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“Better yet, you could break his fingers! Then he wouldn’t be able to tweet any of the shit he does now.”
“Tweet?” His eyebrows furrow as though he has no clue what I’m talking about.
I wave my hand. “It's some social media thing. Aurora has a stalker. He needs a good beating.” I shake my head.
He tries to fight a smile at my suggestion to hire him, but I see it still.
“Or maybe he could disappear.” I bite my lip, not sure I really want it to go that far. Then again, Charles is asking like there’s a chance he might handle it.
“Tell me exactly what he’s done.” There’s a tick in his jaw that I know is only going to get worse once I start spilling the details.
So I do. I tell him about Kent’s obsession with Aurora and all the things he’s done so far. How he has some clout in the entertainment world, and he’s using it to try to intimidate her. How I’m sure there are more women out there that have had to deal with this behavior from him. I think some girls might have even lost roles—or worse—because they wouldn't do the things he wanted them to. I have to admit that it feels good to tell Charles. To get it all off my chest.
“If he’s doing these things out in the open, I can promise you the things we don’t know about are probably three times as bad.”
I swallow, thinking he’s right. Charles gets up from the bed to come stand behind me.
He kisses my neck. “We’ll figure this all out. Let’s shower first.”
I nod, still thinking.
He turns to go to the bathroom, and I hear the shower come on.
Daphne. She would know more about Kent Kingston. As if my mind conjures her up, I see a flash of red hair through the window. I grab my sneakers and put them on. “What are you doing?”
“Daphne!” I shout, having forgotten all about her coming out here to meet us. I take off in a dead run. Charles mutters a curse. I’m guessing he’s trying to find clothes.
We weren't joking when we said we were in shape. It was a part of our daily routine for the most part. I pride myself that I’m the fastest in our little group. I’m out his door and down the hall before anyone can say anything.
I push open the door. The cold air assaults me, reminding me I don’t have anything on under Charles’ shirt. At least it falls to my knees. The snow is still falling pretty heavily. Although it’s cold, it also makes everything look so clean and pretty. I can barely see Daphne coming my way.
“The gate!” I point to where I’m running. My feet feel numb as the snow penetrates my sneakers. I obviously didn’t think this through. It’s then I realize who she’s running from. I don’t have to look behind me to know Charles is now hot on my heels. I can hear the heavy tread of his feet, and he’s also shouting my name as well.
I’m the first to the gate, and I punch in the ten-digit code. The metal doors open just as Tiernan gets his hold on Daphne. He lifts her, causing her feet to dangle off the ground. She flails and cusses and tries to claw him, all to no avail. He doesn’t let go, so she gives up and wrinkles her nose.
“Why is this monster chasing me?” she asks. She turns her head to look up at Tiernan. She stares at him for a while, her eyes narrowing.
No one answers her.
“How the hell did you know the code?” Charles asks, grabbing my shoulders and pulling me around to face him. There’s a sudden look of distrust on his face.
Ouch.
“Can we have this talk inside? I’m about to turn into a popsicle,” Daphne suggests.
“I’m about to redden your ass is what is about to happen.” Daphne stiffens in his hold. Tiernan looks angry but also deeply … interested.
I think Daphne may have finally bitten off more than she can chew.
Charles keys in the code to shut the gate before grabbing my wrist—instead of holding my hand—as he pulls me back toward the lodge.
He’s clearly pissed. As for me, I’m just sad and hurt, and I don’t know if this is something we can come back from.
12
CHARLES
She knows the code. She could’ve left at any time. Here I was thinking I had her on lock-down and completely safe, but that’s not the case at all. If I can’t protect her, then what am I even doing? I don’t deserve her if I can’t keep her safe.
