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I yawn and stretch my arms above my head. I chuckle as I look up to find Kade’s eyes glued to my chest where my robe has slipped open. I roll my eyes and start to climb over Ryder to get out of bed. “I take it Charles woke up?” I don’t bother asking about the new bruises and cuts on both Luca’s and Kade’s faces. It doesn’t take a genius to guess what they were up to while I slept. Hopefully it helped ease some of their stress and tension.
They both start grumbling and I scoff, guess it didn’t. “Oh, calm down. I’m going to get dressed first.” They act like I would really waltz in there half-naked like this. There’s a lot of places I would do exactly that, but not in a situation like this. Not when it has to do with me finally getting my revenge.
I dress quickly, thankful one of the guys had the foresight to set out a comfortable outfit for me. My bet would be on Noah. The guys stand there watching me pull the tank top over my head and step into the loose athletic shorts. I shake my head, patting Luca and Kade on their cheeks as I walk by them.
“That outfit isn’t much better,” Kade mumbles as I pass him and I can feel his gaze glued to my ass. I understand this is harder on them than the other guys. They have their own history with Charles. Their own painful pasts his presence dredges up.
It doesn’t change that he’s probably our best bet to get what we need.
I keep Ryder’s words in my mind and know any single one of my men would be more than happy to end Charles in a second if he tries anything. I push away the nagging feeling of hope he doesn’t. Either way, we will deal with the fallout and I’ll walk out of that room with my head held high.
I lead the guys out of my room and down the hall to where I had directed Joe and Ian last night. Was it really only last night? I take a deep breath but don’t allow myself to hesitate as I push through the door. I keep my surprise hidden as my eyes wander over the scene in front of me.
Both Ian and Joe stand between the door and the bed, their arms crossed over their chests and looking down where Charles casually sits at the foot of the bed. He looks altogether far too calm for the position he’s in. Both of his feet lay flat against the floor, his eyes focused on his hands folded neatly in his lap.
If I hadn’t been the one to drug him myself, I would never believe he hadn’t chosen to be here. His head lifts as the guys crowd in behind me. I sigh to myself. This room is large, but not enough to not feel small with how many people are in it.
I meet Joe’s eyes and he gives me a small shrug as he and Ian move farther into the room to stand by the window. I take their place, standing closer to the foot of the bed as I peruse Charles. I was too shocked last night to really observe him. To figure out just how much he’s changed.
His eyes run over me in the same way, lingering on the tattoos that now cover both my arms and span across most of my body. Much more visible in my outfit today than the dress I had been wearing last night.
There’s a curiosity in his gaze. Guilt and sadness too. I don’t sense any judgement, any anger, not even any resentment. Ryder was right, I do feel like I have a clearer head after I slept. I was so consumed by the feelings rushing through me last night, I didn’t stop long enough to realize it was concern that had Charles trying to push me out of that ballroom. Concern for his father? Or concern for me?
The soft look in his features right now makes me think it was for me after all. But how does that make sense? Or am I just seeing what it is I secretly desire to see?
He had his chance to protect me and he didn’t. He watched with clenched fists and a shaky body as his friends tried to hurt and humiliate me all over again. Kade saved me. Charles watched.With clenched fists and a shaky body.Maybe there’s more to the story than I know. Or maybe I’m seeing hope and light where only shadows exist.
I turn to find my big guy glaring at Charles, running his thumb down the light scar on his cheek.
Charles clears his throat. I cock my head and arch a brow, waiting him out. Something is off, I just can’t put my finger on what.
He squeezes his hands together in his lap and closes his eyes tightly. “Why did you come back, Charlotte?”
I catch Kade and Luca both flinch in my peripheral at the use of my old name.
I don’t respond, just continue to stare at Charles, trying to unravel the mystery he is presenting me with. It feels like I’m missing something vital. Can I trust my own intuition? My own hesitation? Or am I destined to repeat the same mistakes as my past self?
He keeps eye contact with me. He doesn’t waver as he waits me out, a spark of fear in his eyes. Fear of me or fear for me? I can’t decide. His eyes travel over the guys in the room. I hold my hand up at my side for all of them. I don’t want them to respond to him.
I force back a smile at watching Kade having to swallow his words. I know he wants to berate Charles, has probably been waiting years for this exact opportunity. A part of me is surprised he and Luca had never gone searching for him.
Charles starts to falter, a new look of confusion in his features as he focuses back on me. “There was a reason, wasn’t there?”
Still, I say nothing. I want to see where this thought takes him. Just what is going on in his head. He’s been sitting here so calmly, as if this is a normal experience for him. Granted, with his father I’m sure he has been in a ton of fucked up situations. Nevertheless, he’s close to giving something away. He hasn’t been sitting here, blindly accepting whatever fate he thinks I’ve decided for him. There’s too much calculation in those blue eyes of his for that to be true.
He has some thoughts on why I was there. Why I took him. Why I am the way that I am now.
I want to hear those thoughts. See just how far he’s come on his own while he sat here waiting for me.
“Were you looking for answers, Charlotte?” he questions. It’s lacking the confidence he had with his previous questions. Declan starts to open his mouth but I wave him off. I know he was about to correct the use of my name. He’s already told Charles not to call me that. I know the guys are doing their best to stay quiet, but I can also see the way it is eating at them.
Declan huffs, “That’s not your fucking name.”
I throw a glare his way and arch a brow. He is hardly ever the one to push back against me. To go against an order. I’m surprised by how touchy he’s being over this subject. To me, it’s just a name. A version of myself I no longer like, but one that isn’t going to kill me to hear. At least not while we are secured here anyway.
On the other hand, it is not at all surprising when Kade backs Declan up. “He’s right. You’re Scar. That fucker calls you Charlotte again and I will stab him.”
I press my fingertips to my temple as Luca chimes in, “Shooting him would be faster.” A chorus of agreements sound throughout the room. I shake my head as I survey all of them. Oh my fucking god.
