“Josh, stop. Clint just wanted to explain a few things to me.” Josh saw my face soften as I looked at Clint. I was thinking about all the beautiful things he had said at the cabin.
“You can’t honestly tell me you believe him do you? C’mon Norah, he only does what the Lappell and his mummy and daddy tell him to do.”
That hit a nerve and Clint lunged again, both my arms stopping him this time as his weight shifted into my palms. “Motherfu..” and I cut Clint off.
“Stop. Josh don’t.” But it was like neither of them could hear me.
Clint's voice lifted in rage, “And what about you Hollows? You dragged her to all our parties knowing they could have easily found out who she really was. Perhaps Wickburn got to you too; maybe I wasn’t the only one he asked to pull her in.”
I put my arms down and turned to stare at Josh, not even considering that possibility, and now the feeling of being side-swiped was hitting me all over again.
“Where have you been for three days Josh? I needed you.”
I saw Clint’s fists tense as I used those words.
“Norah, he is trying to manipulate you, don’t you see. He is a liar. He has an agenda.” Josh was trying to talk some sense into me. Clint saw the confusion in my face and took another stab at Josh.
“Are you sure it’s me with the agenda?”
Clint’s eyes darted to Josh as did mine. Josh look horrified, “Are you serious Norah? You have known me forever, through everything,” and he placed his hand on my cheek.
Clint’s face was seeing red.
“I never encouraged you to join the Lappell, you know that. I took you to those parties because you are my best friend, and…” He stopped, looked behind me to Clint and then back to me, tilting his head ever so slightly. “I’m in love with you Norah, wholly and solely in love with you. You know me and I know you. The good and the bad. Our kiss; it’s all I’ve thought about. I took you to those parties so we could take the next step in our friendship. I’m sure you know that.”
My heart skipped a beat. I did know that.
In an instant I was cast aside for a fight yet again, as Clint pounced on Josh. They began to wrestle on the grass and I helplessly watched on as my lover and best friend threw punches at one another. I tried to pull Clint off Josh, but he seemed determined to pummel Josh into the ground. He tried to move his shoulder to stop me from grabbing onto his shirt, but when he looked around and saw I was desperately trying to pull them apart, he stilled, allowing Josh to roll away.
Josh was the first to his feet, “Norah I’m going to fix this.”
Then Clint stood up next to him. “Like hell you are, I’m fixing this,” and their eyes met fiercely again as the heat flamed between them.
“I DO NOT NEED TO BE SAVED!”
Stunned by my outburst, they both took a step back. I was completely wound up.
“Both of you contributed to this problem, but I’m going to take care of this myself. I am not some damsel in distress. I don’t need a knight in shining armor to come riding in on a horse to save the day. I’m not helpless and I’m not some kind of prize either. The only thing you two have failed to give me, which was the only thing I wanted, was honesty. Clint, you lied to me because of some stupid order, and Josh, you lied to me because you wanted to get into a stupid society using my virginity. And I don’t pretend that I’m perfect. I’m the first to admit I’m hugely flawed. Hell, I don’t use even use my real name, but I lie for my own and everyone else’s safety, not to get what I want or because I’m following some stupid assignment.”
They both slumped at my harsh words. “But nobody is perfect, and I care about both of you deeply. I’ve already forgiven both of you. What’s important to me now is seeing how you’ve both learned from those mistakes, and right now, these accusations you are both throwing around, only makes this situation worse!”
Josh tried to talk again, but I silenced him with my hand.
“No, no more today. I don’t want to talk about the Lappell; I don’t want to talk about my feelings. I just want to go upstairs, take a shower and forget about this for a few hours, alright.”
