Rose In Bloom (19 page)

“Miss?” The driver brings me out of my daze.

“Miss, I’ve been driving now for an hour. Where do you want me to take you?”

Right now, since my sister and best friend are not here, only one person can calm me.

When I hear the familiar door chime, I smile. Marie’s beaming face greets me immediately at the door. When she sees my tear stained face, her arms find their way around me. The dam breaks, and I hold on to this woman with all my might. I know I can never tell her what is really going on, but I just need her. The thoughts of Sebastian in jail for the rest of his life terrify me.

Please God, I can’t lose him.

“Let it all out, Bellissimo. I’m right here.”

Brandon

Everything is ready. For the past few days, I’ve worked hard preparing this place for her arrival. I know she isn’t going to be willing at first, but I think if I give her a little bit of time she will come to see what I’ve known all along. We are meant to be together. Last time I’d been too harsh with her, but this time I will be different. I’m ready to prove to her that I’m a changed man.

Looking around at the old warehouse, I openly admit that this is not the Ritz-Carlton, but it will have to do for now. Once Skylar comes around, I’ll move us in my Dad’s huge penthouse, overlooking Austin. I’ll give her everything she wants and desires. Soon, Sebastian will be rotting away in prison while my brother and I take over the family business. I plan on not only making Sebastian take the wrap for my father’s death, but I also plan on taking over his precious Thorne Enterprises.

There is just one problem. Lucas Drake. For days now, he’s called and texted my father’s phone. I know he and my father had some sort of arrangement to take out Sebastian, but that’s yesterday’s news. Now I’m calling the shots and making all the moves. I certainly don’t need someone like him fucking all of this up for me. It took some changing of my original plan, but I think I can make his involvement in all of this play out to my advantage. As long as this Drake fellow thinks he’s talking to my father, I can use him to filter in information.

It’s painfully obvious he has a thing for my girl. That’s fine for right now because it means he has eyes and ears on her. She’s accessible to him, where she isn’t to me at the moment. Thorne has men watching me at every turn, so I make myself scarce most days. I’ve done absolutely nothing to make anyone suspicious of my behavior. I’ve even stayed away from here as much as possible to not make this a place of interest to anyone.

Once I have her, I will make this Drake character disappear. Straightening the bed up with the new pillows I bought, I stand back and admire the room. Yes, this will do just fine. Grinning to myself, I adjust my hardening cock as I think about her body. I can’t wait to break this bed in with her.

My father’s phone chimes with a message from none other than Sebastian Thorne himself.

SEBASTIAN: It’s time we meet face to face.

I smile as I type in my reply.

MAVERICK’S PHONE: All in due time, Mr. Thorne.

Tucking my phone in my jeans pocket, I smooth out the blanket and grab my keys on the side table. It’s going to be hard to sit and patiently wait for this all to play out as I’ve planned, but when it does, it will be something beautiful to watch.

Skylar

Two huge plates of gooey chocolate treats and three glasses of sweet tea have me completely stuffed. Marie smiles proudly down at my empty plate as she takes it away. I swear, if I lived with this woman, I would easily weigh eight hundred pounds. Marie had sat patiently for the past hour, listening to me pour out my heart and soul. I’d told her about Lucas and Sebastian fighting and about Brandon’s release from jail, but I never mention what is really bothering me. I can’t talk to anyone about that.

Marie offered a few words of advice here and there, but for the most part just listening to my own words helps me realize what I’d always known from the start. Sebastian had done what he’s done from the beginning, protecting me. As much as I love him for his caveman ways, he has to learn to let me in if we are ever going to be able to face things together. We are a team now. There is no working alone in this life anymore.

While Marie tended to customers and prepared to do her nightly baking, I’d curled up into my favorite couch and watched the flames dance in the fireplace. My mind is in such deep thought that I barely notice the blanket that Marie places over me. She takes my hand and squeezes it before looking back over me to the front. I watch her eyes twinkle and then she nods.

“It’s about damn time,” she says chuckling.

Confused, I sit up, look out the large front window of the bakery, and lock eyes with my beautiful husband. Cuts and bruises cover his face and his clothes are torn and stained with dried blood. Those glowing amber eyes search mine in desperation for forgiveness. Sebastian moves closer to the window, pressing his large hand to the glass outside.

“Go easy on him,” Marie whispers over my shoulder as she pats my back.

Turning back to the window, I walk towards him. Lifting my hand, I place it directly over his, painfully aware of how desperate I need to feel his touch right now. The cold glass burns my skin and leaves me in agony. I watch his mouth as he speaks. ”I’m so sorry, baby.”

