“I can’t take any of the credit for that, I bought it that way. Come on.”
Carrying her case, I lead her inside, pointing out rooms as we go. She doesn’t say anything and follows me up the stairs to the spare bedroom. For some reason, I’m not quite sure of, I point out my bedroom, then take her a couple of doors down to one of the spares.
It’s the only one that has furniture in and the bed is made. Occasionally one of my siblings will visit so I make sure there is a roomready. It’s been a while since I saw any of them. With this task Nero has set me, I’ll be seeing my eldest brother soon enough.
Charley enters the room cautiously and looks around. I lean against the door frame after setting her case down and letting her in.
“Bathrooms there, you have your own, but if you need it, the main bathroom is just opposite.”
“Thanks,” she turns again, so she is facing me. “You didn’t need to do this. I was fine, I’ve lived there for weeks.”
“And you’re lucky nothing has happened to you. Don’t even think about going back there, Charley.”
Her fists clench and she takes a few breaths. “It’s the only place I can afford.”
“That isn’t somewhere that a person who isn’t a criminal, a junkie, or a hooker lives, Charley. I won’t let you go back there.”
“What am I supposed to do? I can’t stay here.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask why not, but I guess she is right about that. “We’ll figure something out, but you’re not going back there. Don’t argue,” I cut her off before she can get her words out. “There are places you can stay, and we can sort out rent and shit with you. It’s not like we don’t trust you, Charley.”
She still wants to argue but after another look around and seeing my expression she agrees.
“Until then, you’re welcome to stay here, there is no one else in the house and I’m out a lot of the time so just treat it like your own.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Okay,” I say it in a way that means I absolutely do not agree with what she just said and she gives me a look that says she’s not entirely happy with me. “Door has a lock,” I tell her, she chews on the inside of her cheek but doesn’t say anything. “It’s late, I don’t know about you but it’s been a shit of a day. Everything you need is in the bathroom. Help yourself to food and whatever in the kitchen. I’ll sort out your car in the morning.”
“Nashville, you have done enough.”
“Not enough if you ask me.”
“What?”
“Charley, you were dragging a heavy dresser in front of the door to keep yourself safe. And I nearly had to kick the shit out of the two pricks who were trying to get in. This is the least I can do.”
For a moment she looks like she is going to say something but I guess she is overwhelmed so just says she is tired and thanks me in a quiet voice.
It’s probably best not to tell her I’ll be giving her the keys to the SUV until her car is fixed. Instead I say goodnight and head to my room for a shower. It really has been a long fucking day. And one I never thought was going to end with a hot blonde under my roof.
Get your head out of the fucking gutter. She just went through something traumatic, and God knows how long she has been living on edge going in and out of that hellhole. How the fuck did Beast not recognize that address when they took her on? The Disciples know it all too well.
Which reminds me, I fire off a text to Rebel telling him what happened. Word might get back I was down there and I don’t want anyone getting any surprises. I don’t tell him why but at least I’ve filled him in.
I try not to think about her while I shower, wondering what she is doing down there, whether she’s taking her own shower or is plotting how to escape. Not like I’ve kidnapped her or anything but I get the sense her pride his hurt. Why else would she pretend she doesn’t live there. No one wants to admit things are that bad.
Makes sense why she wants to dance so bad. Beast pays all the staff well, but no one gets what the dancers get, on top of what Elegance pays them, they get to keep all their tips.
I’m caught in this weird feeling of anger at her for thinking it was okay to live there, to awe that she has managed to make it there this long, and semi-arousal at the thought of her sleeping in my house. That last one makes me feel a touch of disgust for myself so instead of dwelling on it, I go downstairs and grab a glass of juice and a left over taco, set the security system and go back to bed.
If she tries to sneak out, she’ll set off the alarm. Charley isn’t stupid, she knows better than to do that. Even if she is pissed about it, she knows this is a better deal.
There is no sound from her room as I pass so I’m assuming she is asleep or in bed at least. While I eat, I think about what happened with Beast earlier.
Despite telling Charley it’s nothing unusual, it really fucking is. I’m not sure Beast has ever fucked Ellie before. We all know she does it, and Nero uses her a lot to get information out of people, like a honey trap, Ellie is happy to do it, no one coerces her into anything.
Fucking Beast is a weird one. Of course I didn’t let on I’d seen him fucking her, or that I caught Charley spying on them. We talked about Tink. Or I asked a lot of questions he refused to answer. Fuck knows what Raven did with the kid after I left. That’s a problem for another day. Or someone else.
