I nod. I'll do anything to get away from him. If he takes one more step, he’ll be in striking distance.
“Alice. I want my drives.” He relaxes back into the handsome politician, shoulders dropping, hands in the pockets of his slacks, and his eyes hooded, relaxed even. “I suggest you help me find them. I've already checked all of Rowena's belongings. That only leaves your mother or you.”
Molly isn't a suspect because of her condition, but I have no clue where to look. “I didn't find anything like that when I sold everything at my mom's.” It’s funny how comfortable we are with these sessions. We are holding on a conversation like he hasn't just tortured me.
“I don't care how you find them. Just do. I have to go out of town for two weeks. When I get back I want my zips.” He pats the goon that has been helping him all evening on the shoulder. “Jordan will be checking in with you daily. If you need anything to help you find them, ask him.”
“Let's go.” Jordan grabs my arm, yanking me down the steps and across the short span of dirt and grass to the car. I yank away from him and slap the hand coming at me again. I’d have like to smack him in the mouth, but raising my arms that far wouldn’t have been worth the effort.
He grabs me by the shoulders and shakes me, chattering my teeth with the jarring. “I wouldn’t try that again.” He shoves me against the back panel to the car and spreads a towel on the back seat. “We'll stop and get you a change of clothes.”
During the ride to town, I slip into an odd numbness that sucks all the fight out of me. Maybe it’s my fear for Molly. Maybe it is total resignation that this will be my life forever.
We stop near a market/department store combo, and Jordan turns in the seat, draping an arm over the passenger seat. “Wait here. I’m going to get you something to wear.” He’s only gone for a few minutes, just enough time for me to rest my eyes and take inventory of the aches cradling my body. I’m almost dozing off when he returns with a sack. “Here.”
Inside the bag, there is a first-aid kit, bottle of water, and a pair of sweats. I made use of them all as quickly as I could snort down the water, swallow an aspirin, and wiggle into the clothes. By the time I’m drenched with sweat and near passing out, we park out in front of my building. Jordan holds the back door open, while I groan my way out of the car. He walks me through the lobby and to the elevators. “Here.” He slips a cell phone into my hand. “I'm on speed dial, number one.”
I nod. The world is a daze around me. I’m sure it’s part shock, part fear, but both are making my brain mush.
“Day or night.”
“Okay.”
He nods and meets my eyes. His face pales, wincing when his eyes drop to the red stain on my shirt where the blood has seeped through. “I'm sorry.”
“Don't.” I brace a hand against the cold marble surround the elevators, pushing myself taller. “I'm not sure what he has on you, but don't. If you show weakness now, you'll never make it with him.”
He nods and steps away.
I prepare myself for the scene inside and step through the door. Molly rushes forward as fast as she can with her cane. “Alice?”
“Yeah.” I toss my keys on the table near the door just like I always do.
She throws her arms around me, and I hold back my whimpers. Her belt digs into my stomach, tearing open any healing that may have started. The burn spreads from the wounds out, eventually hitting my joints and making me buckle against her. “Easy.” I pat her back, giving her the comfort I so desperately needed. “What's wrong?”
“I called dad earlier and heard this horrible screaming in the background. Oh my God, I thought he had you and that something bad was happening.”
I laugh, a stuttered, uneasy cackle. “No, I was in the park running.”
She touches the side of my face. “Are you sure?”
I sit with her long enough to ease her mind and then complain that I need a shower. She's working on a new article, so I have at least an hour before she comes up for air again.
The shower is more torture, and it takes me careful maneuvering to clean, medicate, and wrap my open wounds. But I’m an old pro at this. I bundle up the bloody towels and carry them to the kitchen, throwing all of my clothes in a black trash bag to take out later.
We still need to eat, and I'm working on pushing the last five hours from my mind. I have spaghetti boiling when Molly sits at the table. “So, are you sure you are okay?”
“Yeah, just tired.”
Molly plants a hand on her hip and cocks her head to the side. “Alice, I'm blind. Not stupid. I know what I heard on that phone.”