My eyes zone in on the dried blood on the top of his mouth. Before I realize it, I’m racing to the door where he is waiting to swoop me in his strong arms. I ignore the cool night air and hold onto him. His cologne fills my nose, and instantly, I relax against his chest. In his arms, I feel so safe, so loved.

What will I ever do if I lose him now? This isn’t supposed to be our life anymore.

He inhales the scent of my hair as he tightens his arms around my body. “I’m so sorry, Skylar. I thought I was doing the right thing,” he pleads as he rocks me against him.

“I know and I’m sorry, too. I know you were trying to protect me. I just need you to trust me enough to tell me about things. Even the things that will hurt me.”

“I know, baby. God, I know. It’s just that there is more to think about than just us now,” he says, placing his hand on my stomach and smiling.

Nodding, I agree with him. I know he didn’t mean to hurt me. “I’m scared,” I say with tears in my eyes.

“Hey, shhhh! It’s going to be all right. I promise.” he says, pressing his lips to my head.

“What are we going to do? I can’t lose you. God, I just c-can’t,” I stutter as my body begins shaking. He holds me tighter to him, swaying me on the sidewalk.

“You’re not going to lose me. I’m going to fix this.”

“H-how?”

“I’m going to go to Maverick.”

“WHAT? NO!” I shout, pushing off him.

“I have to. If I don’t, he is never going to stop this. We will never have a life; he’ll make sure of it.”

“You can’t! He’ll kill you! You know that.”

“He’s not going to kill me, Skylar. He is too smart for that. He wants something from me, and no matter what it takes, I’ll give it to him. But you can’t be here when that happens. I can’t risk it.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that you are going to stay with Nik and Kylie for a while in LA. If I’m going to handle Maverick, I can’t risk him having access to hurt me with you. It’s the only way I can do this and make sure you both stay safe.”

“I’m not leaving you!” I protest.

“Yes, you are and it’s not up for argument. I’ve already talked to Kylie and Nik about it. You’ll fly out in a few days with them and stay there until this blows over.”

Deep down, I know he is right. I can’t be here, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have reservations about this plan of his.

“What if it doesn’t blow over? What then?”

“It will work out, baby, but you have to trust me. You have to let me keep you safe. With Brandon out of jail now too, I don’t know what kind of sick games that Maverick wants to play. The only way to do this is to get you far away from here. Nik will keep you safe, and besides, I know you and Kylie will have fun. Let her help you buy stuff for the baby. Relax and just concentrate on baking me a beautiful daughter.”

Slapping his chest, I can’t help but smile through my tears.

“I’m going to laugh my ass off when they tell you it’s a boy.”

“Not a chance.” he says, wrapping his arms around me and rubbing my arms to warm me up.

“Let’s get you inside and warmed up. It’s getting chilly out here,” he says, opening the bakery door behind me.

The smell of chocolate fills my nose, and instantly, I’m hungry again.

How does this happen?

Marie hugs Sebastian and makes a grab for his ass. I can’t help but giggle at my husband’s eyes as they grow large with shock. You’d think he’d be used to her feeling him up by now.

“Sit down and I’ll get you two some hot chocolate,” she insists, urging us towards the couch in the sitting area.

When she disappears in the back, I can’t help but lean back against him and cling to his shirt. I don’t want to think about leaving Austin without him. And as he tips my chin up to look at him, I allow him to see all my fears. They are reflected in his eyes, too. There is no hiding it. His lips find mine and for the evening, I shove my thoughts and fears aside. Right now, I just need him.

Lucas

I can’t believe I’ve done this. This is all my fault. I’ve not only added the gasoline to the fire, but I’ve also been the one to strike the match. I can’t blame her for hating me for this. I hate myself even more. It’s as if I’ve woken up from a horrible dream, only to live a nightmare. The way she’d looked at me before she left my office leveled me. It is something that will haunt me for the rest of my life.

My fight with Sebastian didn’t help matters. We’d ended up breaking half the furniture in my office before he ran out in panic looking for her. The son of a bitch looked for her for hours, but I instantly knew where she’d go. Marie’s. I’d sat in my truck across the street and watched her through the window. I’d watched the way she’d cried and held her body in fear. I’d done this to her. Me.

How do I make this right? How can I fix this?

The only way I know is to do something to make Maverick end this plan. No matter what it costs me or what it takes, I have to stop it. As much as I hate Sebastian, I can’t live knowing she hates me for loving her.

Call after call ends up going straight to Maverick’s voice mail. When I call his office, his secretary informs me that he is out of town on important business, and that both his sons, Brandon and Michael, are managing the company until he returns. There is no way I’m dealing with Brandon. I’ll kill the fucker if I get near him for what he did to Skylar. I’m still not promising I won’t find a way to make that happen anyway.