She lays her head against my chest. I may have broken her heart, but there are still pieces that love me. “Seth, you're not doing this with me. I have to take care of Molly and try to find the zip drives holding the files.”
“So we are looking for something tangible?”
“Of course. It's proof of all the horrible things that he's ever done to me. Evidently, my father likes to watch his punishments.”
My stomach churns. “Alice, I'm staying with you. You won't be alone ever again.”
She doesn't hold my gaze and glances around the apartment. “Is Molly still next door?”
“Yeah, and Gabe is preparing her for a trip. I want them out of the city until this is all settled.” Alice rises, unfolding her petite body like an eighty-year-old man, and I sit on the edge of the couch. “I went to my dad for help. He's going to try to find some evidence to use against your dad to get him to stop all this.”
She laughs. “Seth, I appreciate that, but you've put your dad in terrible danger, and my sperm donor won't stop. He'll probably only be happy with my death.”
A shudder races down my spine. The thought of her cold and alone in a shallow grave flashes through my mind. “Don't say that. If we stick together, we can do this.”
“This isn't a game. He's serious, and his lackeys are dangerous.” Alice leans closer, pinching my shirt between her fingers, tugging it away from my chest. “They are mostly good people that he's blackmailed into being his henchman, but still, they'll do whatever he tells them to.”
“Well, baby, I can be my own kind of bad.” I tip my head forward, bend my knees, and touch her lips to mine. She slides her hands up my chest, gripping my shoulders. “I want to be bad with you right now.” I nibble on her top lip, sucking the sweet cushion into my mouth. “But we have things to do.” She strokes her tongue across the ridges of my teeth, dueling with me and my intent to get us out of here. I bracket her face in my hands and surge back, sucking in a breath to steady my need. “I'm sorry.”
“It's okay. I should have known that things were going too well.”
“No, I'm sorry that I didn't come to you. I just tried to control the situation thinking I could handle it. But I can't. I need you, baby. I need to know you're safe. I need to see you smile again.” She fights tears, but one escapes. I dip forward, catching it on my lips and licking away the trace before anymore fall. “I will make this up to you.”
She leans against me, giving me all of her trust. “I know.” And like that, I think we were back to normal. She trusts in my strength, even when I didn't always know if I had it in me.
“So where to first? You are leading this search, baby.”
She tips her head back, resting against my arms that are locked around her. I’m not ready for the blast of her smile. “I want to check with Rowena. She's a real bitch to deal with, but I think she'll be honest with me. She's never held back before.”
We cross into my apartment and find a scowling Molly. “I don't like this. I know something's up.” She taps her cane until it hits my shin. “Seth?”
“Yes.”
“Be honest with me. Is Alice okay?”
“Yeah, she will be. It's a good idea for you guys to take a break from our mopey behavior. I think we're going to spend most of our time in bed.” I nibble on Alice's lower lip, even though she's not really returning the experience. “We'll be fine.”
Molly smiles. “I couldn't see that, but it sounded hot.” She laughs. “Okay, you two. Call me if you need anything.” She reaches up and hugs me, but whispers into my ear. “I've never heard her quiet. Please watch over her.”
I nod against her cheek and crush her in an embrace that I feel to my very core. These people are fast becoming closer than family to me. “Have fun.”
Gabe gives me a fist bump and a nod that tells me he will handle Molly. They leave, and I grab my wallet and keys. Alice stands in the doorway and takes so much time to step into the hall, I think I might have to push her. She is definitely not herself.
“Are you sure Gabe will take care of her?”
“Yes. Now stop worrying. If anyone even thinks of hurting her…do you honestly think my brother would let that happen?” I grab her hand and kiss each knuckle. “Let’s worry about you right now. Okay?”
She’s quiet the entire ride over to her step-mom's, but I don’t bother her about it. I’m not sure what will set her off, and I feel the current of panic riding the air.
She slides down from the truck—with small, careful movements—as soon as we pull into the gated home. “I'll just be a second.”
