Page 32 of Claiming Charlotte

Rummaging the drawers, I found a collection of straws and brought it to the table. I poured the contents of the bag out and used my pinkie to push the white powder into a straight line before placing one end of the straw in my nostril, I leaned over the neat line I’d created and breathed in deeply.

The feel of the fine white powder was like sandpaper to the soft tissue inside my nose, and it made my eyes water. But the sensation that followed was what I hoped it would be. As my heart raced in my chest, my mind cleared and I felt more rested than I had in a long time. The clarity of everything after the hit was what I sought, though I tried for so long to resist the urge.

I sat down in the chair and relaxed, letting my head fall back as I sniffled. I didn’t know how I could help Charlotte get on the right path, but all seemed right with the world at that moment, and I didn’t want that to change.

“So we’re back to this, are we?” The sudden voice startled me and I lifted my head. Thomas stood at the other side of the table staring at me. Of course.

He looked calm, not a crease showed on his face, and it was terrifying. I knew he was disappointed in me.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I defended.

“Don’t play dumb, Rowan. I saw what you did. Are you really willing to throw away all the hard work you’ve done to get clean? What were you thinking?” he scolded.

My cheeks heated and I knew it was too late to try and hide what I’d done. I mean, the evidence was still clearly on the table, and I didn’t know how long he’d been watching me. I knew I was going to cry, and I choked back a sob before speaking.

“I don’t know how to help her, man,” I said, letting loose. “I can’t protect her, and it’s killing me.”

He pulled a chair out and sat down, sliding a beer to me, which in my opinion was counter-intuitive.

“The only way to help her is to become the monster that Walker created. You can’t be the bodyguard that she hired you to be and that's fine, look at it from a different perspective. You have to protect her as the man who loves her and would kill for her. You must eliminate everything and anyone in her way. Make sure that everyone knows what will happen if they even look at her the wrong way.”

I nodded, listening to his words intently, and the simplicity of them was not lost on me. I couldn’t believe it was as simple as loving her, and I’d missed it.

Thomas continued. “She’s trying to process so many different things at once, and it can be overwhelming for anyone. So right now, she needs to know that you support her and will back her up in any decision she makes.”

And I would. The ring I’d bought her in Hawaii came to mind, and I knew that it was the same thing I’d have to do if I was her husband. Charlotte needed me to love her, not to tiptoe around her like she was damaged goods.

She was the only person who got me—all of me, inside and out— and I intended to be that same kind of person for her.

“I think you're in the wrong line of work, buddy.” I chuckled.

“I’m warning you now Rowan, if I catch you again, I won’t be helping you. I will put you in a car and have you dropped off at a random facility; and you will never see her again,” he warned.

He thinks he can keep me away from her, it didn’t work before and if I kept true to the words he had just spoken then I would take care of him too. My jaw tensed and knuckles cracked as I straightened them out.

“I’m not scared of you Thomas. I have no problem using your intestines as a jump rope if you try to keep her from me.” I chuckled and sat back, cracking the beer open with my teeth. “After I strangle you with them of course.”

“I love it when you talk dirty to me,” he chuckled deeply, chugging his own drink. “The fear almost made me come in my pants.”

I watched as Charlotte’s eyes fluttered open, matching the feeling of butterflies I had in my stomach. I grinned childishly at her as she woke, and she knitted her eyebrows together.

“Why are you being weird, Roe?” she asked with a weak smile as she stretched.

“I have something that I want to do, just the two of us. Do you trust me?” I asked, taking her hand in mine and raising it to my lips.

She nodded and snuggled deeper into her soft comforter. “Of course I trust you.”

“Good, I laid out an outfit for you, get dressed and come with me. I’ve already got everything prepared,” I said, peeling the blanket from her protesting form.

I threw open the curtain, drowning her in warm sunlight, and she playfully threw a pillow at me as she rose from the bed and pulled on a pair of jeans and a white tank top. I was vibrating with excitement, but I let her slip on her shoes and then I took her by the hand and pulled her out of the room.

“Where are we going, Rowan?” she asked, confusion clear on her face.

I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and kept walking. “Just trust me, Princess. We’re going to have some peace and quiet for a couple of days,” I said, as I opened the front door and stepped outside. “I have no idea why I didn’t think about it before.”

My bike was ready to go, with two helmets resting on top. I had asked a couple of the younger kids if they could bring our stuff out before us, so we had everything needed and they obliged.

“We’re going for a ride?” She asked, and the unmistakable sound of frivolous excitement came with her words.

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