because I knew I would never have the strength to do it.
Chapter 6
E lla
I was in shock. I’d learned enough in medical school to know that. I was shaking, and I felt freezing cold as I leaned into Nick’s warm body. While I wanted to forget what I’d seen, I knew I would never forget that sight as long as I lived.
“I’m sorry,” Nick murmured into my hair. “I’m so sorry, Ella.”
I didn’t know what he was apologizing for. For letting me see what happened to Darren? For refusing to do anything to help him?
“What for?”
The question seemed to surprise him, but after a moment, he said, “For letting you see the real me.”
I didn’t know what he meant, and I was too tired to try and work it out.
“Let’s get inside.” As Nick led me back into the bar, I was vaguely aware of Jackson staring at us.
Someone had put the music back on, but the mood was still subdued. Nick ordered drinks, and when he handed me mine I gulped it down.
The next hour or so passed in a blur. I kept drinking. I just wanted to forget everything, and the alcohol helped.
I was pretty wasted by the time Chad came up to us. “Are you okay, Ella? I guess that sort of thing is hard for outsiders to see.”
He wasn’t kidding.
“You got that right,” I said, and reached for my drink.
Chad frowned. “She’s drunk.”
“I am still here you know.” I took a large swallow of my drink to prove it.
“She just needs to blow off a little steam,” Nick said to Chad.
“Yeah, I’m just blowing off steam that’s all,” I said and then giggled.
“Aw, man. Victor’s told me to bring her to him. I can’t do that if she’s drunk.”
“So ask Victor to wait until tomorrow. Tell him she saw the thing with Darren and freaked out.”
“No!” I couldn’t believe I’d been so stupid. This was going to be my chance with Victor. I needed to be focused and clearheaded not drunk! Maybe it was more sensible to wait until tomorrow, but I’d been waiting for so long that I couldn’t miss this opportunity.
I did my best to act sober, which wasn’t easy. “I’m fine. I’m not that drunk. I was just a little shaken up. I want to see Victor. I have to see him.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Ella,” Nick said, looking at me doubtfully.
“Please, Nick. Don’t stand in my way.”
He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “Are you sure you want to do this now?”
I nodded vigorously. “I’ve never been surer of anything.”
He held out his hand and pulled me down from the barstool. “Okay then, Ella. Let’s go.”
Chapter 7
M y heart was thudding inside my chest. This was it. I was finally going to meet Victor Blackthorne.
As soon as Victor’s fierce eyes focused on me, I felt my stomach churn. Suddenly this didn’t seem like a good idea. I wanted to spin around and get the hell out of there. Fast.
Victor wasn’t as tall or bulky as Tom or Chad, but he still terrified me. There was something about the weight of his assessing stare and those thick, dark eyebrows that made it looked as if he was always frowning.
My mouth was dry, and I could feel beads of sweat forming in the small of my back. I looked behind me, searching for Nick, needing to see his face again to give me the courage to go on. But I didn’t see him. Instead, my gaze clashed with Jackson’s.
Jackson’s mouth was twisted in a mocking smile, and his blue eyes glinted dangerously. I tried to stop myself from trembling and turned back to face Victor.
Victor Blackthorne had smooth tanned skin, but that just served to highlight the pale, silvery scar that ran down his cheek. I wondered how he’d gotten it and shivered. Who had dared to take on Victor Blackthorne? I had a feeling the other guy had probably come off worse.
Victor’s face was stony. He sat in a high-backed chair as if it was a throne, and he was king of all he surveyed, which I supposed he was in a way.
The only thought racing through my mind on repeat was how
Chapter 6
E lla
I was in shock. I’d learned enough in medical school to know that. I was shaking, and I felt freezing cold as I leaned into Nick’s warm body. While I wanted to forget what I’d seen, I knew I would never forget that sight as long as I lived.
“I’m sorry,” Nick murmured into my hair. “I’m so sorry, Ella.”
I didn’t know what he was apologizing for. For letting me see what happened to Darren? For refusing to do anything to help him?
“What for?”
The question seemed to surprise him, but after a moment, he said, “For letting you see the real me.”
I didn’t know what he meant, and I was too tired to try and work it out.
“Let’s get inside.” As Nick led me back into the bar, I was vaguely aware of Jackson staring at us.
Someone had put the music back on, but the mood was still subdued. Nick ordered drinks, and when he handed me mine I gulped it down.
The next hour or so passed in a blur. I kept drinking. I just wanted to forget everything, and the alcohol helped.
I was pretty wasted by the time Chad came up to us. “Are you okay, Ella? I guess that sort of thing is hard for outsiders to see.”
He wasn’t kidding.
“You got that right,” I said, and reached for my drink.
Chad frowned. “She’s drunk.”
“I am still here you know.” I took a large swallow of my drink to prove it.
“She just needs to blow off a little steam,” Nick said to Chad.
“Yeah, I’m just blowing off steam that’s all,” I said and then giggled.
“Aw, man. Victor’s told me to bring her to him. I can’t do that if she’s drunk.”
“So ask Victor to wait until tomorrow. Tell him she saw the thing with Darren and freaked out.”
“No!” I couldn’t believe I’d been so stupid. This was going to be my chance with Victor. I needed to be focused and clearheaded not drunk! Maybe it was more sensible to wait until tomorrow, but I’d been waiting for so long that I couldn’t miss this opportunity.
I did my best to act sober, which wasn’t easy. “I’m fine. I’m not that drunk. I was just a little shaken up. I want to see Victor. I have to see him.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Ella,” Nick said, looking at me doubtfully.
“Please, Nick. Don’t stand in my way.”
He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “Are you sure you want to do this now?”
I nodded vigorously. “I’ve never been surer of anything.”
He held out his hand and pulled me down from the barstool. “Okay then, Ella. Let’s go.”
Chapter 7
M y heart was thudding inside my chest. This was it. I was finally going to meet Victor Blackthorne.
As soon as Victor’s fierce eyes focused on me, I felt my stomach churn. Suddenly this didn’t seem like a good idea. I wanted to spin around and get the hell out of there. Fast.
Victor wasn’t as tall or bulky as Tom or Chad, but he still terrified me. There was something about the weight of his assessing stare and those thick, dark eyebrows that made it looked as if he was always frowning.
My mouth was dry, and I could feel beads of sweat forming in the small of my back. I looked behind me, searching for Nick, needing to see his face again to give me the courage to go on. But I didn’t see him. Instead, my gaze clashed with Jackson’s.
Jackson’s mouth was twisted in a mocking smile, and his blue eyes glinted dangerously. I tried to stop myself from trembling and turned back to face Victor.
Victor Blackthorne had smooth tanned skin, but that just served to highlight the pale, silvery scar that ran down his cheek. I wondered how he’d gotten it and shivered. Who had dared to take on Victor Blackthorne? I had a feeling the other guy had probably come off worse.
Victor’s face was stony. He sat in a high-backed chair as if it was a throne, and he was king of all he surveyed, which I supposed he was in a way.
The only thought racing through my mind on repeat was how
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