Copeland leaves, and Wren, the angel that she is, hands me a small bottle of makeup remover and reusable wipes from her work bag. I stare at her in wonder when she digs around, pulling out a new tube of mascara and some gum.
“Has anyone ever told you you’re kind of like a fairy godmother?”
She laughs. “No, but now I’ll make sure they do,” she says with a smug smirk .
I clean up my face and take several deep breaths, preparing myself to face a crowd. The relief coursing through my veins is so intense that I feel like I could lie down and sleep for a full week. I know I should probably talk to Aidan about everything, but I think it will be safer to wait until after the meeting with the FBI, just in case.
Once I know Sebastian won’t be a problem anymore, I’ll do everything I can to let Aidan know I want to be in his and Crew’s lives in any way they’ll have me.