Page 22 of Fate Awakened

The victory I see flash across his expression irritates me, but I play the long game.

“I’ll talk if you will, Casper. You wanna tell me why the guy who kidnapped me brought me here, to you?” I ask, grabbing the bowl he slides my way before adding the cheese and onions to the top.

“He didn’t bring you to me,” he starts, a sly smile still fixed on his face, “I’m pretty sure I found you all on my own,” he finishes, taking a bite of the steaming chili into his mouth.

“You know what I mean. Why am I here?” I focus on my food, blowing the spoon before sliding it into my mouth, inadvertently moaning as the flavors hit my tongue. I close my eyes and enjoy each savory note as I chew the food, wondering who made this for him because the combination of spices has me salivating. This may be the best-tasting food I’ve ever had.

Catching myself, I mentally snap out of that train of thought, regaining focus on him before I wolf down the entire bowl. I’m unsure if he's being polite or didn’t notice my indulgent moment, but he sits staring at his bowl, slowly consuming his portion while slipping in salad bites.

“Better question, who are you?” he asks after a while, not looking up from his bowl.

“I’m nobody important. I just want to go home. Back to my boring existence answering customer service calls, finishing college, and fighting with my stupid boyfriend for having a hot redhead show up at his house at 2 am,” I respond, knowing how it must sound.

“Ah, City has a boyfriend. Is he the one who brought you here?” he asks, appearing only partially interested as he finishes his bowl before returning to the pot to refill it.

“No, I mean, no to all of it. He wasn’t my boyfriend, not really. Well, I thought he could be. None of that matters now. I’m not making any sense. I thought Cain could be something, but he didn’t bring me here. Hudson did. I barely know him. I went out with him once, but he wasn’t exactly full of information while he drugged me and threw me in the back of his SUV.” Ghost’s head snaps up as I mention Cain’s name, and I kick myself for giving that information away.

He has me off balance. I don’t know how to read him. From what he’s shown me, he seems nice, normal. Part of me feels like I know him and can trust him. His scars resonate with me and my past in a way that feels important. But, on the other hand, if Hudson brought me here, there had to be a reason.

Where the hell was Hudson?

In the bathroom earlier, I peeked out the window, and the SUV he brought me in remained parked out front, but I hadn’t so much as seen him since we arrived back.

“You know your face gives away the rabbit hole you keep diving down. It’s like watching a movie play out as you fight with yourself.” He states, amused, locking his ice-blue eyes with mine as I squirm under his stare.

Setting my jaw, I refuse to cower under his gaze. Just as I open my mouth, a snarky remark loaded on my tongue, the front door opens, and my sass seeps out of me as Hudson strolls in.

Silence fills the room—a standoff between the three of us. My eyes slide over to Ghost, hoping to glean something from his response to our newest arrival, but his face is impassive, his body relaxed. Hudson shuts the door, the cold draft sealed behind it. He stands waiting, almost as if he needs permission to enter; a balance of power being established.

“Long time Huds… It looks like you’ve been busy.” Ghost says, his drawl enunciated by the slow pace of his words. “You wanna explain why I have VP property wandering around on my land?” His demeanor stays relaxed, but his tone drips with power even I feel. It glides over my skin, urging my compliance even as the words aren’t directed at me. The terms he uses bounce around in my mind, not making any sense.

Am I the VP property? What the hell does that mean?

“I didn’t know you were back in town. Apologies, I just needed a place to hold her until I could talk to Marlo,” Hudson replies, still not moving into the room.

“Sorry to interrupt this beautiful reunion and all, but what the hell are you two talking about? First,” I turn to Ghost, “I’m not anyone’s property. Second,” I turn back to Hudson, “Who the fuck is Marlo?”

Chapter 10

Keith

Ifuckedup.

I fucked up, and now I get to sit here tied to a chair with a bag over my head, counting the minutes and listening to the hum of the air conditioning unit that’s making this room exceptionally cold. I get to sit here waiting for someone to torture or interrogate me, and I get to do it knowing something has happened to Elle.

After spinning my wheels to get dirt on Mr. Breaking and Entering himself, I had nothing. The guy was squeaky clean. He graduated summa cum laude from the UNLV Business School and completed his MBA, became an executive for a security business run by his family friends, and paid his taxes. He had an 800 credit score. Hell, even I admired him.

It wasn’t until hours into the search that the truth smacked me in the face. It was there the whole time. He graduated. What the fuck was he doing being tutored in an undergrad business class if he had already long since graduated?

That’s when I knew he was a plant—getting close to Elle to get close to me.

Knowing she was in danger because of me made me reckless. I took off without so much as a goodbye to my mom before grabbing an Uber to her apartment. I spent the entire ride there rehearsing what I could say to get her to believe me. I knew by the way she looked at him the other night that things were leaning toward her falling for him, and I absolutely had to get to her and talk some sense into her before that happened.

Elle is my best friend, but for the last eight years, part of me hoped she could be more. I was too scared to put myself out there. I was too afraid to make a move. I was too terrified to lose her as my best friend to do anything but sit idly by while she dated, got hurt, and closed herself off.

If I’d only tried, said something, maybe…

It’s too late for what-ifs. I can’t change the past, but I can change my choices going forward. I have to warn her about Cain, show her the proof, and convince her she isn’t safe with him.

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