"One will be over today; he's bringing the PI and you'll have a lot of answers. Reese is coming with him, so you need to be ready for her too."
"Oh, come on. I look like death or at least ran over by a rig." I run my fingers over my face.
She sighs. "The hardest thing to overcome is how we see ourselves. I see a beautiful woman in front of me and happen to know, I'm not the only person that does."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Umm, nothing. Listen, I gotta run but we'll be in touch later this evening." She hesitates. "You have no idea how hard this is on us, to have you so close but not be able to hold you until all of this is over."
"No, don't. I understand, I really do. We can't take the chance of him finding me and if he's following you, he'll watch your every move." I shudder as a chill crawls over me, there's no question what he'd do right now if he found me.
"You're right and keeping you safe from harm is what's most important right now or getting his ass locked up."
I snicker. "I'm so happy you're so optimistic about that but I don't foresee it happening. He always gets a pass and I'm afraid he'll get out of this too."
"Not if your family has anything to say about, Harper. His ass is a had lad if he gets near you this time. You're safe, and his time has come. He needs a 'come to Jesus meetin'' and I for one, would be thrilled to give him his just dues."
I blow out a heavy breath. "Me too, but Weston hasn't paid dues since his parents died and he inherited all of his money."
"He's not in Charleston anymore, there's a reckoning coming for Weston Carver." Scout growls, her words laced with venom.
"I hope so." Chills race over me. "Has ah- has Landon spoken to Ridge?"
"Yeah, like every day, several times a day. Is there a reason you were asking?"
"Uh, no. Not really. I mean, yeah, but no." I bury my face in my hand. "I was wondering if he might come by, check in or something. Maybe say 'hi' or want to catch up, but I guess that's a bad idea with the way I look. It's bad enough his sister has to look at me. Then again, she might have told him, and he's decided to stay away. I'm not sure, just wondering."
"I can see that; you've given this some thought." She pauses, giving me time to realize I rambled like a loon.
"I'm sorry, I sound like a teen with her crush."
"It was cute, though slightly awkward." Scout snickers, inducing me with her laughter.
"Fine! I know how I sounded, I'm a proud dork."
"Alright, I need to run. Try to get some rest today." Scout's the best; she doesn't say what she wants but exactly what needs to be. "Take some time to make a list of immediate needs and wants, since shopping in person isn't possible."
A pang hits me just below my belly button. "Another thing he's managed to rob me of for the time being. I've went from prisoner to hostage. Except, I have no clue why I'm the one paying this price."
"I hope you can see the bigger picture here, babe. It's not the best of terms, but you were under a life sentence before. Now you have a chance to live." Scout's words have never rung truer.
I roll my shoulders, releasing my pent-up frustration. "You're right. A few months of living in the lap of luxury is an insignificant price to pay for forever."
"Bless her, Jesus! Go forth and feed yourself." She's silly but the smile I need. "Love you."
"Love you, girl." I end the call, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. Even the slightest move of my body brings forth a reign of hellfire and brimstone.
Every muscle screams as they burn from usage of any kind. My lungs are but a torch atop of my rib cage that seems to be molten lava begging to flow freely.
"For the love of champagne and chocolates, soften yet another blow he has delivered to me." I will myself to stand, there's no other word for how I did it.
The painstaking journey to the other side of the room is harder than I first thought it would be, but I had to do it. It's where the chair is with my duffle bag of clothes sits.
"You had to be the furthest point in the room from the bed, didn't you?" I amble to the white linen covered seat, sitting next to the floor to ceiling doors that open to the balcony.
I reach in to grab some clothes and something catches my eye at the far corner of the property. My pulse races, but instead of heat flooding me, a chill runs through my entire body.
"Oh, God, no! He's found me." I clutch at my throat when my vocal chords seize, following the lead of my frozen muscles. I can't move. I can't even scream for help.
Suddenly, Aksel appears at the back gate. He seems relaxed as he walks toward the other man. As if the cement around my feet has broken away, I hurry to the window, ready to yell for help.
Aksel approaches the man with ease, greeting him with a fist bump. They're far enough out that I can't make out who it is, when it finally dawns on me where I am.
"That's our barn." Once again, my pulse races, but for entirely different reasons. I huddle closer to the window; I spot the old oak tree on the other side of the field.
I lay my hand on my chest as I gasp. "No way. It's not possible he remembered all of this or am I reading too much into all of this. Surely there's an explanation."
The longer I stare at the tree, I envision us playing around it. The swing is still there, as is the house we built in it. Landon, Ridge, and I spent tireless days and a few nights playing with this tree.
Until Ridge and I figured out we weren't related, and I wasn't a cool guy with long hair. We were sixteen and bullace wine was in abundance around these parts.
"The sight of a barn and an old tree swing has me floating in memories of Ridge. It didn't even take a half bottle of wine to get me in his arms this time either. Why in the hell didn't we just say how we felt, instead of letting it get away?" I shake my head free of the thoughts of Ridge.
Turning back to my clothes, I know this is not the time for us. "There may never be one either, at least, not right now."
After a long hot shower, I ready myself for One and the private investigator. I have a million questions; I can't decide where to start. Maybe they'll have more information and some of my questions will answer themselves.
I meander down the stairs, making my way toward the kitchen. I have a ferocious hunger growing; I hope there's food in here. I round the corner to find Emerson.
"Mornin,' I wasn't sure you were up." She smiles, pouring a glass of orange juice.
I point to the cabinets. "Glass?"
"Here ya go, I was about to ask, anyway." She slides the glass toward me, turning to get another out.
"Thank you, but you know you don't have to wait on me hand and foot, right?"
She sits her glass down after sipping it. "I do but I don't mind and it's not forever."
"Scout called." I pull the fridge door open, scanning the contents. "There's so much food in here! Who were you buying all of this for?"
"I don't have a clue, he's weird." She half shrugs.
My eyes dart to hers. "Ridge did this?"