“I’m sorry,” I stutter, watching as my aunt walks away.
For someone so inebriated, this man moves quickly as he grabs a chunk of my hair. I can feel the strands pulling from my scalp. “You think you’re so fucking smart.”
“I don’t. I’m sorry. Please don’t do this,” I whimper as he yanks harder, forcing my body to lower slowly.
“What have you got for me today?” he groans as he rubs himself against me. Seth and I aren’t blood-related; Karen was my dad’s sister.
He’s been trying to force himself on me the last couple of years, and I don’t have the faintest idea of what’s stopping him from taking it further. I certainly wouldn’t be able to stop him if he did.
Digging through my pockets, I hand him all my tip money from the day. Slightly less than yesterday, but enough to keep him in the cheap beer and vodka he likes for the week.
In exchange for letting me stay and having access to Sawyer, they take virtually every penny to my name. The only reason I can afford to go to college part-time is because of scholarships. I receive my diploma at the end of the semester, and I’ve already got a job lined up to manage one of the fanciest establishments in town, besides the Cardi—a restaurant tailored to the very wealthy. I just need to survive until then. I have a plan; I only need to stick with it.
“This it?” Using my hair as leverage, Seth bangs my head off the wall so hard I see stars.
“Yes. That’s everything. It was slow today.” Prepared to raise my hands to protect my face if he lashes out, I’m surprised when he only throws me across the room, tearing a chunk of hair from my scalp. Despite the burning agony of ripped flesh, I don’t move. I know better. I stay where I am until he returns to the living room.
“Keep that Adair away from my son.” I count to sixty before soundlessly scrambling to my feet and dashing up the stairs.
Slipping into Sawyer's room, I find him cowered under his blankets, and I hate it. I hate his parents. I hate how trapped I feel. And now, just when I thought we might have a way out, I’m ordered to keep Sawyer away from him.
Holden could have been our answer. Instead, he’s likely damned me to closer scrutiny.
Chapter3
Holden
For three hours, I waited on Noelle to get in touch with me. I sent multiple messages and called her a couple of times. It all went to voicemail. I shouldn’t be pissed; she doesn’t know me from Adam. Sure, we spent the afternoon together, but we didn’t really talk a lot. It was mostly about entertaining Sawyer. Tonight, I intend to change that.
Pulling into my parents' driveway—I only live a mile down the road—I have half a plan in place if only they’ll agree. I’m barely through the door before I hear my mother.
“In the kitchen, Holden!” I don’t know how she does it, but she always knows who is here.
“Hey, Mom.” I kiss her cheek before reaching into a cupboard for a mug. After pouring my coffee, I sit at the island like I did as a kid.
Turning from the stove, she gives me her full attention. “How are you, son?”
“Fine.”
“But…”
I give a half-smile because the woman is good. “I need a favor.”
“What kind?” My dad—King—the head of the Adair Empire, the man I respect more than any other in this world, walks in behind my mother.
Never afraid to show affection, he wraps his arms around her waist and kisses along the side of her neck. The same way I did with Noelle last night.
“I met a girl,” I say, knowing it’ll pull them apart.
They don’t disappoint.
“Seriously?” Mom’s eyes light up. For years, she’s been bugging me about finding someone to settle down with. If she knew my secrets, I suspect I wouldn’t have gotten the same badgering.
“Yeah. Noelle Rose.”
“Do you have a picture?” She leans forward.
Plucking my phone from my pocket, I swipe through the images I’ve taken of Noelle over the past month to find one of her laughing at something a little girl said to her.