“No. He can’t do that. We can run. We can call the police.” Jayden tears up, her hands grabbing at me frantically.
“No, we can’t, Jayden. We just… can’t,” I stumble on my words. I can’t dive into telling her how obviously powerful Landon is. This is unbearably painful for me, to know this is the last time I may see Jayden. All I want to do is slump to the floor and cry with her, but I can’t. I won’t give Landon that power. I’ll savor the time I have with Jayden and be strong for the both of us.
“You’re all I have,” Jayden whispers, making my eyes snap to hers. I grab her into a hug, needing that feeling of comfort.
“You’re all I have, too,” I respond. “I’ll work something out. Get you in there as an escort, see if I can come home on the weekends, or find a way out of there — something,” I mumble into her curly hair, her fingers digging into my back as she cries.
I start to pull away. “It’s late. Let’s get some sleep,” I suggest, but Jayden doesn’t let go. I reach over and turn the light off then walk us over to my bed. I pull the sheet back and pull myself from Jayden’s grip. Too stunned to move on her own, I unzip her red dress, letting it fall to the floor. I climb into the bed and hold the sheet up, encouraging Jayden to crawl in beside me. She kicks her heels off and crawls in, her back to my front, and we snuggle close to each other. Her body shakes as she sobs, the heat radiating off her causing me to sweat, but I don’t pull away. I don’t even kick a leg out from under the sheet.
“We’ve been through so much together. You’re the only person who understands me and doesn’t hold judgement.” Her voice cracks with emotion. “Charlie, you can’t leave me. Promise me you’ll come back,” she sobs.
I take a deep breath, not sure if I’ll be able to deliver on that or not, so I lie.
“I promise.”
***
A loud knock at the door has Jayden falling out of the bed and me pulling the sheets up over my head.
“What?” Jayden yells, opening the front door. I smirk. I know she’s in her bra and undies. She has no shame. At least she didn’t sleep next to me naked, though.
“It’s time,” Osborn remarks, his voice deep.
“Yeah, okay,” Jayden clips, slamming the door, probably in his face.
I sigh and throw the blankets back.
“We could take him, you know,” Jayden mutters, pulling the sheet from her bed to cover herself. I laugh. The two of us trying to wrestle Osborn, tie him up so we can run, is an image to be seen just in my head.
“I don’t see that playing out too well.” I half-laugh, shaking my head as I slip on a sports bra. “Besides, Landon would come for me, and I know he’d find us,” I tell her, grabbing some ripped jeans and a dark blue shirt that has the sleeves cut off, revealing my white sports bra. I hate leaving Jayden, but at least I don’t feel as apprehensive about being a part of the Blackwell Estate. If Landon is anything like I thought he was, maybe I can leave on the weekends and have Jayden come see me or something.
“Fuck him,” Jayden snaps, making me laugh. A knock sounds at the door, reminding us that Osborn is waiting.
“I will be back, Jayden. I will get in touch with you,” I whisper. Jayden pulls me close and inhales, like she is programming me to memory. She turns quickly and chuckles nervously, wiping the tears from her cheeks, and sitting on her bed. I tilt my head and give her a tight-lipped smile.
“I gotta go.” I lean over the bed and kiss her forehead, muttering, “Be safe.”
“You, too,” she whispers.
I look around our dump of an apartment, not really caring to take anything with me. Eventually, I open the door to find Osborn.
“Let’s go,” he grunts, pushing his sunglasses on the bridge of his nose.
The ride to the estate is quiet, the driver sitting at the front of the limo only looking back to check on me a few times. Osborn sits beside me, his large size taking up most of the seat.
We pull up to the estate, and Landon is standing on the steps in a crisp, expensive suit. The limo comes to a stop, and he opens my door.
“Charlie,” he greets. His body is like a storm — powerful, strong, and fearless. I swallow hard, that familiar ache in my chest resurfacing.
“Landon,” I reply dryly. His eyes rake me from top to bottom, leaving a blazing trail of lust behind them. I can’t help the way my legs clench to stifle the intolerable throb escalating between them, but it doesn’t override the wave of anger I have toward him, either.
Landon leans in, causing me to stiffen.
“Stop clenching,” he whispers, a smirk crossing his face. My mouth hangs open with shock, but I shut it as quickly as it flew open.
“I can’t help it, your driver is hot,” I smart, walking past him.
I hear Landon laugh like a school boy, his footsteps sounding behind me as I let myself into the mansion-like house.
Landon grabs my upper arm, swinging me around with haste, and plows me against the large wooden door. His fresh scent seizes the air from my lungs. His face lowers mere inches from mine, his green eyes turning a shade darker, causing a bundle of nerves to twist in my stomach.
“That mouth will start wars between us. I’m not sure if I should wash it out with soap or fuck it,” Landon seethes. All the oxygen in my chest races out, leaving me speechless. Landon smirks, proud of himself.
I inhale a large breath, gather my courage, lean my head toward his, and smile. “Give me your best shot.” He doesn’t scare me; I’d like to see his worst, in fact.
Landon takes a deep breath and licks his bottom lip. “I’m not sure if you could—”
“Is this the new girl?” We both look over, and Landon quickly releases his hold on me. I have to bite my lip to stop from smiling. I affect him, and that alone is empowering.
“Veronica,” Landon enunciates slowly. The woman has long, golden-blonde hair that comes to rest on one shoulder. She is tall and thin, wearing a long, light pink dress that trails behind her. Her makeup is done lightly, but her red-stained lips stand out amongst her porcelain skin.
“The team will have their hands full with this one, that’s for sure,” Veronica sneers, her lip curled in disgust as she eyes me. I wince, shocked a complete stranger would be such a bitch. But then again, look at Landon.
“She’s not too bad,” Landon defends, a smirk crossing his face, his forest eyes holding a tone of friendliness. I scowl at both of them, angry they’re talking as if I’m not even standing in the room.
“I’m sure you would think so,” she clips. “They’re waiting upstairs for you.” She nods toward me before turning, picking her dress up, and walking back up the stairs.
“Please, don’t turn me into a Barbie,” I plead to Landon. He chuckles and runs his thumb over his chin.
“Would you like breakfast, Charlie?” he questions, lowering his hand and placing it on my lower back. His hand is large and takes up the small of my back. My memory takes me back to waking up in that hotel room by myself — no breakfast, no man, just a stack of cash. My body hums from his touch, but my mind barks out uncontrollable anger from the flashback. My logic winning this battle, I grasp Landon’s arm and tear it away from my body.
“How about we save the crap. You’re not a nice guy, and I’m not a nice girl. I don’t have a clue why you’re being nice to me, but stop. Oh, and it would be pointless to have breakfast and pretend to have small talk, when we both know I’m here to be your employee, your toy for money—”
“Charlie, you want me to be nice to you. Because by the end of all this, you will hate me more than you do right now,” Landon interrupts, his face masked with anger as his jaw clenches.
“Just show me to the team,” I mutter, unaffected by his threat.
Landon steps back and runs his hands through his hair, his chest lifting as he inhales deeply as if he’s trying to control his anger.