With that, I turned and marched into my apartment building, not looking behind me. When I reached my apartment, I headed straight to my bedroom and knelt down on the side of my bed near my bedside table. From underneath my bed, I pulled out a steel enclosed safe with a combination lock. With precision and determination, my fingers worked to open the lock. When it clicked, showing I had unlocked it, I pulled the safe open and stared at my Glock, which stared right back at me. Flexing my fingers, I carefully pulled it out of the safe and checked to make sure the safety was on. I held it tightly to my chest and mumbled to myself, “If it’s Lenorah Rossi the Lappell want, it’s Lenorah Rossi they will get.”
There was banging on my apartment door. I assumed was either Clint or Josh, so I ignored it until the persistent knocking ceased. I placed the handgun down on my bed and headed for the front door to ensure it was still closed. Since Samuel had somehow got all those flowers into my apartment, I was still a little concerned about how easy it must have been to break in. When I got to the front door, I saw that a white folded piece of paper had been slipped underneath. A note. Picking it up it, I read,
“Norah, I will take care of the Lappell. By tomorrow everything will be sorted out and things will return to normal. I’m sorry I didn’t contact you while I was away. I will tell you everything in the morning. Please stay home tonight. Yours, Josh.”
I scrunched the paper in my hand. I had different plans.
Chapter 19
Wickburn
“I can’t believe I’m doing this again,” I said to myself, as I picked at the window lock outside the east wing room of Arthur Wickburn’s mansion. Seems I was entertaining all my forgotten New York pastimes here in Morewell. I had to be extremely quiet. The night was getting on and I wasn't sure what kind of security system I was going to be up against.
I had my Glock stashed behind my back in my jeans, and I wore a long fitted coat over the top that was still loose enough for me to apply my criminal-like behavior without restriction. I had been breaking in and out of windows since I was a teenager, so I knew what I was doing. When I heard the familiar sound of a ‘click,’ which signaled my success, I internally applauded myself for remembering those skills.
I pulled the big glass window forward and started to crawl up and underneath it, swinging my knees up so I could propel myself forward and onto the floor.
As I steadied my footing in the dimly lit room, I noticed I was in a bedroom. It looked like a guest bedroom because there was nothing but a large king-sized bed and an antique-looking cupboard. No personal items. I opened the door of the bedroom and stepped into a long hallway which was well illuminated from shimmery lamps set above all the doors.
I stood in the hallway, looking from side to side, feeling a bit lost about to where to go. I hadn't completely thought this plan through. I started walking down the stretch of hallway which seemed to have more doors, hoping I would somehow run into Wickburn.
My ears pricked up as I heard Wickburn’s voice, which was coming from one of the rooms off the hallway. It was harsh and raspy and there was a strained kind of anger in the way he spoke. I followed the voice to the door it was coming from, cracking it open just a minuscule amount so I could make out what was being said.
Through the crack of the door, I could see Wickburn, his back was to me. He was wearing a pin stripe Burberry suit, leaning next to a dark stained wooden desk. He turned slightly, which allowed me to see he was on the telephone. His other hand was playing with the silver strands of hair that streaked his hairline. His body was hunched over the desk looking tense as he continued his conversation.
“Calm down. If he wants to buy his way out I’m not going to stop him.”
“It says so in our rules. No, from what I know they are not together anymore.”
“Yes I know he wasn’t supposed to sleep with h
er. He was only supposed to convince…”
“None of us knew he crossed that line.”
Wickburn's foot began to tap furiously as he held the receiver away from his head, not wanting to subject his ears to whatever abuse was coming through the line. After a few seconds he brought the phone back to his ear.
“No! Of course she isn’t part of the agreement with his trust.”
“Yes I can convince her.”
“The only way we know how.”
“I’ll take out Hollows if I have to.”
I gasped. My body began to shake from hearing these pieces of Wickburn’s conversation that obviously had to do with me and Josh.
Who was he talking to?
“Let’s just get Weston out and then deal with getting her in. I know that’s a lot of money. Stupid sap must really love her.’
“Sorrrry.”
“I’ll talk to you after I meet with him. Yes. Alright. Goodbye.”
