CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Reid
One of my favouritethings in life is to watch people lose their shit.And nothing bothers a Brit more than the weather.You would think after a solid month of excruciating heat, people would be happy it’s finally decided to rain.No such luck.Everyone we’ve ran into today has done nothing but complain about the weather.Best one was watching a male in the neighbouring house lose his shit.He had just lit the barbeque when the heavens opened.The pre-prepped or assembled food were the first thing he threw.To be fair, it was unsalvageable.Unlike when we do a barbeque, none of it was covered.It has put a spring in my step ever since.
I shake off the water soaking my hair as I step inside the factory, ready to get some stock together for our next and last job of the day.Thankfully, the rain isn’t beginning to slow.
Wyatt has gone ahead with Eli and Luke, leaving me alone with Jaxon.Dark, half-ringed circles stained his under eyes as he concentrates on the screen in front of him.His eyes have sunken in, and ever since Lily’s assault, there’s been a permanent shadow residing in them.A grave, haunted cloud lurks front and centre now, no longer hiding behind small smiles and feigned laughter.
It’s been just over a week since Summer and Paisley got hurt.Whilst I only have an inkling of what he is going through, it doesn’t compare.I don’t know how to make this better for him.I’m scared that no matter what speech I come up with in my head, I will fuck it up and I’ll make it worse.Besides, I don’t think there is anything on this earth beside capturing Andrew Black that will make what is going on inside of him, better.
Summer was in a crash.She wasn’t badly beaten in her own home, like Lily.I had to listen to a car crash, and although it was horrific in its own way, Jaxon had to listen to Lily fight for her life.Literally.I couldn’t...I don’t know how he is still able to function like this, even if he isn’t one-hundred percent.I just can’t walk by him and pretend he isn’t hurting anymore.
So instead of heading to the supply room, I drag the chair out on the other side of his desk and take a seat.
“Jaxon, you should go home,” I tell him, keeping my voice even so it doesn’t sound like a demand.He needs rest, and I don’t think being here away from Lily during the day is helping him.Or at least today, it seems to be affecting him much more.
It’s not like we’re busy, so we can pick up the slack.We’ve pushed most of clients who can wait, back.Today is a day filled with jobs that cannot be put on hold, which is mostly moving people into a new home or moving shit into storage.
He pinches the bridge of his nose.“We can’t go home.Not yet.”He throws a piece of paper onto the desk, misinterpreting what I was suggesting.I know they can’t go home, home.I meant to Lily.
I reach for the paper, noticing the embossed stamp at the top.My eyes widen, recognising Black’s corporation logo.I flip the paper open, my eyes widening.
Lily, I will be seeing you soon.
And that baby.
A.B
My head snaps up, meeting his gaze.“Where did you get this from?”
“I ran by the house to get some more clothes for Lily and Rose, and I found it in our post.It must have been delivered the day before.”
“By post?”
He shakes his head, then groans.“No.He fucking hand delivered it.I guess I should be fucking relieved he thinks we’re still there.”
I guess updated software has its advantages because thanks to their lights and switches being connected to their Alexa, they are able to control their lights and television, making it believable to others that someone is home.
“We’re going to find him,” I assure him.
He throws his hands up, dropping the mouse onto the desk.“When, Reid?Fucking when?I want my wife to feel safe.The longer we are at her parents’, the more chance she has of never wanting to go back there.She loves that home.I cannot be the reason she never goes back.”
“Jaxon,” I call softly when his elbows smack down on the desk and he shoves his face into his hands.
His voice cracks when he replies.“She asks me if I’m okay.What kind of fucking man am I?She’s the one who got badly beaten, who miscarried, but it’s me she comforts when I wake up in the middle of the night and asks if I’m okay.”
