“I’m going to get going,” Ash says, starting to back out of the room. “Again, I’m so fucking sorry for everything.” He won’t even look at me, directing the words to Riku instead.
“Stop!” I shout, and he freezes, frowning. “Are you still coming to NOLA with us?” I chew on my lip, hoping he says yes.
“Do you still want me to?” he asks hesitantly.
“Yes, absolutely. Please don’t go. Stay, both of you. I don’t want to be alone.” I feel so vulnerable admitting it, but if they leave now, I’ll be scrambling for more drugs quicker than you can say addict.
They exchange a glance.
“Please,” I whisper, realizing I’m not above begging.
Like they are sharing some kind of telepathic mind link, they move at the same time. Riku strips off his jeans and shirt, leaving himself in his underwear, while Ashton removes his shirt but leaves on his sweats. When I raise a brow, he mumbles, “No underwear.”
They climb in on either side of me, Riku being careful of the drip in my arm. I roll over to face him, leaving Ash at my back, keeping his hands to himself.
“Hold me,” I demand over my shoulder. He slides in behind me, wrapping himself around me, and I pull Riku in closer so he’s wrapped around my front with my drip arm over him. “I just need to feel safe,” I mutter quietly.
The silence is awkward for a moment, then I brush my hand against Riku’s smooth, defined pec. “Ash waxes his chest,” blurts out of my mouth, breaking the tension in the room. Behind me, Ash groans and buries his face into my hair.
“Big mouth.”
It’s with a small smile on my face that I snuggle down, their warmth and strength helping me recover from one of the most horrible nights of my life.
ChapterFive
Jacinta
Our flight to New Orleans is uneventful. The three of us are using one of the smaller jets in our fleet, the big one having taken the others down a few days ago. I feel a little guilty that I haven’t been there for Jace, but I’m sure Nana, Emma, and Molly have him all sorted. That helps soothe the quiet voice that says I’m somehow letting him down.
Once we get to the plantation, everything is a flurry of movement and organization to get ready for the next day’s show. A runway is being constructed, and chairs are being placed out for the attendees with a section for photographers, and that’s just the outside. Inside the mansion, the ballroom has been turned into the dressing room. Racks of clothes and semi-naked men and women run around for final fittings.
I take one look at the flurry of people and promptly turn around and walk back out. My chucks are quiet on the wooden floors of the old house, and when I finally make it outside, I gulp in a huge breath of air.
“Are you okay?” A hand on my shoulder has me squeaking in surprise and whirling around, but my heart rate slows when I realize it’s just Riku with Ash behind him. Of course he followed me out. I can imagine he’s going to be a little overprotective for a while in light of what he sees as his failure.
“Yup, they look like they have it under control. Me getting involved is just going to confuse things.” I’ve exited out one of the back doors on the lower floor, and I can see the sweeping staircase leading down from the ballroom in front of me. The path to the natural arbor looks cool and inviting despite the workman constructing the runway.
“Shall we go for a walk and get some fresh air?” I suggest.
The three of us spend the next hour wandering the grounds of the plantation. Farther along the natural arbor are the old slave houses, which have long since been turned into guest accommodations. We find an old stable house, which looks like it’s been converted into guest lodging as well. They use this place as a wedding and function venue, so it makes sense.
The three of us don’t talk much during our walk. I think we’re all lost in our own thoughts.
“Where are we staying?” Ash finally breaks the silence as we head back toward the main house.
“I’m not sure what was planned, to be honest. Let’s find Nana. She’ll know what the plan is.”
When we get back to the ballroom, it looks like the frenzy is starting to settle down. There aren’t as many people here, and we passed quite a few returning to their rooms as we walked back.
I spy Nana talking to Jace, Alex, and Shane through the crowd, so I head in their direction. A few people say hi on the way through, but I don’t stop. I can feel the anxiety prickling at my consciousness, the urge to run growing stronger, but the way Jace’s face lights up when he sees me holds me on my path.
“There you are, my sweet granddaughter.” Nana is all smiles when we reach them, giving me a hug and a kiss before greeting the guys.
“Lord Ashton, how nice of you to join us. Has that dragon of a grandmother kicked the bucket yet?” Nana asks pleasantly, bringing a cheeky smile to Ash’s face.
“You are looking lovely as usual, Mrs. Summers, and not yet, but we can only keep hoping.” He kisses Nana on the hand, and she twitters like a fool. Handsome men truly are her weak spot.
“Please call me Grace. I mean, you may be my grandson soon if the gossip columns are to be believed.”