Poor Clint.. He was about to sign over his trust fund thinking I was part of the deal and I was not about to see him taken for a ride, especially if he was making this decision using me as the deciding factor.
I reached into the back of my jeans and took hold of my Glock. Gripping the handgun, I watched as Wickburn went over to the corner of the room to another door, and slipped behind it. I allowed a few minutes to pass to get a little distance between us so I could mimic his movements and follow him without being discovered. When I opened the door he had walked into, I found myself in another hallway.
I walked very slowly, keeping my movements quiet and fluid. As I neared the end of the hall, I could see another door left ajar. I peered through it, scanning the room on the other side. It was a small sitting room with doors to the left and right. I walked in and looked at both doors. Standing in the sitting room, I tried to assess which door I should take, but then I jumped, startled to hear voices coming from the door on the right. I scanned the room, looking for a place to hide. I spun around, unable to find any place to crouch or crawl into. Thinking I should probably go back the way I came, I stopped moving when I recognized the voice of Clint coming from the other room. I could tell it was him, even from the muffled tone.
My heart nervously started for the right door, and my body followed.
I walked over to the door and turned the doorknob, my heart racing but my hand was steady as I gripped the gun, holding it up vertical to the side of my face. I knew every second I hesitated before bursting in, was time that Clint could be signing over his future.
Get a grip Norah. You can do this. You have to.
I was convincing myself in my head.
Do it, do it now!
I kicked the door open, which caused both men in the room to immediately jump to their feet. Clint and Wickburn both looked at me and then to my gun that was pointed at Wickburn, standing behind another desk.
“Norah, what are you doing here?” Clint looked alarmed by my presence. He stared at the gun in my hand and immediately walked forward to take it away from me.
“Don’t Clint. Just stop please.”
He stopped and stared at me, his eyes drifting over to my hands as I held onto my gun.
“Please tell me you haven’t signed anything yet?” I asked him.
Clint looked back at Wickburn and then to me. “I was just about to, but Norah as I told you, it’s for the both of us.”
I shook my head vehemently. “Lies Clint; he is lying to you. I heard him on the phone only a few minutes ago saying that I’m not part of this arrangement.”
Clint looked stunned but didn’t question me and instead turned back to Wickburn, tension rising from his body. I don’t think he expected that bit of information.
“Is she right Arthur? Is this ‘out’ only inclusive for me?”
Wickburn laughed, “Who are you going to believe Weston? The Lappell, who have been a part of your family for generations, or your little assignment here, who is nothing more than the spawn of a criminal?”
Ouch!
Clint's eyes went from me to Wickburn. He then promptly came and stood next to me, his decision clearly made.
Sigh.
“I’m not signing anything without Norah, so I guess the deal is off.”
I suddenly felt guilty for forcing a choice on Clint that wasn't mine to make. “Clint, if you really want out of the Lappell, then this is still your decision. Only you know if it’s worth staying in or not.”
Both men went eerily quiet as they stared at one another in some kind of Lappell unspoken language. I had no idea was was transpiring between them.
Finally, Clint spoke up, “Not without you, Norah.”
Clint reached towards me and tried again to take the gun from my hands, but I moved it away from his grasp. I was pleased that he hadn’t signed away his future’s fortune but our situation had not improved.
With the tension continuing to rise in the room, Clint pleaded with me again, “Please give me the gun Norah,” his voice filled with worry, watching the determined way I held the weapon.
“No fucking way Clint. Sorry. I have a few things I need to know first.”
Wickburn chuckled. “Don’t worry Clint, she won’t fire that thing. She doesn’t have it in her.”
Clint looked instantly uneasy. He knew better.
I fired the gun, the bullet whizzing through the air, missing Wickburn’s head by inches and hitting the bookshelf behind him. The room came to a halt as a new expression of dread spread across Wickburn’s face, and I had to admit to myself, I enjoyed bringing that fear to the surface.
