Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
CARSON
The logistics of claiming that one’s death was prematurely announced to the world, was probably far more difficult than it should be.
I was not dead. My team had not died—thankfully. And the world could begin rumbling normally. And yet, not so much.
There had been discussions with the board, with people at my company who had not been on the flight but wanted explanations. There of course had been phone calls with my sister, and ignoring phone calls from my family. If my parents needed to talk to me, they could go through our lawyers.
Other companies that I worked with had wanted to reach out, to say their condolences, and frankly, I had a feeling they wanted to ensure that they weren’t using the same planes we were.
After everything that had happened, I was just grateful that we had survived, and now I sat here across the table with lunch in front of us, and the Cages looking no worse for wear.
“I’m glad you’re alive,” Aston said, leaning back in his chair.
Blakely snorted. “Really? That’s what you’re going with?”
“Dear wife, you do realize that it wasn’t a bad thing to say. After all, our friend is alive and has seemingly groveled well enough for Sophia.” He gave me a pointed look. “Of course, we will have to ensure that’s the actual truth later, won’t we?”
I didn’t say anything, a soft smile playing on my face as I thought about Sophia.
No, I hadn’t groveled well enough yet. But I would continue to do so because she deserved it.
Fuck, she deserved everything. And despite what I knew I probably deserved in this moment, I wasn’t going to take her for granted.
Nor was I going to wallow in my own pity.
Because I had been gifted a second, third, even fourth chance. And I wasn’t going to give that up.
“I’m seriously glad you’re okay.” Blakely reached out and squeezed my hand, and I let out a breath.
“I’m glad I’m okay too. And my whole team. It was scary as fuck, and I’m just glad the two of you weren’t on the same flight.” I gestured towards Flynn and James, who each nodded in turn.
“Damn straight.” James shivered. “Not that I would begrudge you for being angry at us for coming at you.”
“Oh, he deserved it,” Aston said, glaring at me. I might have seen the care and relief in his gaze, but I had still hurt their baby sister, and I needed to atone for that sin—and not merely towards the woman that I loved.
“We’ll have to have a lovely family dinner to truly see how things are working out,” Aston said, and Blakely rolled her eyes.
“We’re going to have a family dinner because apparently that’s what we do now. It’s our form of entertainment. But what we’re not going to do is put Carson in the hot seat.”
“Excuse me, we will be doing that,” Flynn said, an odd note in his voice that I couldn’t read. “It’s our right as big brothers. You, the sister-in-law, will have your own gauntlet for him to go through. However, we are not done yet.”
“And what will happen one day when you mess up with the person you love, and you’re forced to face her family?” James asked.
Flynn stiffened, before I watched him force his shoulders to relax. “Then I guess I should get some practice being an asshole to Carson. That way he understands the true magnitude of the situation.”
I watched the family volley back and forth, as if I wasn’t in the room. I didn’t mind that. Again, I deserved it. And more.
But here I was, eating a damn fine lunch, most of the paperwork for the day done, and soon I would be heading towards Sophia. She hadn’t texted back earlier, but I knew she had more than a few dance lessons for the day. Once classes were over, she would get to her phone, and I’d hear from her.
I had no idea who this man was, the one who desperately needed to hear from a woman, but here I was.
“I am glad you’re here though,” Blakely said.
“And not just because I need every single detail. We’re glad you’re safe.
You’re part of the Cage group now. I won’t say Cage family because that puts pressure on Sophia and the girls and I’m not that crazy, but you’re a good person, Carson. And Cora needs you. So does Sophia.”
My chest ached at those words, and I ran my fist over my heart. “You’re right. They do. So I’m not going to mess up. Not anymore.”
“And we will all be doing new checks on our planes,” Aston said dryly.
“Damn straight,” I agreed.
By the time we finished lunch and went over the final paperwork for another partnership between the Woods and the Cages, everything felt fucking fantastic. I had a literal new lease on life, and I was going to be heading to Sophia soon. Not home, no, not yet.
But I already had a line on a decorator to help outfit one of the spare rooms into the girls’ room.
Because while Sophia might not be ready to move in, hell, I wasn’t even sure where I was on that, other than the fact that I wanted her in my life at all times, and I wanted the girls to know that they had space with me.
