22. Chapter 22
Chapter twenty-two
Jinx
I didn’t think I would come back to this God-awful basement. But after seeing that box, I need to know Dad’s heart is there. I need to know if that box is still down here. I need to solve who killed him. The cops aren’t doing their job, and that’s another thing I need to do since being back. I would let it go, but I can’t; I’ll never be able to.
The further we walk, the harder it gets for me to breathe. I reach my hand out, needing some support. Because if not, I won’t make it. My hand lands on a chest, and I fist their shirt.
“Hey, if you can’t do it, don’t,” Atticus’ voice cuts in.
I pat my chest, and I hear them all swear. I don’t have my inhaler; I didn’t think about grabbing my spare from the dorm before coming. Ashton comes into view; he takes my face in his hands.
“Breathe, slowly inhale.”
I take a deep inhale.
“Good, now exhale.”
I close my eyes and breathe out.
“Perfect, now repeat that.”
I focus on breathing and his touch. I don’t want to think about what’s to come. I know Unknown isn’t waiting for me this time, and I have all these guys with me in case something happens. Whoever shirt I’m still holding, they place their hand over mine, and I know from their touch that it’s Maddox. I don’t think I’m able to move forward without having another asthma attack. I point down the hall.
“The door on the right, can someone check it out for me? I can’t.”
“Of course.” Ashton lets go and turns to walk when he stops and takes his phone out.
His flashlight lights up the hall. His light moves side to side the further he moves away from us; when it swings to the right, I can feel my heart race. When he walks into the room, my breathing picks up.
“Jinx, you need to breathe. Everything will be alright.”
But Atticus is wrong; everything isn’t going to be alright. Nothing will ever be okay. They don’t understand what it was like being in that room. It was only the start of my torture, and I didn’t know it then. I thought it would be the way to some answers, but I didn’t get a single one. The thing that keeps racing through my mind is that nothing was in the box. The entire thing was a trap; I was the stupid fly attracted to honey.
“Jinx, Ashton can handle it. No one is in that room.”
“Yes, I know that,” I snap, pulling away from Maddox and moving away from the guys. I rest my head against the cool brick wall, trying to calm myself down.
“There’s nothing in there. Except for your bag. Guess he wasn’t worried about that being found.” I can hear Ashton's voice echoing through the hallway. I don’t know why I was expecting more to be found, but why leave my bag behind? Not that I’ll be complaining about that. But I wanted that box.
I look toward the flashlight's glow, waiting for Ashton to lower it. “There wasn’t anything else?”
“Sorry, Jinx. There was nothing.” Ashton keeps the light close to the ground, and the glow lights up the entire area, but I can see the disappointment on his face.
“Can I see him?”
“No,” Atticus said, steel in his voice.
I swing around and shove Atticus. “You don’t get to tell me what I can or can’t do.” He grabs my arm and pulls me close.
“I can and will. You have no idea what you are asking. I know you need this, but I can’t let you do it.”
“Let me do it.” I turn to Ashton, but Atticus pulls me back.
“Don’t. He’ll even agree with me. And don’t bother asking Maddox. He has no clue what that prick is like. He fucking stalked you to get closer to Ash and me. You think I’ll let you near him again?”
“I need to know where that box is.”
“Then I’ll ask him, but you aren’t doing it.”
I turn to Maddox and see Wilde looking out of sorts. He raises his brows and tilts his head toward the exit. I swear if Wilde is my white knight right now, I will lose it on the guys. I snuck away once; I don’t think I’ll be able to do it again. I slowly back away from Atticus and move to the other end of the hall where Wilde is.
“You can show me?”
“Um, yeah, I can.”
“The fuck he can!” Atticus yells.
I don’t bother turning around. I keep my eyes focused on Wilde. “Take me now.”
“Jinx, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Maddox cuts in.
“I need this. You wouldn’t understand.”
“I do. If you think I don’t, you’re wrong,” Ashton mutters.
My heart breaks, of course Ashton would know. After everything he went through, he still faced his enemy while trying to keep himself afloat. But he needs to let me do this; I don’t care if it’s his dad or not, and even so, you would think he would want some answers.
“I’m not arguing with you two; I’m going. You can join or not, but Wilde is taking me.”
“I—Um. Shit, man, don’t put me in the middle of your matrimonial spat.”
“It’s not a fight. She isn’t going, and that’s the end of this conversation.” Atticus brushes past me without another word.
I chase after him, giving him a shove from behind. “You don’t get to tell me what to do, for fuck’s sake.”
