Gwen needs to fully believe she’s won.
My mask secures in place as I straighten up and pull myself together.
“Please tell me I can do something to help? I can’t stand by and do nothing.”
“That is exactly what you need to do, mate. I need to bide my time until I have all my ducks in a row. Keeping Astrid and Darcy safe is all that matters. Don’t interfere and mess it all up. And you can’t tell anyone what I’ve told you. Remember, you promised.”
He blows air out of his mouth. “I hate this, but I hear you.” He pulls me into a hug. “If you need anything, at any time, you only have to ask.”
“I’ve thought of something,” I say, shucking out of Travis’s hug. “Can you check in with Astrid at college? Make sure she’s doing okay?”
“I’m not sure if she’ll let me, but I’ll try.”
“Thanks, mate.”
I hired a bodyguard to watch over her from afar, but having a friend keep an eye on her as well will make it better. Gwen loves rubbing our supposed happy ever after in Astrid’s nose, soI don’t think she’d try anything. She’ll want to keep gloating even if she has threatened Astrid’s life if she gets in the way of what she wants—namely, me.
I’m glad Astrid got a restraining order, but Gwen is more calculated than anyone knows, and she could find ways around it if she wanted. She’s an unstable, unpredictable nutjob, and having someone watching Astrid is essential for my sanity and her safety.
I don’t care if I have to drain my bank account.
Nothing is going to happen to Astrid on my watch.
I’ll fucking kill Gwen if I have to. Not gonna lie. The thought has crossed my mind on a few occasions.
Travis swipes his keys. “I need to split. Mom’s organized a brunch for my sister’s birthday.”
“Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate you more than you know.”
“I meant what I said. I’m always here for you. Call me anytime, and watch your back, Hunt.”
I stretch out on the couch after Travis leaves, flipping idly through TV stations as I check my burner mobile phone for any new messages. I’ve been on edge since the meeting yesterday, and though it’s unlikely I’ll hear anything for a while, I can’t stop checking my phone.
I needed an excuse to come back here this weekend so Gwen wouldn’t be suspicious. I’d have preferred to come without her, but Gwen won’t let me set foot in Ryemont alone. Especially during spring break, when there’s a chance Astrid might be home. I suggested I’d bring Darcy with me so she could have a break to go shopping and clubbing with her friends, but she turned the idea down flat. Suggesting we buy a place in Ryemont did the trick. The psycho can’t wait to gloat to all those who dared to look down their noses at her for shoplifting.
I try not to leave my daughter alone with her mother if I can help it because I don’t trust Gwen to take care of her. It’s why I hired a full-time nanny to watch over Darcy while I’m working. Fuck knows what Gwen does all day now she has quit her job, but I don’t care as long as she doesn’t hurt that innocent little baby.
The only reason I didn’t go out with them this morning is because Mom will be there. Any chance I get to have some time away from that bitch, I take it.
Panic sprouts in my chest when I hear the front door opening, and I shove the burner phone in my pocket, wondering what the fuck Gwen did this time to piss my mother off. They’re not due back for at least an hour, so if they’re back early, it doesn’t bode well. Ma tries her best to be polite to Gwen for my sake, but I know she can’t stand her. None of my family can.
We’re all faking it.
The door slowly opens, and I brace myself, planting the usual fake smile on my face. However, it’s not Gwen who enters the living room.
It’s Astrid.
My façade slips for a few seconds as I stare at her slack-jawed. I hate her shorter dark hair as much as I hate the reason why she did it. It makes her face look too pale, but perhaps that’s from lack of sleep. Her pretty green eyes are bloodshot, and she’s got bags too. She is way thinner than she used to be, and I hate seeing her like this, especially knowing I did this to her.
Despite all that, she is still the most beautiful girl in the world. My heart thumps like crazy, and my fingers twitch with the longing to touch her. I miss her so much, and it’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her until I remember why I need to push her away. I thought I’d done a bang-up job of it, but my girl is tenacious.
She can’t be here. If Gwen comes back early, everything will unravel. Astrid needs to leave right now. I know what I need to do, but it’s going to kill off whatever is left of my heart to do it. Forcing all emotion from my face, I stand and level her with a disinterested stare as if my soul isn’t tearing apart. “Why are you here?”
“I need to talk to you.”
“There is nothing you have to say I want to hear.” I hear how cold I sound to myself, and I hate it.
“Please, Callan. I have so many questions, and I need to know. She’s forcing you to do this, isn’t she? She’s holding something over you. What is it?”