“Molly, I have it under control.”
She tips her head back, and tears sink down her cheeks. “When you were little, I remember you telling mom that dad had hurt you during the night. I hated you for lying about my father. He'd never hit me. Never done any of the things you'd said. I wanted to kill you, but I was only nine. I hate myself for feeling that way.”
“Mole, let it go.” The last thing I want to do is open up every old memory. “He was making me mad, and I knew that would get him to leave me alone. That's it.” I'm not sure why I cover for him. I think it is more for Molly than anything. She'd been through so much because of me, and I don't want to make her suffer more.
The front door opens and closes without a knock, and Gabe carries a single white rose to my sister. He kisses the side of Molly's head and waves the rose under her nose. She gasps and hugs him. “Oh my. A rose. I’ve never had anyone give me flowers before.”
He scowls and winks at me. “How did you know that it was only one?”
“I didn't hear the leaves brushing together.” She pats the seat next to her. “Sit. We were about to eat. I'm sure Alice wouldn't mind if you stayed.”
He perks up. “Really?”
“Sure. Why not?” It is really too much to ask to get a moment's peace around here anyway. I make us each a bowl and take a seat, wincing as I sit.
Gabe catches a glimpse of me head on and flinches, but before he can say anything, I frantically shake my head. He grimaces at me, but keeps his mouth shut. “Ladies, I'm here to invite you to the apartment for practice in approximately two hours. What do you say?”
Molly grins around a bite. “Sure.”
I stare at my pasta, swirling the noodles around my fork. “I'm going to pass. Thanks.”
“Ah, come on, Seth will come around. He's being an ass, grumbling about some crazy girl who keeps him up at night. I have no clue who that would be, but you might do him some good—get his mind off of her. If for no other reason than to see that you're not wallowing in misery.”
But that's exactly what I want to do. I want to roll around in my bed and heal and cry and mourn. “You'll have to enlighten him.”
Molly places her fork in her bowl. “I can stay home with you if you don't want to be alone.”
“No. You go. Have fun.” I glance up at Gabe’s brooding face. “I'll be fine.”
“Molly, if you're done, why don't you head on over. I'll be there in just a minute. I want to speak to Alice.” He’s glaring at me like I’ve done something wrong to him. The only thing wrong is that he won’t leave this whole Seth thing alone.
She grins and brushes his cheek with her hand. “Don’t be hitting on my lil' sis.”
“Never. Only you.” Gabe hooks his fingers in Molly’s belt loops, tugging her until she’s off balance and falling into him. She laughs, and the fairy sound is so sweet. Gabe kisses her firmly, working his face across hers, and tugging on her bottom lip before he pulls away. I’m a voyeur on their passion. Seth kisses like that. With everything in his heart and mind. These James brothers have the 411 on a way to a girl’s heart. They break apart, both breathing heavy, and clinging to each other. He pats her on the butt, but only after she has a good grasp of her cane.
Molly shuts the door, and Gabe circles me. I'm hunched a little because it hurts to straighten. He’s watching every pained breath, inspecting me like a kid
busted for shop lifting. He pokes his finger into my side. “Busted ribs?”
“No.”
“Did you fall?” His hands bracket my shoulders, gripping the chair behind my back. His shoulders hit the top of my head as he hunches over me. I’m not going to get off easy with him. Beneath the hot body, beautiful face, and charming exterior, there’s a steel mind and granite veneer waiting for the right time to surface. Sadly, his right time will be at my inconvenience.
I inhale a painful breath, settling my nerves, hoping that I don’t give too much away. “No, now would you let it be?”
“So help me God,” he shifts to my side, squatting down to eye level with me, “if that dick of a father laid a hand on you, I'll rip him a new ass.” He grips my chin, turning my gaze to meet his blue, searching one. “I mean it. What the hell happened?”