It might be moving too quickly, but then again, I’d almost lost her. And I’d almost lost myself. So perhaps I wasn’t moving fast enough in the end.
As I made my way to my SUV, footsteps sounded behind me. I turned to see Flynn jogging towards me, an odd expression on his face.
“Hey there. Did I miss something?”
“No, I was wondering if you could drop me off at Sophia’s? I figured you’re heading there.”
My lips twitched. “I am. Are you going to start another interview?”
“No. I promise. I had to take my car to the shop today, as it was making a sound, and I’m not a mechanic. And while I could use one of the company cars, I figured you could drive me to her place, and then I’ll order a ride back to mine.”
“Why do you need to see Sophia?” I asked, confused.
“Because I’ve been kind of an asshole to both of you. And while I haven’t quite apologized to you, I am going to fully apologize to her.”
“I should be angry that you would even dare be a jerk to her, but I know you were just being the big brother. As someone who’s an asshole and a big brother myself, I understand it. Come on, I’ll drive you.”
“I promise I won’t stay long. Though it is nice to see my nieces.”
“They’re pretty amazing.”
“I’m glad you understand that. Because their father sure hasn’t.”
As we pulled out onto the main street, my hands tightened on the steering wheel. “I know you have good lawyers, but I’m going to add mine to help out. I want that man nowhere near Sophia and the girls.”
“Any help is appreciated. I hate the laws in this country most days now.”
“Cale deserved far more than he got, and I’m not going to let him at that family anymore.”
“Especially since I have a feeling you’re going to be part of our family now,” Flynn said dryly.
“I love her,” I said simply. “And I’m not going to change that. So yes, you’re stuck with me.”
“I like you better than Cale. You don’t have a veneer over yourself. You are who you are.”
“Damn straight I am,” I said with a growl. “Being any different would just hurt us in the end.”
“You’re right about that. After everything that happened with her ex, well, I may be an asshole, but I have my reasons. And I’m glad that she has you.”
I didn’t know why Flynn thought of himself like that, nor what was going on in his head. I hoped one of his brothers did. Flynn was a good person, and while we fought at the gym, it was for a reason.
All I knew in this moment though was that I needed to get to Sophia. I missed her like hell.
When we pulled into her driveway however, I frowned. “I thought her last class was over? Her car isn’t here.”
“Weird. Maybe she’s running late?” Flynn asked. But without another word, we were both out of our seats and heading towards the front door, which was open.
“What the fuck?” Flynn asked.
“Call the cops,” I said, alarm prickling, the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. Because her alarm was off, the door was open, and the girls were screaming.
Flynn already had his phone in his hand as he moved behind me, and I took in my surroundings. Nothing looked out of place, and yet, she wasn’t here. Her purse was still on the counter, and I could hear Hazel and Violet banging on their door.
I ran down the hallway, and my blood went cold.
“Help me move this,” I shouted though Flynn was already by my side. Somebody had positioned the breakfast bar in front of the girls’ door so it couldn’t open, and that meant something was wrong. Beyond wrong.
We shoved it out of the way, and then I forced open the door, terrified of what I would see.
Both girls slammed into my legs, and I bent down and picked them up. They were shaking, crying, and it looked like they had been trapped in here for most of the day.
“I wet my pants,” Violet sniffled as she clung to me.
“Where’s Mommy?” Hazel asked, and I turned to Flynn, whose face had gone pale.
“They’re on their way,” Flynn whispered, and then mouthed the words the cops.
With a hard swallow, I handed the girls over to Flynn. “I need to check,” I said, terrified of what I was going to see.
“Carson, don’t—”
But I shook my head sharply and hoped to hell that Flynn understood.
Because I wasn’t about to let the girls go into the back of the house with me, nor did I want Flynn to see what might be in Sophia’s room.
Not his sister.
Not the woman that I loved.
Sophia.
As I moved into her bedroom, I walked past the bathroom. The sink faucet was running, and the makeup mirror that had been on the edge of the counter was shattered on the ground.
Someone had left the closet light on, and that’s when I realized that most of the clothes had been pulled down, with shoes and bags tossed around as if someone had tried to fight, or someone had been fucking angry.
But that’s not what had chilled me.
Because next to a fallen shoe, the same shoe that she had been wearing when we left, was a needle.
A used one.
And my world ended.