“If you think I'm letting you go in there alone, you're crazy. I told you not out of my sight.”
She shuts the door on me and anything else I might say. Damn frustrating woman.
“Together.”
She nods and latches onto my hand before leading me up to the steps. The house is massive, but not what I thought it would be. “I expected more.”
“This isn't the main house. This is where Row stays. She can't stand my father.”
Her family just gets more interesting as the time passes. A woman answers the door and smiles fondly at Alice. “Ally, my munchkin. How have you been?” The lady yanks Alice into a warm embrace and stiffens when she feels the shivers wracking Alice's frame. “Is that old demon still at it?”
Alice drops her gaze to the extravagant potted flowers bracketing the door. “He hasn't been until recently. Hey, Cyn, is Rowena here?”
“Yep. In the back, drinking, so be careful.” The older woman steps back to let us by. “Your father was here earlier, and he roughed her up.”
I follow Alice into her next trip into hell. The woman grabs a handful of my biceps and squeezes. “Damn, Al, you done good.”
Alice smiles back at her, and it's the confirmation I need. She hasn’t given up hope on us. “Thanks. He's a keeper.”
My heart gets lighter with her praise. Rowena is lying on a sofa with an ice pack on her face. How the hell does this bastard get away with this?
“Row?” Alice kneels to the floor and lifts the pack off Rowena's face. “How bad is it?”
“What do you care?”
This bitch needs some lessons in common humanity. I can’t believe that this family treats Alice like this. Even in her own suffering, Alice is concerned. She’s a better person than I am. I’d laugh at the evil woman.
“I don't.” I rub Alice’s stiff shoulders, hoping that my action reinforces that I’m here for her. “Not really, but I thought you'd appreciate the concern.”
Rowena sits up, her eyes trailing over Alice’s bent form, up to my chest, and finally scowling at my face. “Is that your bodyguard?”
“No, he's my friend.”
Well, I had hurt her. It might be too early to hope for more. But being put into the friend category still sucked ass.
“Not a boyfriend, I hope.” She sinks back down to recline fully on the sofa and drops an arm across her forehead. “No reason to bring anyone else into this shitty excuse for a family.”
Alice stands and fidgets, her elbow jabbing me in the stomach every time she tugs on the hem of her shirt. “I need your help.”
“Why should I help you?” She reaches to the floor and grabs her half-full tumbler of something amber. We have to wait while she downs the rest of her courage. “All you've done is destroy our lives.”
I run my hand along the back of her neck, massaging the tense muscles, and she leans into me. I'm not sure how she's managed these people.
“Dad is looking for some USB drives that have been taken from his house. I'm here to beg you, if you have them, or if you know where they are, please tell me.”
“Begging, Alice?” Rowena sits up, and drops her dainty feet to the carpet. Her blonde hair is somehow still perfectly smooth, and even around the bruises, she’s managed to maintain her painted face. “I thought that was beneath you. Maybe if you had begged, he'd have left you alone.”
I can't imagine a mother,
any mother, knowing what that sick fuck did to a little girl not being completely repulsed.
Alice glances around the room. “Why was he here?”
“The same as you. Looking for some damn old movies. I don't have the fuckers.” Rowena refills her tumbler with the expensive whiskey sitting on the coffee table. She twirls her glass, and swallows back a gulp that would have even made me cough. “You know, Alice, I know what is on those films. It's sad that he can't function in any capacity without his nightly rewind. Did you know that?” Alice pales. “He jerks off to your screams. Not you. Just the sound. That's why I left him. And until today, he's been happy to leave me alone.”
“So you don't have them.” I finally find my voice because Alice is in shock. Every bone in her body is frozen, and her hands are fisting the legs of my blue jeans. “If you don't we'll leave, but if you do, you need to turn them over.”
“No, I don't have them.” She glances up at me. “I'd give them to the police if I did. But he kept them under lock and key.”
I’m so disgusted that I have to point this out. She could have turned him in long before even without the USBs. “But you knew about them?”
