Page 34 of A Seductive Beauty
I pace the patio for a bit. I’m tired of everyone assuming I can’t take care of myself. I’ve been doing it for a long time. Even if Kayla helped me in the past, it was me who made it through school. It was me who got a flat to stay in. It was me who got a job, and I pay my own bills. I’m an adult. I’m not a child anymore. I don’t need Aidan.
I hear voices again and this time I move down the stairs to the main driveway. Looking across the fence line as I walk down, I see a guy working on a motorcycle. I’ve never seen him before. It’s not one of Aidan’s brothers, and he isn’t a guard. He has on a black leather vest but not like Brody’s cut. I walk through the gate that joins these two properties.
I don’t want to be here if he doesn’t want me anymore, and I’m not going to his father’s. I can take care of myself.
“Hello! Who are you?” The guy’s eyes move up my body, checking me out. I’m in jeans and a sweater and tank combination. I look down at my boots.
“I’m Moira.” I lie about my name just in case. “Can you give me a ride to town?”
“On my bike?” He points to another bike behind him.
“Isn’t this yours?” I point to the bike he’s working on.
“Nah, this is the Prez’s. Are you his from last night?”
“I just need to go to town.”
“Sure, I can help you. Come on.” He directs me over to his bike where he hands me a helmet. “I only have the one.” He helps me put it on, then helps me get on the bike. I don’t have my purse, keys, or even my phone. I hope someone is home to let me in.
I tell him to drop me off at the grocery near my flat because I don’t want him to know where I’m going. Hopefully, Aidan won’t realize I’ve left until after I get home. I slip my arms around his body and feel wrong for being so close to another man. I’m going to have to get over that because Aidan’s made it clear I’m not his anymore. The guy starts up his bike and we make our way down a short road to a large gate. The guards move aside when they see him. I hide my face so they don’t see me. When we are finally out on the open road, I relax a little bit. I can’t believe it was that easy to get away. I could have left days ago.
But then I would have never known what it was like to be consumed by someone. What passion really felt like. Or even love. But maybe I don’t want to know what love feels like as my heart shatters the further we get away from him.
The ride to town doesn’t take that long. I slide off his bike when he comes to a stop. My first time on the back of a motorcycle and all I wanted to do was cry for the loss of Aidan.
I give him the helmet and start to walk away.
“Hey, Moira, can I get your number?” He grips my arm, stopping me.
“No.” I shake my head as I look down at his hand. I yank my arm back and walk into the store, hoping he’s gone when I come out.
As I move toward my flat, the hair on the back of my neck rises. I can feel someone watching me again. I hold my head up. I’m not a weakling, I can protect myself. I’m almost to the door when a black Bentley pulls up. I jump at first until I see my parents’ driver get out.
“Fiona, darling, I’ve been looking for you for days.” My mum’s voice comes from the back seat as the driver holds her door open.
“I can’t talk right now.” I need to get away from her. I just want to cry in a hot shower and drink a lot of wine to forget what a tosser Aidan is.
“Darling, come with me for a bit. We drove all this way so I could spend time with you.”
“Fine.” I slip into the back of the car. “Oh, wait. Let me grab my purse.” I start to get out but the door is slammed closed and I feel a prick in my neck. Everything goes black.
I come awake and look around am. The flowered antique wallpaper and large four-poster bed bring back memories. I’m in my old room. As I sit up on the bed, my mother moves from where she’s seated in a chair facing the bed.
“Took you long enough to wake up. I only gave you part of the syringe.”
“What did you do, Mum?” I jump from the bed and my head swims. I grab onto the edge to brace myself. “What did you give me?”
“Just something to calm you down.”
“Why?”
“You’ve been brainwashed by that hoodlum. He has you thinking you have to be around him. I’m just trying to protect you.”
Her words give me pause because she’s never tried to protect me like a mother should. She’s only ever looked out for herself.
“Dinner will be served in an hour. Clean yourself up and meet us downstairs.”
“I want to go home.”