“Wanna bet?” I said, as if I was possessed by the Norah of old, the Norah from New York City who knew all too well how to be a bad ass. I hadn't seen her in a while.
Hello, sweet greetings, get fucked!
Wickburn settled uneasily into a chair near the table. I could see his hand shake, but he quickly got his emotions under control and laid his other hand on top to steady it.
He turned to look at me with a frosty glare. “What do you want to know Miss Rossi?”
“Who were you on the phone to before you came in here? I heard that conversation. I know you have some kind of reason behind getting me into this all this, which doesn’t just include gaining my family’s connections. It has to do with just me. Tell me who you were talking to.” I walked forward with the gun, ensuring it was directly pointed at his head and that he clearly understood my lack of tolerance for lying.
“What does she mean Arthur? Have you made a deal with someone about Norah specifically? Who wants her?” I could hear Clint’s tone spark with anger from not knowing what was really going on.
“Tell me who was on the phone!” I yelled, and walked straight up to Wickburn and rested the gun on his skull, firmly between his eyes. Whoever he had been talking to was the reason all this drama came about in the first place. If I knew who was trying to get to me, I could stop all this madness and the threats against the people I cared about.
Wickburn remained silent. Grinning. I wanted to smash that grin right off his face with my gun. My hand began to shake as my anger began to take control of me.
Steady Norah.
“He won’t talk Norah. If it has to do with the Lappell in any way implicating them, he will take a bullet before he will say a word. It’s no use. It’s a rule.” Clint sounded as frustrated as me.
What were my choices now? What could I do? I couldn’t really shoot him; could I? This wouldn’t be the end of it and it would only get worse. If Wickburn was under some kind of instruction to make sure that I am part of the Lappell for another reason other than my family, then what lengths will he go to make sure that will happen? “I’ll take out Hollows” – Wickburn’s declaration of how far he was prepared to go, echoed in my head, reminding me of the scope of the decision I was rejecting. How many people would be hurt because I didn’t say ‘yes’?
Would it really be that bad? It can't be any worse then being under my father's reign, can it?
“What if I agree to join amicably in exchange for you letting both Josh and Clint out of the Lappell? You’ll have me and my family and then you’ll have no need to hurt anyone.”
Clint’s head spun around and his mouth gaped open at my complete change of approach.
“NO Norah, NO!”
Wickburn's eyes squinted like he was deep in thought, but then began to nod slowly, “Yes, I can arrange that.”
“Norah, don’t do this. You don’t know what you will be agreeing to.” Clint was begging with his voice. I tried to ignore his pleading thinking only of who I would be protecting.
“I won’t let them hurt you and Josh, and if I can stop all this before it gets out of control, then I will.”
Ignoring Clint’s pleas, I walked over to shake Wickburn’s hand. I had to control my breathing as I put my gun down onto his desk, and then I watched in slow motion as my hand moved through the air and towards Wickburn.
“There will be no need for that.” A deep voice had penetrated the air in the room.
Out of pure reaction, my fingers flinched and then fell to my side of my body. My knees began to shake and all clear thoughts evaporated from my mind as I recognized immediately who had now joined the conversation.
Whipping my head around, I saw Josh, standing next to my father and at least five of his associates. Wickburn’s face changed immediately into a grim-looking expression. You could hear a pin drop in that moment. The silence was that thick.
“Arthur Wickburn.” There was a jagged edge to how my dad said his name and I could tell he was holding a great deal of anger back.
“I’ve been told you are trying blackmail my daughter.”
Chapter 20
Daddy
My father's associates led me out of the room and into the adjoining one to wait, while my father, his men, Josh and Clint remained in the room with Wickburn. I felt like a child having to wait in the naughty room until it was time to deal with me. I couldn’t be bitter though. Even if the last thing I wanted was my father to be here, it stopped me from making one of the worst mistakes of my life. A few seconds later and I would have shaken hands and given my verbal acceptance to the Lappell, and who knows where that would have taken me.
Pieces of Lies Page 20