Chapter Thirteen
Finn
It’s been three weeks since the wedding, and I still can’t find Ashton. He’s disappeared into thin air, and no matter what tools I’ve used, we can’t track him down. I even ended up calling Dean O’Connell to get Marc to track Ashton down. It’s been hell trying to find him, and I doubt it’ll get easier, so I’ve called in all the resources I need.
Fuck, this is nothing but a headache I don’t need. It’s been a rough few weeks. Hell, that would be a drastic understatement. I’ve come to the realization, there’s no saving Ashton from himself. I can’t save the memory of the kid he used to be, no matter how hard I want to. The truth of the matter is he hasn’t been my little brother in a very long time. Instead, he’s been this monster. I’ve always wanted to keep him safe, but in doing so, I’m hurting other people and I can’t stand it any longer. I’m being too selfish and it needs to stop.
After the wedding, Olivia came to stay with me in Corpus Christi. It’s been convenient and nice not to have to go back and forth to New Orleans every couple of days. Since she’s been here, I’ve shown her around Corpus Christi and the surrounding areas. We’ve even been able to have a few dates since being here, walked on the beach, had some nice food, and every experience has been great. It’s been good to see her like this. It only makes me envision how life will be when she is my wife. Not only that, but she was able to spend a girls’ day with Leo’s sister, Mia, when she came to stay at the house for a couple days.
The first night Olivia stayed with me, she asked why I let her stay with me. I didn’t know what to say when she said that. I mean, could I have ever expected those words to come from her mouth? It seemed a bit crazy, so I asked her why I wouldn’t let her stay? I ended up telling her she’s always welcome in my home because it will soon beours, and for her brothers’ peace of mind as well. She always keeps to herself and mainly goes to the beach during her time here. If I’m not with her, Casen is watching over her like a hawk.
When Mia was here for the weekend, Olivia seemed a bit off. Her personality was more reserved and she wasn’t communicating with me much. So, I went up and confronted her about it. It turns out, she was feeling a bit insecure and asked me if I’ve ever been with Mia. I told her I hadn’t, and I’ve never even touched Mia. She’s like a sister to me and I wouldn’t ever think about her in a sexual manner. The woman has been through her own form of torture in life. The scars she bears are proof of it. One of her scars runs along her cheek. Fuck, she’s been through some intense shit. Even so, she’s in love with a man she thinks can’t love her. All because she’s marred by her past.
Other than those two nights where Olivia was having girl time with Mia, she and I spent a lot of time together. Most of it in the bedroom, of course, where I explored her body in every aspect. I’ve had my tongue on every inch of her skin. She still hasn’t told me what happened, but I can put the pieces together. It’s why I’ve been extra gentle with her.
For the most part, I’ve given her the control I believe she needs, yet at the same time, I’m keeping my dominant hand firmly around her. Fuck, an image of her riding me in our bed back home pops into my mind, and I’m stuck sucking in a sharp breath. My cock grows hard at the memory but now is not the time.
After finishing up my meetings yesterday, we came back to New Orleans. Félix came home from his honeymoon with his new bride after spending nearly three weeks touring all of France, and the over-the-top bastard took her to Italy. They stayed at Leo’s villa for a few days before coming back home.
Tonight Olivia made sure I knew it was a girls’ night. She and Madelaine were spending the evening drinking and possibly going dancing. I’m glad she’s doing this. She needs girl time and can take as much as she needs, as long as she knows Casen will still be shadowing her the entire time. After the wedding incident, I won’t ever trust her in Mason’s hands anymore. Not after my brother got close to her, and we all know the possibilities would’ve been endless if she hadn’t screamed.
Hell, I still get furious when I think back to that day. To how Mason didn’t intervene, how he allowed this to happen. When Olivia and I are married, he won’t be allowed to so much as look in her direction. Not with how badly he fucked up.
While the girls have a night out, Félix and I decided we’d meet up at Diamond Dancers to catch up. We’ve been here for a couple of hours and things are going great. Little did I realize I need time to decompress too.
Though, our night hasn’t been all flowers and butterflies. Olivia’s brother told me something that happened two years ago, and now I understand why she cowered, flinched, and seems afraid in certain circumstances. It’s cause she’s been through hell, and now I feel guilty for handling her the way I have when it comes to our sex life.
The two of us are sitting in the booth, drinking, when my phone buzzes with a text from Casen, telling me that Olivia and Madelaine were leaving the club they’re at because Olivia seemed upset.
Fuck.
I try to call her, but she doesn’t answer.
“Everything okay?” Félix asks.
“No, Casen just said Olivia and Madelaine are leaving the club, and she seems upset,” I mutter, not liking the fact she’s upset or that she’s not answering the phone.
“Who, Mads, or Liv?” he questions.
“Olivia,” I keep my answer short as I text her.
“I’m sure she’s fine,” he says, lifting his scotch to his lips. The waitress left the bottle on the table for us so we wouldn’t be bothered. Rémy even joined us for a few minutes before he went to do rounds and check on the dancers backstage.
I’m tempted to head out and go find Olivia, but a wave of long brunette hair pulls my attention away. Lo and behold, it’s her. The stressed way she’s pursing her lips has me wary as she approaches the booth.
When she and Madelaine get to the table, Olivia picks up the bottle of scotch, takes my glass, pours some in it, and then throws it at her brother.
“What the hell, Olivia?” Félix yells, holding his arms out. Olivia pours more and then does the same thing again.
“That’s for telling Finn something you had no right to tell him. How dare you,” she screams.
Félix looks over at Madelaine. “Did you tell her I was talking to him tonight?”
Madelaine cocks her head and rolls her eyes. “Of course I did. She has every right to know, Félix.”
“I’ll deal with you later, fuck. She didn’t need to know shit. I’m just trying to protect her!” he snaps at his now wife, slides out of his side of the booth, and stands. Félix heads over to his sister. “Who do you think you’re talking to?”
I follow his lead, but only to pull Olivia against my side. She has every right to be angry at him. “It’s her story to tell, and it wasn’t yours.”