Bound by Obsession (Shadowed Souls #2)

17. Chapter Seventeen

T he shower shuts off, bringing me back to the beach house. Back to reality. I’m practically floating as Dax rises and sets me on my feet. “Let’s head down,” he refuses to let go of my waist. “If I can smell food from three floors up, Garrett definitely has too.”

We slip out just as the bathroom door opens. I don’t see Meg exit, thinking she would rather not see my face for a little while. She waited so long to have company. She showed me that her cell didn’t have any service, told me how she clung to the device each night just in case something happened to come through. And all I’ve done is given her a hard time and accused her of colluding with Nixon. I don’t think I want to see my own face for a while either.

Following Dax’s lead, we descend the two flights of stairs and do in fact find Garrett already at the head of the dining table. It’s a huge slab of polished mahogany, big enough to seat us all comfortably. I take a seat next to Garrett, Dax lowering on my other side. Axel is directly opposite and after placing down a final bowl of salad, Huxley sits on his left.

“Thanks Hux, this all looks delicious,” I smile warmly. Given that Keren and Meg weren’t expecting us, he’s managed to make a meal of buttery fried potatoes, roasted cauliflower, stuffed mushrooms and a green leaf salad. It smells incredible, infused with vinegar and garlic. I didn’t realize until this moment how sick I am of fast food and greasy diners. Standing, I pick up the plate in front of Hux and start to load it with a small portion from each bowl. “I’d hate for you to miss out on any of it.”

Smirks are passed around with the cutlery. Hux stabs a piece of potato with his fork and does his best to nibble on it, clearing his throat. “Are the others joining us?”

“Keren used some sort of voodoo on me and left,” Garret says in time with chewing. My eyes widen and fly to him.

“She’s left?! But I was in Meg’s room. She didn’t even come to say goodbye.”

“Did she say what was so urgent?” Axel frowns. I’m trying to ignore the fact he’s topless again, the panes of his chest a firm distraction. Garrett, who is currently sitting in Axel’s T-shirt, is also having a hard time keeping his eyes on his food as well, which is a feat in itself.

“Something about Nixon wanting to keep up appearances. It was hard to hear while she was prying open my soul.”

“You know Keren is my childhood therapist, right? That’s how Meg and I met.” I raise a brow. Garrett stills, fork halfway up to his open mouth. He looks like he’s been struck with a blunt object, staring dully into space.

“Well,” he sits upright and clenches his jaw. “That makes sense. I knew there was something witchy about her.” I can’t decipher the way Garrett glances at Axel, a hidden spark of light behind his dark eyes. Axel’s hazel eyes are humorous and focused on me.

“Garrett has an aversion to therapists.”

“She raped my mind,” Garrett is starting to raise his voice when Meg appears.

“Guys! My mom is gone?! I went to check in and there’s clothes and shit all over the floor!” Everyone glares at Garrett and he simply rolls his eyes. I stand, opening my arms out to my best friend.

“I know, Meg, I just heard too. I’m so sorry. Apparently your mom is following Nixon’s orders too, but she should have said goodbye. That was really shitty of her.”

“Yeah I know, but that…I don’t,” Meg shakes her head, pushing out of my hold and gripping her temples. “I’ve been here for two weeks. There’s no phone signal. How the hell did Nixon get a message to her? And she’s taken the car. What am I supposed to do when we can leave? Hide in the trunk of the SUV?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Garrett turns, dabbing his mouth on a napkin. “Avery can ride in the trunk. She loves it in there.” I smack the back of Garrett’s head. Now is not the time. Coaxing Meg to come and join us, Dax scoots over a seat so I can keep her under my arm. I watch Meg, picking at a lettuce leaf, and once again that clawing worry settles in.

We eat in silence. It’s deafening, despite the downpour pounding against the windows. Apparently Keren felt that she would risk the slippery mud trail leading to the beach house, rather than sit with us and wait for the rain to pass. How is Nixon’s influence so strong? Are we all just puppets, hooked up to his strings? Huxley’s warning from the gas station rings in my ears. I should have listened to him, but at least Meg isn’t isolated anymore. She has us now.

