Page 29 of Bloodstained Wings
It would be much worse if they get the impression that mysterious men are lined up at the door while Carter is away. I could be overthinking it all, but I make the reckless decision to unlock the door and open it up.
Rich’s face softens when he sees me, his entire demeanor harmless and relaxed. “Hey, Isabella. I’m looking for Carter. He wanted to meet up right after he took a look at the docks. Is he awake yet? If not, I can wait here until he does.”
“No, he’s back yet. Come on inside, though,” I sigh. “We can wait together.”
He stares up at the dauntingly tall foyer as if looking for laser beams that are going to zap him into oblivion if he steps inside. “Do you think he’d be okay with that, ma’am?” he asks cautiously. “I’m trying to stay on his good side. Is this a trap or…”
“No, it’s not,” I assure him. “Come on in. I’ll make some tea, and we can wait for him in the living room.”
He shrugs at his defeat, coming inside the house and taking a look around. There’s hardly much furniture set up in the living room, and it’s not exactly a cozy feeling, given that this house takes up the same space as the entire apartment building where I just moved from. It’s a massive space with so little inside of it. I decide not to bring the issue up to Carter.
I’m sure, with all his daunting, overbearingness lately, that he will go ahead and fill this place with new furniture without checking in with me first.
Just like how he bought this place without telling me his idea, but I digress.
Rich sits down on the couch, and I go to the kitchen to heat some water. I return and choose the chair, waiting for the water to boil so I can steep the tea into the kettle. I sink into the chair and pull my legs to my chest, sulking over the reason I had fallen asleep in tears. Carter is nearly more unhinged than I’ve ever seen before.
But I don’t understand why.
William and Jacob were the reason he was so afraid for me before, but they’re gone now.
How is one journalist making him more chaotic than the threat against our lives every day?
“I love this house,” Rich says, attempting to make small talk. “It’s lovely.”
“It’s okay,” I sigh.
His eyes narrow. “You don’t like it?”
“I do. I just didn’t have a hand in picking it. Carter can be a bit trigger-happy at times. If I don’t make a decision quick enough, he will.”
“He probably just has your better interest in mind,” he replies.
I can’t help but shake my head at his stance. “So, you agree with Carter? You think this was a good idea?”
“Well, I can’t say something like that or not. I don’t know either of you very well. I do know that Carter is a smart businessman. He’s very determined to grow his empire in Manhattan. I doubt he makes moves to hurt you, seeing that you’re his family, and he doesn’t want to hurt his family.”
“We aren’t married or anything.”
“Yeah, but everyone can see that he cares for you. He’s protective, and for a good reason. I know better than anyone that Jacob and William were not to be crossed without repercussions. Their behavior took a toll on you, I’m sure of that. Everyone knows about my brother’s obsession with you.”
I swallow hard, recalling the memory. “You knew about that?”
“Only after the fact,” he admits. “I’ve been taking care of my sick mother for years. It wasn’t until someone on the Lacey side of the family reached out and spilled all the gossip. My brother has a history of wanting things he can’t have. I don’t doubt that he tried to get too close, and it wound up getting him killed. It doesn’t concern me too much. I’d been at my mother’s bedside for too long to even maintain a relationship with him or my father.”
Hugging my legs tighter to my chest, I see a glint of pain in his eyes; I know the feeling too well. “Your mother is sick?”
“Terminally,” he replies. “I’ve been with her through it all, but it’s not getting much better. She’s slipping away slowly. It’s hard to watch, but it’s better that I’m there.”
“I understand that feeling,” I admit. “My father has been sick for a long time. I quit college and moved back to the city to be near him.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that. It’s hard, isn’t it? Feels like you have no choice but to watch them deteriorate. You can’t help them or stop the sickness, so you feel helpless.”
I inch to the edge of my seat. “Yeah, you’re right. It’s like you can help them with anything else in the whole world, but you can’t take their pain away. You just sit there, powerless.”
He offers a sincere grin. “It’s nice to know someone going through the same thing as me,” he admits. “I do enjoy that. It’s nice to know we’re not totally alone.”
“I agree.”