My favourite pool is down by some of the beach huts but rarely used. It’s secluded, surrounded on all sides by thick vegetation. It feels like my own slice of paradise, especially when I enter the clearing and see the still water glistening in the sunlight. It looks cool and inviting, just what I need.
Stripping my clothes off quickly, I chuck them carelessly onto a sun lounger and stand at the water’s edge. My toes curl over the edge, and I take a moment to breathe deeply before launching myself into the pool in a sleek dive.
The water is a refreshing wake up call. I need to get my head out of my ass. Grandfather is right, I have been sulking, but that ends now. Since when has Baxter Branson ever been a victim? Never. So I’m not about to start now. Smoothly swimming laps, I take time to clear my head and come up with a plan of action.
Of course what I told Amelie is true. I will go back to Knox. I’ll finish my sentence, get my degree and graduate. Hopefully, if I tell Grandfather I want to concentrate on his businesses for a few years, he’ll let The Order stuff go, for a while at least. Plus, being close to Order HQ will put me in the best position possible to find how deep the corruption runs. I need answers. Not only about the blast, but about who targeted me and why. Can’t do that from a sun lounger sipping an Old Fashioned.
And then there’s Amelie. I guess she’s going to need someone to look out for her still. I wasn’t lying when I told Frost to trust the Knox brothers – I do trust them where she’s concerned – but do I trust them to take over the running of The Order with Amelie at the helm? I’m not sure.
They profess to love her, but they have fucked her over before. And is love enough? I’d easily argue it isn’t. Not if their daddy dearest wants to pull the strings. Let’s face it, his ‘sons’ have always been his puppets, so why would that suddenly change? I’m fairly sure Monty wanted to pull Amelie’s strings, but once he found she wasn’t so easy to control, he used his sons to do his dirty work. Sure, they might have real feelings for her, and may even love her, but would they choose Amelie over their dear father to whom they owe everything?
I think not.
So it’s decided then. I’ll go back after Easter Break, finish the school year, keep an eye on Amelie and the Knox family, find out what’s going on with The Order, and hopefully find out why someone tried to kill me. Easy.
I actually feel surprisingly better after I’m done with my swim. I think the planning helped, but I definitely need some time in the gym. That can wait til tomorrow. I won’t be any use to anyone if I start by overdoing it. I’ll grab some lunch back at my beachside pad, and then I’ll scope out the new chick and see what she’s like.
There was a disturbing lack of photos in the information Frost sent me, so I’m not sure what to expect. I’m guessing a little miniature version of cuntface Cordelia, with an equally large stick up her ass. I snort at the image. Be fun to fuck her with it though.