I glance at Huxley, who manages a few forkfuls of food. All for my benefit I assume. I finish my water and place my glass down with a light thud, just as a firm hand pushes down on my bouncing knee. I hadn’t realized I was outwardly showing the stress building within. I peer up at Garrett from beneath heavy eyelids.

“Don’t feel down Peach,” he winks at me. His thumb strokes small circles on my outer thigh. “We won’t be here forever, and I’ll make it my personal mission to ensure you’re thoroughly entertained.” I find a small smile for him, marveling at how Garrett also knows the right thing to say. “With my cock.”

I take it back.

“Ew,” Meg suddenly perks up. She’s managed to shake her anxiety for a moment, the spunky girl I know and love shining through. “Keep it behind closed doors.”

“Ugh, just when I thought I liked you.” Garret throws a carrot stick in Meg’s direction. She snorts, lifting her spoon. I manage to talk her down from the edge just before she flings a mass of stuffed mushroom back. We need to be sensible with our food. There’s no telling how quickly Garrett will eat through everything. Settling back in her seat, Meg eyes each one of my men in turn.

“So this is still happening,” Meg waves a breadstick at everyone, ending with me. I smirk and nudge her shoulder. There’s the overprotective bestie I’ve missed for weeks. Dax pushes back in his seat, humbled to high heaven since our exchange upstairs.

“It’s still happening,” Dax chuckles gently.

“And it’s working? Like the whole sharing thing,” Meg looks at each of the boys suspiciously. Axel’s boyish grin reveals his dimples and I swoon. His handsomeness should be illegal.

“It’s working just fine.” He pulls his bottom lip between his teeth, almost giving me an aneurysm. Meg assesses the expression on my face and the rest of her unease melts away.

“Well, good. I’m happy for you all.” I raise a knowing brow and Meg laughs. “I mean, I’m surprised - don’t get me wrong. It’s odd that there’s no arguing or possessiveness.”

“Oh,” Huxley snorts, “there’s definitely possessiveness.” His chocolate eyes slide to Garrett. “Some of us struggle to get a look in sometimes.” The man in question is taking a questionably sized bite of cauliflower. Shrugging, he mumbles around his food.

“I am who I am. Deal with it.”

“Well,” Meg rolls her neck so it clicks. Oh, she’s going into full defensive mode. The breadstick turns on Garrett sharply. “All I’m saying is, if you ever put Avery in a position where she is going to get her heart broken, it’ll be you who is ‘ dealing with it’ . Because my foot will be so far up your-”

“Axel sweetie, could you help me clear the table?” I flutter my lashes sweetly, belying the fact my fist is thumping Meg beneath the table. Axel smothers a laugh and immediately obliges. In fact, I think he takes great pleasure in taking Garrett’s plate out from beneath him.

“Hey! I wasn’t finished!” Garrett gives an impressive pair of puppy dog eyes but we’re already clearing away and heading to the kitchen counter. All leftovers are either stored in tubs or covered and put into the refrigerator for later. Leaning on the counter, I stare out of the window. Slanted rain obscures the view of the sea and soaks through a pair of forgotten shorts and socks hanging over the railing. The walls suddenly feel closer, now that leaving isn’t an option. It never was - Nixon has made sure of that.

Behind me, there’s vague talk of board games and the sound of movement. I thought they’d all moved into the living area until a firm body steps in behind me. The height, the strong arms that round my front, the smell of citrus and spice. I exhale and lean into Axel. He doesn’t say anything, simply holds me across my chest, his large hands curved around my shoulder blades.

The world around us fades as his warmth seeps into me, grounding me in the moment. A silent strength I’ve come to expect. After years of building myself up to not depend on others, a few months with the Shadowed Souls has brought it all crashing down. I know for a fact, I’ll never be able to go back to being alone again. I won’t survive it.

Axel’s steady heartbeat against my back is a silent promise. I can always count on his unwavering presence. In this small pocket of calm, I let go of the tension I didn’t realize I was holding, breathing out the weight of the day as he holds me close.

