Page 24 of Hers To Keep
“No, but I’m already in too deep. I had no say in it, Drake, and as someone who has witnessed firsthand how dangerous it can be, I’m begging you to heed my warning. I care too much about you to see you end up hurt, or worse.”
He scoffs, “Please, don’t patronize me with some bullshit lie. I don’t get it, Scar. You never were one to give up. You were not the type of girl to throw in the towel, to stop fighting for what’s right.” He steps back, leaning on the couch. “What’s changed?”
I can feel the air thicken as the tension between us grows. “So much, Drake,” I whisper, but I know he heard me. “But I promise you, everything I’m doing is to make sure you are all safe. Wesley Servite is a dangerous man, more than you could ever imagine. If I dare to go against him, I’d be doomed before I even fought back.”
“And what about Ace? He’s his nephew, Scar. The apple doesn’t fall far from the family tree.”
“Ace is…” I can see the pain in his eyes as I mention Ace’s name. I know he doesn’t want to hear it, but I need to say it. “This thing I have with Ace, I can’t explain what it is, but it’s not something I can choose to fight against. It’s impossible for me to deny that whatever it is, doesn’t completely consume me. I don’t want to hurt you, Drake, but if I step away from him, I’d be hurting myself.” I step forward, his body stiffening as I do. “Drake, you will always be an important part of my life, but we’d both be fooling ourselves if we tried to make things work between us. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“It’s too late for that, Scar,” he mutters, my heart breaking with every word he speaks. “But it is what it is, and I won’t hold it against you. You know what you’re doing and if you don’t, you’ll figure it out the hard way. I won’t hold my breath on it anymore.”
“I just came to make sure you were okay. I’ll never be able to forget what happened to you because of me. Which is why I should stay away from you.” His eyes turn somber at my admittance, but he nods his head accordingly. Deep down I know he won’t understand my reasons, but he also knows there is nothing he can do to change my mind.
“I hope you find what you’re looking for with him, Scarlett. Because despite everything, you fucking deserve it.” At his sorrowful confession, I break. I reach out to hug him, burying my head in his chest as his arms come around to hold me, and we stand there for what feels like hours before I step back, realizing I need to get away.
“I’ll see you around, Damon Drake.”
“Always, Scarlett Steele.”
Chapter
Fifteen
ACE
My last attempt at finding out why my uncle has been acting so paranoid failed miserably. Eli Hargrove walked away in one piece after my meeting with him at The Gallows was interrupted by the dragon boy. What I found out is someone is in fact blackmailing my Uncle Wesley, and I’m determined to discover who it is.
So, of course I went snooping around his office and found a letter mailed to him, with no postmark, and no return address. It was folded and stashed away in one of the secret compartments of his bookcase, which I’ve seen him open countless times. Written in a dark red ink across the parchment was an uncanny message directed to him.
Counting down the days until your empire plummets at your feet and you burn in the flames you so futilely threaten to ignite. The flames of the hell youdeserve to perish in, as a punishment for the unforgivable sins you’ve committed.
Treason. Arson. Solicitation of Minors. Kidnapping. Assault. Murder. You, Wesley Servite, are condemned, and I will be your prosecutor.
May the gods have mercy on you.
I read the note repeatedly, as I drive to Eli Hargrove’s office, hoping to come across some kind of clue who it is that’s blackmailing Wesley. I’ve come alone, gotten myself a room to stay in at a hotel near the office, in hopes of surveilling it for a few days before making my move and approaching Mr. Hargrove.
Since I’ve kept the guys out of this one, not wanting to compromise them or their commitment to my uncle, I’ve driven out here alone. I know Bass is having his doubts like I am about our loyalty to the cause, and honestly, he’d be the first one to stand by my side and help with this, but his father is still a close friend and ally to my uncle. I, in no way, want to put Bass’s future in jeopardy.
Beckett has never been one to agree with what we do, and I feel he honestly just follows along hoping to keep us out of as much trouble as possible. He’d also be on board one hundred percent. Although, for my safety, he’d probably try to talk me out of this plan, but it’s
Alek that worries me. Aleksander Smoak lets his ego and narcissistic attitude get in the way more times than not. I doubt he’d understand why I need to do this. He’ll see it as a betrayal to our family, to my uncle. I already know he’s not fond of Scarlett, or any of her friends for that matter, so I’m not sure I can fully trust him.
Which is why I’m alone, in a rental car, parked across the street of Eli Hargrove’s office. My family’s accountant, who my unclesuspected of blackmail, does not have a clever bone in his body. He is nothing but a coward with loose lips the moment his life is at risk, and I’m counting on that.
During our last chat, Eli told me he’d get me a list of his employees, clients, and people who would have direct contact to his offices, but his secretary has yet to send it over. He also mentioned having a sign-in and sign-out log for the time he was out of the office where someone could have snuck into his office and taken the stationery to send whatever blackmail threats Wesley’s received. His cooperation is crucial in my quest to find out more about who this mystery blackmailer is, but I’d be foolish to trust him. So I’m conducting my investigation and surveilling his office in hopes I see someone I recognize.
Let the stakeout begin.
It’s been three days,and nothing. I don’t know why I’ve stayed this long. Hargrove’s business is more pathetic than he is, with hardly any clients ever visiting his office. No one comes or goes. If I’m being honest, that makes things even more suspicious. So the time has come for me to approach Mr. Hargrove and force him to make good on his deal.
I step out of the rental and cross the street toward Hargrove’s office. It is located at the city border of Hillcrest Hills and our neighboring town of Galen Grove, in an industrial looking building with concrete walls and a large glass double door at the front entrance.
I sneakily enter the building walking inside and up to the front counter where I find a red-haired woman sitting behind the receptionist desk. Her back is to me as she sits in a rolling chair, a corded phone to her ear. I take advantage of her distraction to sneak into the back offices, tiptoeing down the long hallway to theright, where I find four doors leading into what I assume are larger offices.
The building inside is equally bland as its exterior, with sandstone floors and dull gray walls. At the end of the hall sits a small fir tree that has seen better days, and a lone portrait of the city’s capital building in the town center.
“Eenie meenie, miney moe.” None of the doors have names on the outside, so I take my pick and enter through the one closest to my right, not bothering to knock. The door unlocks easily but to my surprise, the office is occupied, though not by the man I am here for.