“I heard him once.” She purses her lips at Alice. “Beating it to a horrific sound. He nearly beat me to death that night. I left, and I'm not going back.”
Alice breaks from her trance, shaking her head and sighing. “What does he have on you?”
Rowena looks at Alice like she's stupid. “Are you kidding? Look at this place. I couldn't afford all this luxury on my own.” She's sold herself for a house and a lifestyle. A disgusting whore in designer clothes and plastic skin.
“Come on, Alice, let's go.”
Her shoulders droop, but we make it past the housekeeper with the sorrowful eyes. “Take care of that girl. She needs a break.”
She needs a lifetime of breaks, and I mean to give them to her. Once I’d realized that I love this girl, I knew I was done. I’ll do anything for her. Anything to make sure we get past this, and she has the happy life she deserves.
I help Alice into the truck and hurry to my side. “Where now?”
“I have no idea.”
I’ M NOT REALLY SHOCKED THAT Rowena couldn't help me. She'd probably have turned them in by now. It's not that she’s necessarily evil as much as an opportunist. I glance at Seth. He's scowling at the rearview mirror and making sure he doesn't look at me. “Thank you for going with me.”
“Baby, I'd do anything for you.”
I don't say anything. There's been too much happening in the last week, and I'm not sure exactly how to handle any of it. He pulls into the valet parking at the Four Seasons and tips the older man that takes his keys. “Let's get a room for the night.”
“You don't have to do this. We could just go back to the apartment.”
Seth’s eyes are guarded, and it worries me. “We need to sleep, and I don't think we were followed. I could use some peace and quiet and a change of scenery.”
I wait while he pays for the room. The receptionist flirts with him, but I can't blame her. Seth is killer on the eyes.
We ride the elevator in silence, and I wait for Seth to unlock the door to our room. His hands rest on my lower back as he ushers me inside. It’s a calming reminder that he’s here for me. I toe off my shoes and drop my jeans before crawling in bed. Seth does the same, but he also pulls his shirt over his hair, leaving him in only his tented boxers. I arch a brow in his direction.
“I can't help it.” He glances down at himself, rubbing a hand along the waistband of his black boxers, and then glances back at me with a heat burning in his gaze. “It's been days since I've had you close to me.”
“Whose fault is that?” I make room for him to lie down. He's trying not to jar me, and somehow in all this drama surrounding my life, he's lightened the mood. I roll toward him and lay my head on his chest, careful to keep my torso from touching him.
His hands lock behind my back, and he kisses my forehead. “We'll get through this, and when we do, you and me are giving this a chance.”
I like the sound of that and hum against him. I feel safe and loved and wanted. It's a heady feeling. I kiss his chest, just over his left nipple. He inhales and one hand finds my hair, pressing my face tighter to his chest. I bare my teeth and nip him sharply. The muscles in his stomach contract under my hand. “Alice.”
I take the lead and nibble my way to his stomach, licking and sucking at each muscle ripping through his abs. He groans when I pull the waistband of his boxers down, past his erection. His hands rest on mine. “I don't want to hurt you.”
“You won't.” I wrap my hand around him and stroke twice before he flips me to my back.
I bite back the little whimper that threatens to release. If I let him know how much that action did hurt, he’ll stop.
“You...drive me so fucking crazy.” He slides my panties down and pulls my thighs over his. “Don't move. Let me love you.” My legs shake from the position, but not for long. He yanks me higher.
The head of his erection strokes over my bare clit, and I groan. “God, that feels so good.”
He does it again, and I do whimper, but not from pain. From pure ecstasy. In one smooth stroke, he enters me halfway. I'm still so tight, and he has to work to find the end of me.
“Alice. I love you.” Tears fill my eyes. I've wanted to hear that so much. All my life. “Don't check out on me, okay.” I nod, and he hits the end of me with more force.
It's pleasure and pain that makes my stomach jump. His strokes are long and slow, with a little bump at the end, and it only takes a few minutes before I'm panting. Crying. Aching. I half sit up when I come, the emotions too strong to hold back.