He pivots, grabs me by the throat, and slams me against the wall. “I suggest you start listening to what I fucking say, Odette. You don’t know the guy, so stop pushing.”
I push against his hand, feeling the pressure. “Or what?”
Ashton cuts the flashlight off, leaving us in the dark. Atticus pushes me back against the wall, and I feel his other hand on my hip.
His breath is hot on my neck when he leans in, his lips brushing on my skin in a teasing caress. “Do you want to know or what , Little Grim?” he whispers, his voice a low, gravelly growl.
“You can try it.”
Atticus chuckles, his fingers trail along the edge of my waistband, making me shiver. “You know I always get what I want, Jinx.” Sliding down my pants, his fingers slide between my lips, dipping into my wetness. I suck in an air full when he moves to clit and presses firmly. “Fuck, Little Grim. You’re so wet already. Does the thought of having everyone listen to you turn you on?”
“Fuck, Atticus.”
He slides two fingers deep inside while his thumb still rubs my clit; my knees threaten to give out the more he fucked me with his fingers; his hand around my throat tightens, and I can feel my inner muscles clamp around his fingers.
“That’s right, come for me,” he demands, his voice thick with desire.
My body shakes with force as I find my release, my moans echoing in the hallway, but he didn’t stop his fingers from continuing their relentless assault. I grit my teeth as he continues his torture.
“You fucking listen to me and listen good. There will be no visiting that prick until I say so, do you understand.”
“You asshole.” I try and shove him away, but his hold around my neck is too much.
“That’s right, and you best remember that.” He takes his wet fingers and forces them inside my mouth; when he pulls them out, he slams his mouth on mine.
I move my face away and see three shadowy figures standing there watching. “Fuck.” Wilde isn’t someone I wanted to be watching or listening as I came.
“Yeah, you didn’t think of our newest addition, did you?”
“Fuck off, you decided to stick your fingers inside of me.”
He pinches my jaw, forcing me to look at him. “And I’ll do it again, learn your place, Jinx. Now let's go.”
He releases me, and I storm toward the stairs, not caring that I can’t see. I can’t believe him; if he had it his way, he’d never let me see Unknown. Well, two can play that game. If he thinks I’m going to bring him when I talk to his fucking mother, he can forget about it. That bitch wants to sue me for the school, anyway; it’s not like it’ll be hard to get her to see me. She'll crawl to me once I mention her getting the school.
The flashlight's glow lights up the view, but I don’t stop. All of them can fuck off. I storm up the stairs. I can hear them chatting to each other, but I can’t make out about what. Wilde said he’s keeping Unknown in the old administration building. That’s my new target when everyone goes to sleep tonight. Either way, I’m getting some answers; Atticus doesn’t rule my life like he thinks he does.
When I make it out of the basement, I keep walking, not caring if they are pissed with me for not waiting. I need to make one pit stop before I leave the school; I missed so much, and I’m afraid of what all the professors have said to Allan. Florence will know what has been said.
“Jinx, you can’t always walk away because you don’t get your way.”
“The fuck I can’t, Ashton,” I call over my shoulder.
“My God, woman, you are stubborn.”
“And you aren’t, Maddox.”
I step into the office, and Florence looks up from her computer and looks at me in shock.
“My God, dear. I was worried about you. Atticus informed me about your stalker. Where have you been?”
“You don’t wanna know. What did I miss?”
She waves me off, rolls her eyes, and points to the back offices. “Just Allan, pretending like he knows what he’s doing. I swear he’s been lost since you vanished. Roan has been sniffing around, and so has Archer. Those two are up to something.”
“Great. Where’s Allan now?”
“In his office. Did you want a meeting with him?”
“Maybe in a couple of days, I need to decompress first. If he isn’t falling apart at the seams yet, he’s fine. If Serena comes back, call me.”
She nods. “Will do.” She points at Wilde. “Who’s this?”
I look over my shoulder at Wilde, then Maddox, looking for help. I didn’t expect him to follow us into the office.
“He’s a friend; he came to check out the place 'cause he was considering enrolling,” Maddox tells Florence.
“Delightful. If you need anything, let me know. Ravenwood would love to have you.”
I give Florence a wave, then push past Atticus. I don’t get far when he grabs me. “Don’t be stupid. I already know what you’re planning, and it’s not gonna work. I already told Wilde to move him so you can’t run off and talk to him.”
I rip my arm from his hold. “You aren’t in charge; just because it’s your dad doesn’t mean shit. How many times do I have to tell you this.”
“I’ll always be in charge. Get used to it.”
I pause for a moment, realizing I should focus on picking my battles wisely. This particular one isn't worth the fight, at least for now.