Chapter 44
LUCA
M y heart is heavy as I secure the mansion and we head to the bike after the best weekend of my life. It was so easy with Summer. We had no cares in the world and as we sit astride the bike, she says sadly, “I will never forget this weekend, Luca. You made it so special.”
I turn and kiss her with desperation because I share her hatred of leaving.
When I pull away, I attempt to reassure us both. “We can come back at any time.”
“I know, but this was our moment. Our time and will always be special because it’s where we exchanged souls.”
I love how Summer is on the same page as me because this weekend has brought us even closer than I thought we’d be.
“Can I tell the others about this place?” She asks, and I shrug.
“If you like, but they will insist on coming here.”
“I suppose.” She sighs. “Then I won’t say a thing and tell them we moved around. Took a road trip or something along those lines.”
“No.” I stare deep into her eyes. “Tell them the truth. We have nothing to hide.”
I kiss her lips as if I can’t stop because any moment of time when I’m not physically connected to her is a second wasted. We fucked relentlessly in every room. Explored one another’s minds as well as our bodies and spoke long into the night while we raided the pantry.
I’ve never given so much of myself to anyone before and Summer now holds the key to my heart and I’m happy for her to keep it safe. Now she is mine I won’t let her go and when we return to Rockwell, I intend on making that crystal clear.
With one last lingering glance at the house, she pulls on the helmet and as I do the same, I adjust my mood accordingly. Rockwell holds many distractions, pitfalls and obstructions, but I thank God we have this place at least if it gets too much.
I walk Summer back to Willow Tree House, assuring her we’ll meet for lunch, and as I head into The Elusive House, Frankie glowers at me from the top of the stairs.
“Where the fuck did you take my sister?”
He prowls down them, obviously irritable as shit, and I remain impassive. “We took off for a couple of days to spend uninterrupted time together.”
“I’m aware of what you mean by that, and if my sister is unhappy, I will hold you responsible.”
“That’s fine by me. I want her happiness as much as you.”
I attempt to reassure him because he does have a point. I would hate it if I were in his position and I lower my voice.
“I wanted it to be special. To treat her with respect and like the lady she is.”
His eyes flash. “Spare me the details; just don’t fuck this up.”
“You speak as if I don’t care for her and don’t want her best interests at the expense of my own.”
He says nothing and I shake my head. “Your sister is the important person in my life and this is new territory for me, too. She is special and I don’t want to fuck this up, so if I do, I give you permission to put me in the hospital in the most painful way.”
His face relaxes as my words register.
“That’s reassuring to hear.”
He changes the subject – thankfully.
“Breakfast is up. We have art today and I’m interested in keeping tabs on Miss Sloane.”
As we head to the kitchen together, I lower my voice. “Any news?”
I’m aware that Frankie has slipped into Miss Sloane’s home on several occasions for another update from her little black book.
“There are no new entries. She must be targeting somebody, though.”
I nod. “Perhaps we should stake out her house. Cameras would do the trick.”
Frankie’s smile is a mirror image of mine because my suggestion is nothing short of normality for us.
“Good call. I’ll arrange them.”
“Is there anyone you can use?”
I remind him it’s not something we can order online, and he nods. “Ali’s my security advisor. He’ll arrange it.”
I’m aware that Frankie doesn’t work alone – unlike me, who finds it difficult to trust anyone.
He smiles his reassurance. “We are a team- remember.”
I exhale sharply. “I’ll try. You must forgive me if I forget that sometimes. This teamwork thing is an alien thing to me.”
He nods, understanding etched on his smile.
As we head inside the kitchen, Cassie is chatting to Siri and Jack and they smirk when they see me coming.
“The wanderer returns.” Jack grins and Cassie laughs.
“I take it Summer returned in one piece.”
I don’t answer them and just flip them the bird and Frankie growls playfully, “Did you just fucking flip my girl the bird?”
He shakes his head. “You really do have a death wish, but I kind of admire that about you.”
“It takes one to know one,” Jesse adds as he heads in,catching the tail end of the conversation.
“And where the fuck have you been?” Frankie says with exasperation. “I mean, Friday night was the last time I saw you and you weren’t with Imogen the entire time. What’s up?”
Jesse shrugs, but there is something he’s not telling us. It’s obvious and I’m aware that Jack and Frankie see it too.
Something has happened and thankfully Cassie and Siri choose this exact moment to make their excuses.
“Hey babe, I’m heading for the shower. Math is first period and it’s calculus, the bane of my life.”
Cassie turns to Frankie and snatches a kiss and I regard Jack’s reaction to that with interest, but he merely turns to Siri and his smile is directed solely at her.
“Catch you later, darlin’. Usual place?”
“Of course.” She kisses him softly and as they leave, both guys stare after their retreating girls with soft smiles on their lips.
When the door slams, those smiles fade pretty damn fast as Frankie turns to Jesse.
“Tell me.”
As Jesse catches his expression, he says in a whisper, “Jenna Sloane has been fired from Rockwell.”
“How do you know?” Jack sits forward and Frankie exchanges a puzzled frown with me.
“I went to her house on Saturday morning to tell her it’s over.
She wasn’t there, and the house had the decorators inside.
I asked one of them where she was and he said he didn’t know and they were brought in to clean it up for the new resident.
It didn’t seem right, so I asked around and a few students told me she was last seen with Principal Constable.
It took me until Sunday to orchestrate a chance meeting with the principal and I asked her if there was anyone I could ask concerning my art project. ”
“What did she say?”
“That a new teacher was taking over from Monday and that Miss Sloane has been called home on urgent business and she wasn’t coming back.”
“Called home, or fired? What makes you think it was the last one?”
Frankie is as confused as the rest of us and Jesse‘s face is grave as he whispers, “I called her.”
“And?” Frankie’s expression is a mixture of anger and interest and Jesse whispers, “She answered and was tearful on the phone. She told me the principal had received reports of inappropriate behavior with the students and she would not tolerate it. She was asked to leave or face prosecution, so you can guess what she chose.”
“That’s a good thing, right?” Jack says with confusion, and Frankie shakes his head. “It wipes the board, but the board is still in place. Now we have no idea if anyone has replaced her or even will.”
“The replacement art teacher, perhaps, or they’ve exhausted their use of Rockwell.”
I speak out loud and Frankie shrugs. “Either way, she’s gone, which makes me happy.”
He nods to Jesse. “We should leave. We’ll be late.”
As they head outside, Jack stares after them with a thoughtful expression. “Since when did Frankie care about being late for class?”
He has a point and I merely shrug. “I’m off to change. I’ve got a free period and am not needed until history.”
I leave Jack to it, but unease hits me hard. Jenna Sloane was a vital link in Christian Duprey’s chain of command and I don’t buy it that he will walk away from Rockwell. It’s a breeding ground for depraved souls and undoubtedly he will already have a replacement lined up.