“There will be no ripping of asses.” So many people know now. So many friends that don’t care about my scars. I wish there was a way I could save them from this, but I don’t know how. I wasn’t strong enough to keep them out of my life, and now they will be victims of it. “And please don't say anything to Molly.” Dating Seth, I knew that he might tell his friends, but being faced with the knowledge that they know is more disturbing than what I thought it would be. For so many years, these secrets belonged only to me.
“Why the fuck not? She's not stupid, and just because she's blind, doesn't mean you can keep this from her. It's her father too.” Gabe is pacing, and I’m struck by how much he and Seth resemble each other.
I tip my head back, shutting my eyes on the man forcing me to face all of my problems. “I know.”
Several minutes pass. The tension is building in the air around me, and Gabe stops pacing. He turns on me, glaring, much like his brother would do. “What did he do?”
“He wants something, and I don't have it.”
Gabe rests his hands on the sides of my neck. “What. Did. He. Do?” I shake my head, and he exerts the slightest pressure to make me look at him. “What?”
I never thought I would trust a man after my father, but now I trust two. Gabe wouldn’t hurt me. I had no doubt of that. He may get pissed and rant and rave, but he wouldn’t physically harm me. The same thing that made Seth guarded against the world had opened up this big teddy bear. While Seth had worried over his mom’s leaving, Gabe had found a way to latch on to people. Maybe her leaving was the best thing for both of them. She’d taught them more about being a man in this world than most men ever learn. It’s okay to love and lose someone, but it’s not okay to treat them like shit and toss them aside. Gabe wouldn’t do that. Not like Seth.
And that does it for me. I break and begin to sob. I’m only crying for a second before he cradles me in his arms, eliciting a hiss when my stomach touches his hard abs.
His arms tighten around me, dragging me from the chair. “Mother fucker, Alice, what did he do?”
His hands go to my shirt, but I hold them down. The rigid grip he has won’t sway. “Please, please don't tell them. Don't tell anyone. He'll hurt you—them. He'll hurt everyone.” I slide my hands to his forearms with my nails digging in. “I'm begging you, Gabe. I've never ever begged for something ever. But, please don't.” If he tells Seth, they'll band together and try to take my father down. But dad owns everything and a little of everyone. I couldn't live with the guilt if he ruined their lives, or worse.
“This is fucked up.” He slams a fist in his palm. I’ve never seen a man bounce before, but Gabe is so filled with rage, he’s bouncing on the edge of his toes. “This is so fucked up, Al. He's my brother. He loves you. How the fuck am I supposed to keep this from him?”
“Just give me time, okay. Please.” I lean back and watch the muscles in his jaw tick. It must be a man thing. “I'll fix it. I'll find what he wants, and he'll go back to leaving me alone. I promise.”
He stills and watches me. There’s a truth behind his stare. He’s up to something, but I’ve not figured out all of his quirks yet. “How long do you have?”
“Two weeks.”
“I'm giving you three days, and then we have to find a game plan.” He kisses me on the forehead. “I can’t believe I’m about to walk out of here, and I’m not going to kill him.” The room grows larger with every foot he puts between us. “I’m sorry, Alice.”
“You didn’t do anything.” I give him a weak smile. The day is taking its toll, and I want to sleep. “Thank you for being here for me.”
“No, you don’t get it. I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep this from Seth. I’m fighting a war here, and it’s not a battle I’m used to. Being bad is easy, but being good is harder.” He storms out of the room.
I'm not sure if he'll tell Seth, but it'll be hard for a guy as passionate as Gabe to keep it back. I wouldn’t blame him. If Seth were hurt, and Molly knew, I don’t know if I could forgive her for not telling me.
I have a short window of time to make everything right, or I'll just have to go away. And the departure might be permanent. I won't let the evil taint of my life touch those that I love. Not even those that don’t want to love me back.
M OLLY ENTERS THE STUDIO ALONE. I help her walk around the empty beer bottles the guys left last night that I haven't felt like picking up yet. “Here.”
She lets me help her sit, and her eyes catch mine. It's really too bad that she's blind. They are really pretty. But kind of sad tonight.