He pulls back, the tight line of his lips stretched over his teeth show the restraint in his movements. His hands grip my hips, but he waits. His eyes searching mine.
“Seth.” I sigh his name in a dreamy escape of pleasure.
Hearing me say his name sends him lurching over me, driving deep and hard, spending his release in a gush of heat between my legs.
“Are you okay?” He's still taking care of me even when I can't think straight.
He climbs off me with more energy than I’d ever be able to summon. The bathroom door opens and the water runs. He's back in less than two minutes and pulling me into his arms. “Did I hurt you?”
“No. That was perfect.”
He runs a finger down my breast bone, watching the path of his hand. “Kind of quick.”
“Quick is okay. It was perfect.” We sink back into the bed, and I fall asleep in the warm safety of his arms, letting my troubles float away.
We spend the next day talking to people at the main house. No one knows what we’re looking for, and I believe they genuinely don’t. Of course, my dad has probably interrogated them already. We have a lunch of hamburgers and milk shakes, and then hit the three offices that my dad keeps in town. By the end of the week, we’ve spoken to at least one hundred people that might have had any kind of access to dad’s things.
It’s exhausting and mentally breaking me, but I’m picked up each night when Seth takes me in his arms. My stomach has scabbed over and is almost healed thanks to the tender care by my boyfriend. We’ve decided to be exclusive, and I’m not fighting it anymore. I think when this is all over, I’ll join the band. I like singing, and Seth’s music is crazy good. It’s time to stop hiding behind Molly and get on with my life.
The guys are practicing tonight, getting rid of some of the energy. Molly is on the couch with me, whispering about all the fun they had at the lake house. I want to go there with Seth. Escape the world.
“So, what have you guys been doing?”
“We’ve been on a mission.” I nudge her, rocking her against the arm of the couch. “Secret.”
She giggles, and I smile. I know it’s not funny, but I’m almost past the point of caring. I couldn’t find the damn drives, and Harrison is just going to have to accept it.
; Molly shivers beside me and brushes a hand up and down her arms. “Are you cold?”
“They keep it like a freezer in here.” My blanket is already draped over her lap.
“I’ll run and get you a sweater.”
“Thanks, Al.”
I wave at Seth, and he nods between beats. “Be right back,” I mouth, and he winks. He’s so fucking hot, and I get to have him anytime I want.
Molly’s closet is neat and maintained. Color coded by placement so that she can dress herself without help. I rummage through the whites, looking for her favorite sweater. It’s not in the closet. I turn to her dresser and fumble through the drawers. I find her sweater, but it’s wrapped around a box.
I open the lid to the box and find twelve small zip drives, stacked and cold beneath the fabric. I inhale. No. She wouldn’t keep these from me. Not Mole. My body folds, and I crumble to the floor of the closet. All the times I spent taking the punishment to save her, and she’s had the evidence to put that monster away.
Tears track down my face.
I pull the box out and load up her computer. The first zip fits into the connecter and automatically opens a window. The shadow of a sleeping child fills the screen. My father’s large frame crosses the lens for a moment, and then he’s closer to the girl. I’m frozen in the memory of that first night all over again, watching it in color and from a third-person point of view is entrancing in its horrific beauty. I can’t look away.
Screams fill the room, and I hear feet running down my hall, but I don’t register the sound. Why does she have these? Molly. My sister. I can’t believe that she’d have these and not tell me. What the fuck? My fingers are locked around the mouse. I click the next short movie and ignore whoever is behind me. I feel like the room is filled with people, but I can’t look away from the poor child suffering on the screen. There’s blood on her white sheets and a scalpel lying on the bed.
My dad looks back at the camera, and I hiss. Seth’s hand darts past my face and slams the lid to the laptop down. He’s picking me up and carrying me out of the apartment and to his room. The clack of something chattering breaks through to me, and it’s my teeth.
Drowning (Tears of Sin Series) Page 22