Page 60 of Power and Possession

I couldn’t believe my father’s temper towards me. Even when I’d flooded Steele’s house or came at him with a knife, he’d always restrained himself and never hurt me. I couldn’t believe that I’d sided with the wrong man—but I was determined to make things right.

My father refused to speak to me the next morning, which was completely fine. As soon as he left in his town car I went down to the bank and pulled out all the money I had to my name. I had a trust account that I couldn’t touch, but that was fine. I had about $10,000 in savings bonds, and I cashed those in as well.

On my way back from the bank, I checked the GPS tracker. My father— or his briefcase, at least—was on Broadway in his building. That gave me time to pack a few things. I snuck into my father’s bedroom and went into the large closet. It was nearly the size of my entire flat back in the UK, and my father's suits hung in a neat, tidy row against one side. My mother’s clothes were long gone, but I moved towards the wall safe, praying that some of her things remained.

The combination was still my birthday, and I nearly laughed when the door to the safe swung open, the metal nearly hitting the wood paneling of the closet. Inside was another several thousand dollars in cash, and I took that too. But it wasn’t the cash that I was after. My mother’s jewelry lay in soft velvet cushions, some of it in boxes and some wrapped carefully in silk. I stuffed everything into a duffel bag. I didn’t care about the monetary value of the items, even though I knew they were expensive, but I absolutely refused to let my father give them to his next wife. They would be mine.

I opened my phone, and I saw the tracker dot head towards an industrial area near the Hudson River. My breath caught in my throat and my heart pounded erratically as I watched the dot weave in and out of a few streets and thenfinally stop. It only took seconds to cross reference the location’s coordinates and then enter them into my phone. This was undoubtedly where my father was keeping Steele. After the realization that I had slept with Steele of my own volition, I knew my father would take it out on him. My stomach turned and I felt sick, praying that my intervention wouldn’t be too late.

Mom, if you can hear me, keep him safe. Please.

I raced back towards my room in the penthouse and grabbed a blank piece of paper from my desk. The room hadn’t changed since I’d left for college, and I looked around at the frilly bedroom, ensuring that there wasn’t anything left I wanted to take. My eyes caught on some of the discarded clothes I’d left, mainly my school uniforms from preparatory school, and I realized that Steele might need a change of clothing. Grabbing the paper, I ran back to the closet in the primary bedroom to pick out sweats and a shirt for Steele.

My mind kept racing, and I couldn’t help but think of things that Steele might need. He was probably starved, so I grabbed several bottles of water and then rummaged through the fridge and found some sandwiches that my father’s cook had made. Everything went into my duffle.

Finally, I penned the note I’d been dreading writing.

Dad-

I need some time away. Our fight upset me, and I’m going to head to a friend’s house in Florida for a bit to think things over. I’ll be home in a week or so.

-Ash

I couldn’t even bring myself to sign ‘I love you’ on the note. I was furious and hurt, but I didn’t have time to process my ruined relationship with my father. Steele came first.

I opened my phone again, and I saw the dot head back towards my father’s office. I prayed that he hadn’t done too much damage to Steele in the half-hour he was there. Gathering up the duffel bag, I placed the note on the side table in the entrance,dodging the maid in the family room as she vacuumed. I pushed the elevator button down, preparing myself to leave the penthouse for the last time. After this, there was no way my father would welcome me back.

Luckily, my father had used his favorite driver, Emilio, which left Sutton available. Perfect. Sutton was fond of me, and he’d watched me grow up. If anyone in my father’s employ would show me loyalty, it would be him. I had the doorman call him, and I tapped my toes impatiently in the lobby as I waited for Sutton to pull the car around. I tried to act natural, but it was hard. I’d never in my life thought I’d be able to pull off something like this, but I didn’t really have time to overthink it.

Sutton hadn’t even turned off the ignition before I slid in the backseat of the car.

“Take me here,” I said, handing him my phone. Sutton grabbed it, looking at the address.

“Ashlynn…” he murmured suspiciously, turning to look back at me.

“Please, Sutton,” I whispered. “I have money. I can send you more.” I thrust the bills into his palms.

“Your father is a man of many secrets, Ashlynn. You don’t want to go poking around there.”

“Oh, but I do. My life depends on it.”

Sutton looked at me, his face scrunched with indecision. Finally, he nodded, his fondness for me over the years weighing out.

The drive seemed to take forever, and every brake light in front of us sent my pulse soaring. We finally arrived at the address, and I got out of the car, wobbling slightly on my feet.

My heart was practically in my throat as I pulled out the set of keys from my pocket and worked the lock securing the large warehouse door. From both the rotten smell and the faded trout paintings on the side of the building, I could tell it was an old canning factory. I hadn’t even known that my father owned this building—it wasn’t listed anywhere on his business or financial reports, which meant that he’d either bought it just toimprison Steele, or his business dealings were as dirty as Steele had alluded to.

My hands shook so hard that I could barely get the key in the lock. The third key I tried finally unlocked the door. I entered right into the warehouse. Aging canning equipment was crammed all over the space. I pulled out my phone and used the flashlight, trying to figure out where Steele was being kept. I weaved in between the machinery, my eyes on alert. Up ahead a few feet on the concrete, I saw drops of blood. I bit my lip, suppressing a sob as I followed the trail into the very back corner. There was a room off to the side, windowless with a giant padlock.

I dropped the keys three times trying to get them in the lock. The last key finally did the job. I was nauseated from fear as the lock came away, hitting the ground and echoing through the empty factory. I pushed open the heavy metal door, and the smell of blood, thick and full of iron, flooded my nostrils. The room was dark, but I propped open the door to let some of the light flood the room.

I would never forget the sight for the rest of my life.

Steele was chained to the wall, hanging limply. His chest was marred with deep slashes, the lines crossing in irregular patterns. One eye was completely swollen shut, and the other was closed. He was barefoot, but still wearing jeans that were barely hanging on. It was clear that he hadn’t eaten in many days by the way his jeans hung low. I could see the hollow dip in his hips, and I gasped audibly.

He lifted his head, peering at me closely with one eye.

“Ashlynn…oh Ash.” His speech was slurred and I could tell right away that he wasn’t coherent. “I’m not a religious man but I prayed I’d get to see you one last time, even if it’s in my head.”

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