Chapter 51
Chapter Fifty-One
Everything is crazy today; Latham has a mover on the way to pack everything into storage because today we are leaving for Soya.
It is sweltering hot today, not ideal for moving, but hey, it's better than rain.
They will be here in three hours, so we have to go through both places to take the necessities because everything else would be locked into a storage container and shipped up later.
I am reluctant to leave. However, I also trust my mates.
Yes, even after Latham forced Xavier to mark me.
I know that much, and I trust them. They haven't given me any reason not to, even if I don't like some of their choices.
I know they are for my safety, and I trust that.
Xavier has already forgiven him. Blaine, however, has been pouting all day and trying to get into my pants.
Grabbing the packing tape, I seal the box before writing kitchen on it with a sharpie when Blaine sings out to me from the living room.
"What about all these books and your jewelry box?" Blaine calls out to me.
Standing up, I peer over at him as he starts chucking them into boxes. Noticing the book in his hand, its worn cover stands out because I have reread it a million times.
"Pack all the books except for Jane’ Knights books."
Blaine looks at the cover of Owned by the Dragons, one of my favorite books.
"Who?" Blaine says, and I glare at the fool.
How does he not know who she is? I feel insulted. To say I was obsessed would be an understatement.
“Jane Knight! Now be careful with that one. It's a signed copy," I snap at him when he goes to drop it in the box.
I race over to rescue my beloved books, snatching Her Dominant Dragon and Repaying the Debt off the shelf before grabbing Owned by the Dragons from his fingers and walking back to the kitchen to place them in my bag for safekeeping and away from the book destructor who has no care as he tosses the rest in the box. I shake my head at him.
"Okay, then," Blaine huffs before filling the box while I walk back to the kitchen to retrieve my handbag, putting my books in it.
Opening up the next cupboard, I groan. It is incredible how much crap you accumulate, only realizing when moving and packing all your junk up.
Oh, and bags. I do not know why I keep them because I always forget them, but bags, hundreds of reusable grocery bags.
I shake my head. Not once have I ever remembered to bring them with me.
Dragging another empty box over, I pull the junk draw out and upturn it, dumping it in the box.
Seriously, I have not got time to go through that one today.
I chuck pots and cake tins I have never used into it before sealing that one up, too.
I am at the point where I am just going to light a match and walk away.
The task seems impossible in such a short amount of time.
I wonder if I would still be eligible to get my bond back if the place burned before shoving that idea away.
I can't do that to Jack, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't tempted.
Xavier is having way too much fun in my bedroom packing. I can hear Latham snapping at him every two seconds while he laughs at Latham, scolding him. Walking to the bedroom, I peer through the door to see a small box on the bed.
"We are bringing this box," Xavier says, grabbing it and shaking it, and I raise an eyebrow at him before walking over to it as he sets back down on the bed. My face heats.
"Buzz buzz," he laughs, and I roll my eyes that he’s found my box of toys; I have even forgotten I still had those.
"Leave her alone," Latham says.
My phone gets a message, and it vibrates in my pocket; I pull it from my back pocket and unlock it. It is Jack.
"I need to settle my rent and fill out my bond paperwork. Will you be right to keep going while I duck down to the front office?" I ask while skimming my eyes over the message, and Latham sighs.
"Yes, straight there and back," Latham says, and I nod.
"And we aren't bringing that box," I tell Xavier.
“Oh yes, we are,” he calls out, and I smile while walking out of the room. I grab my handbag off the counter and head for the door, double-checking I have my wallet.
"Where are you going?" Blaine calls out as I twist the door handle.
"Pay out my last week's rent and fill out bond details for Jack," I tell him, and he nods before wrapping my jewelry box and sitting in the box before closing it.
"Be quick. The movers will be here soon," Blaine says, and I nod, walking out and shutting the door.
The moment I step outside, I cringe at the extreme heat of the day.
Digging through my handbag, I adjust the strap on my shoulder.
My bag is digging into my shoulder from the weight of my books.
I rummage and find my wallet, pulling it out.
I walk down the steps and quickly jog over to the small office, wanting out of this horrid heat.
The bell sounds as I step in, relieved to find the air conditioning on, turning to shut the door before opening my wallet.
"Hey, Jack!” I call, turning around.
Only Jack isn't in here. He’s just messaged, saying he is here waiting for me. I call out to him but get no answer. Looking toward the back office door, which is open, I peer over the foyer desk to see a pair of feet.
"Jack?" I call, but he doesn't move.
"Shit!" I gasp, racing around to the other side, hoping he hasn't had a heart attack.
I stop dead in my tracks when I notice the pool of blood underneath the desk.
Jack's vacant eyes are peering up underneath, his throat slashed.
It is a gruesome sight to stumble upon. My lip quivers, and my heart races.
Taking a step back, I go to race out of the office, only to turn around and smack into a hard chest, making me stumble back when a pair of hands grips my arms.
"Hey, love."
Tank smiles, his eyes glistening before flickering and turning obsidian.
"Miss me?" he says, smiling sadistically.
"Tank?" I gasp as I try to get out of his forceful grip.
He grabs me and spins me before putting a cloth over my nose and mouth before I even scream for help.
The fumes are suffocating me. Chloroform!
The room revolves around me, and my body goes limp in his arms. His laughter echoes in my ears loudly as everything goes black.