Sometime later, we emerge in the living area with a bottle of vintage wine in each of our hands. We’d found them in the pantry, all replicas of the ones I’m used to from Hughes Manor. I picked out a Merlot, my mom’s favorite, for me and a white option for Meg. She can’t drink red without passing out, and the board game covering the coffee table looks complicated enough. I don’t need her drooling against my shoulder as well.

To my surprise, Meg is laughing. Garrett is sitting cross-legged on a mound of cushions, holding on tightly while Dax and Huxley try to wrestle a few free for themselves. It’s a humbling scene, if only it was so simple. As soon as the rain stops, the cover of noise will fade and our awareness will return tenfold. How long will we really be safe here?

Garrett, now dethroned from his cushion tower, frowns at my lost expression. “What’s up, Peach? Not a fan of strategy games?”

“This is all so fucked up,” I blurt, not thinking first. Five looks of stunned confusion met my face. I chastise myself, knowing I should have kept my thoughts inside but it’s been a long day. My emotions feel erratic, turbulent like a wrecking ball smashing from one side of my psyche to the other. Just when I think it’s done enough damage for today, it rotates and crashes back through. Too late to take the words back now, I sigh to myself.

“You should all be free to come and go as you please. None of you would be stuck here if you weren’t associated with me.” Garrett is saying what a boring life that would be but my ears perk up at Huxley’s deep voice. He has settled on a low armchair, but his steepled fingers and narrowed eyes command my attention.

“You wouldn’t be here if we weren’t associated with you, either.” Tugging on his white T-shirt, Huxley bares the circular scar on his collar bone. “You’d have been kidnapped and who knows what else. It pains me to even think about it. There’s nowhere else we should be.”

“He’s right,” Dax nods from his spot on the floor, cushionless, and Axel chimes in.

“We’re not going anywhere you aren’t, Little Swan.” He’s placed down his wine bottles and removes mine from my hands. Sitting in the free space, Axel pulls me down into his lap, not seeming ready to let go just yet. My heart squeezes, fighting against beating. I could burst with the amount of love I feel for everyone currently in this room. My guardians, my saviors. My family.

“It’s cute that you call her that. The whole ballet and Swan thing.” Meg softly chuckles to herself, attempting to change the subject. For once, Garrett is suspiciously quiet, his gaze anywhere that I’m not. He fiddles with a small metal character on the game board, twisting his lips this way and that. Meg picks up on the shift in the air too, raising a brow at those sat opposite her. “That’s why you call her that, right? Like Swan Lake?”

“Um, well,” Huxley swallows thickly. My own eyebrows lift.

“Wait - it isn’t?!” I don’t waste my time looking around at Axel’s sheepish face or listening to Garrett’s weak ‘ of course it is ’. I lean forward to get the truth directly from Dax. He wouldn’t lie to me.

“It’s kinda, maybe not exactly where the nickname came from,” he clears his throat and looks to be struggling to phrase his thoughts properly. “There was a time, before we knew you or what you looked like, that Wyatt used to refer to you as….the ugly duckling,” he winces as he says those last three words. The guilt on his face is apparent, his fingers twitching as if he’s yearning to take my hands in his. My mouth drops open. “But then we met you and it was like…”

“Fireworks.” Garrett finishes for him. Abandoning his game piece and his cushion stack, Garrett slides across the floor to kneel beside Axel and me. My hand is wrapped in his in the next instant. “Beautiful fucking fireworks that burst into our lives. We expected you to realize you were meant for better than a group of tormented jocks. We thought you’d spread your wings and fly away, leaving us behind in the dust, but for some strange reason, you stayed. Our precious Little Swan who loves like there’s no reason not to and dances like the world doesn’t exist.”

While Axel nuzzles my neck from behind, Garrett lifts my chin with his thumb and forefinger. I can’t be angry with his playful demeanor and lovable smirk. I smile back and let him take a chaste kiss from me.

“You know that’s all bullshit charm to get his own way, right?” Meg mutters beneath her breath, yet loud enough for us all to hear. I nod, my eyes not leaving Garrett’s gleaming dark ones.

“You get used to it.”