“What happened between you and Alice?” She flattens her hands on her thighs. “I know it's not my business, but you guys seemed really genuine.”
Hot as hell and totally bonkers over each other is a more apt description. “It’s just not going to work. Not right now anyway. It'll be weird if you and Gabe continue dating, but I don’t want to ruin anything you’ve started.”
A shy smile perks up one side of her mouth. “I really like him.”
“I can tell you, the feeling’s mutual.” She took the bait, and I’m lighter with the heat being transferred to Gabe. “He goes on and on about you.”
The front door swings open and Gabe stomps in, angry and unfocused, he punches me in the arm. A little harder than necessary. “Don't be lying to my girl.”
I rub at the tender skin on my biceps. “You don't go around singing about Molly?”
He doesn't rise to the bait, and I know something’s wrong. He touches Molly's chin as he walks past, but soon loses himself in the song he's been working on. His chords are all kinds of off, and his fingers are too tight to play correctly.
“If you don't loosen up, you'll never get the stretch you need for that chord.” He leans back and pops his knuckles, glaring at me, and then back to the piano. “What's wrong with you?”
Gabe’s glare takes on something sinister. His eyes darken, the tiny wrinkles at the corner deepens, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d think he hates me. “Nothing.”
Molly stiffens on the couch. “Maybe I should just go.”
Gabe glances at her. “No, baby, stay.” I’d never seen my brother soft with anyone before, but then again, these were Harrison women. They had something special about them, and I’m glad he’s finally found someone worth shedding the phony exterior he sported for everyone else.
Evan and Deacon stroll in, oblivious to the tension between Gabe and me. They each take a turn kissing Molly on the cheek before strapping on their guitars. Deacon nods at me. “So, we ready to get started. I want to fix my solo.”
They begin strumming, and I lean against the piano. “Want to talk about it?”
Gabe drops his head to his chest. “What the fuck are you doing with Alice?”
He wasn't going there now with the girl's sister right there on the couch. I straighten and kick the leg of his bench, jarring his big body. “Drop it.”
“You two are so much alike it's not even funny.” Gabe leans forward over the keys, pressing his hands to the top of the piano. “If you got your shit together long enough to talk, you might actually have a chance at a good relationship.”
He didn't understand, and I couldn't tell him. Alice had her secrets, but I knew most of them now. I don't want to make more trouble for her. I turn away and am halfway across the room when a set of arms wrap around my waist and lift me. Evan laughs until he notices that Gabe isn’t playing. Deacon rushes to remove his guitar strap, but it tangles in the collar of his blue striped button-down shirt. He yanks it over head and hurries to intercept us. Molly cries out, but Gabe doesn't slow down. He carries me in this weird wrapped up embrace through the apartment. I knew he was fucking strong, but I'm right at two hundred and can't be light.
He wraps a hand behind my neck and shoves me out of the apartment before I can twist away from him. A hard finger is thrust against my chest. “You are going to go take care of her.”
I dart my gaze between Gabe and Alice’s apartment. I’m not sure what the hell is going on here, but I’ve only seen Gabe like this one other time. Mandy Hubert had been knocked up by one of the football players at our school, and the guy didn’t plan on owning up to his responsibility. When Gabe overheard the douche mouthing about how good she was, it took three of us to wrestle Gabe to the ground. He’d been a freshman, and we’d all been seniors.
I threw up my hands. “What?”
“She needs you man, and you're not going to be a punk bitch about it.”
Oh, fuck. My throat tightens. A sick twisting sensation in my gut has me barking out, “Has something happened to Alice?”
“I don't know what it is. She wouldn't tell me, but she's hurting dude. You need to swallow whatever is going on with you and get over there and take care of her.” He hugs me, clasping me in a way he hasn’t in years. Whatever happened to Alice has freaked him out. “Sorry about manhandling you.” My bro is a scary shit and I'm glad he's in my corner.
Drowning (Tears of Sin Series) Page 20