Chapter 95

Neil is waiting for an answer. He’s in one of those controlling moods of his. He won’t move until I give him what he wants. Usually, I find this kind of thing unbearably sexy, but right now, I just feel kind of put on the spot.

“If you had just let me give Tide the money he needed, then he wouldn’t have gotten hurt,” I say.

Neil shakes his head. His gaze softens with pity. He’s looking at me like I’m too young and naïve to fully understand life. “If you had given him the money, he would have blown it and still been in trouble.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Tide’s comes from a long line of gambling addicts, Chloe. Their downfall is one of their own design, and has been in the making for many years. If they had more control, they wouldn’t be in this problem.”

I shake my head. “Gambling addiction is a disease… They need help.”

“Giving them money is not the help they need. Whatever their addiction is, it isn’t anyone’s problem but their own. And it’s certainly not on your shoulders.”

He’s saying the words with a crass indifference, but at the same time, I know he’s only telling me this in an attempt to comfort me.

“I’d still like to go see him,” I say.

Neil finally turns from me. Over his shoulder, he says, “Don’t worry about Tide. Just move on from him and that entire situation.”

He starts walking toward the car. I hurry to keep up.

“But shouldn’t I go to the police or something? Since I know what the guys look like, who threatened Tide before?”

Neil stops so short I nearly walk right into the back of him. He turns around and grips my forearm with his strong hand.

“Don’t,” he says, frowning. “I’m serious, Chloe. I know you like to fight against me. But in this instance, do not do that. Don’t go to the police. Don’t look for those guys. Don’t even think about them.”

“But –”

“Who they are. Who they work for. They are above the law. Do you understand?”

I don’t. Not fully. This is another caveat of being wealthy. Even the rules of law and order work differently when there’s enough money involved.

Neil watches me with a hard expression. He almost looks… worried.

“Okay,” I say. “I get it.”

That eases him somewhat. His grip loosens on my arm.

“Don’t ask about this again,” he says as he leads me to the car.

I don’t know if I’m quite ready to give up seeing Tide, but, for now, I can stop asking Neil like he wants.

He drives me back to the Pyramid in silence, then drops me off at the back door. At least he doesn’t make me walk, I guess. Though it’s still just one more insult.

Make out with me behind closed doors. Feign distance in the daylight.

I have to stop letting them get away with it.

That night, while I’m watching Mia in my room, I practice some of my warrior moves, if only so I can keep them fresh. I’m not doing anything overly vigorous, just practicing stances and throwing a few punches into the air. But it feels good to do something.

I’m so tired of feeling helpless.

As a warrior, I could actively protect people without having to hide behind others. It would be expected of me to carry my own weight. I want to work hard and prove myself. I want to head into battle with my comrades-in-arms, knowing they have my back and I have theirs.

I feel like a prisoner here. I can’t even visit my friend.

Coach White invited me to the warrior club. I know the brothers prohibited me from doing it, but I wonder if there is some other way I can train without breaking their rules.

I throw a few more punches and a couple of quick kicks.

Mia coos loudly like she’s cheering me on. Or she wants attention.

Or both.

I lower myself down onto the ground and pull her into my lap.

“Someday, I’ll be strong enough to protect you too, Mia.”

But first, perhaps one of my greater challenges, I would have to convince the brothers.

Maybe I could start small. If I could convince one of them to let me do something seemingly innocuous, then I could build up from that. My requested favors could get bigger and bigger over time. Maybe, eventually, they would let me hang out at Angela’s father’s gym again.

I try to think of something small to ask them.

The only thing my mind provides are thoughts of Tide, busted up and in the hospital.

I could explain to Neil that I just want to visit. Not out of a sense of guilt or duty, but because…

I know what it’s like to be alone. Tide and his family are outcasts among the wealthy people. They have problems, and haven’t handled them well.

But that doesn’t mean someone should be alone, especially when they are at their lowest. Does it get much lower than being put in the hospital?

Broken bones. A face bruised beyond recognition.

Our last conversation didn’t end on the best of terms, but I still worried about him.

“Come on, Mia,” I said, as I pushed myself up to my feet again. “Let’s go talk to Neil about it.”

Neil isn’t unreasonable most of the time. Surely, with enough convincing, I could get him to see my way.

Out in the hallway, I walk towards Neil’s room. The door is closed so I knock. I wait a minute, no one answers.

I knock again and press my ear to the door. There’s nothing but silence on the other side.

“Neil?” I call. Usually he is here around this time. He has a very fixed schedule.

“He’s not there,” Beau says, suddenly behind me. I jump. I didn’t hear him come out of his room.

Beau often looks at me with an expression mixed somewhere between annoyance and amusement. Today, it’s strictly distain. I try to think back. What was my last conversation with Beau? Did I do something to particularly upset him?

I couldn’t think of anything. Our conversations were normal. He watched Mia when it was his days and our exchanges were not anything extraordinary.

But then why does he look like he’s ready to shoot me out of a cannon?

“Is he okay?” I ask.

“A little late to be asking that.”

“What does that mean?”

“You should have left him alone, Nanny,” Beau says with disgust. “Have your fun but don’t push it. Don’t make him give you favors.”

Make… him…?

“I never made him do anything,” I say.

“Spare me your explanations.”

Beau is being extra difficult, and while I want to cut into him and argue, I would rather know what is happening to Neil and why it’s terrible.

“Where is he?” I ask, hoping Beau can see the sincerity in the question. We can argue later. For now, tell me what’s going on before I worry myself to death.

“Archer’s right, Neil is too soft. Especially when it comes to you.” Beau crosses his arms. “You want to know where he is? He got called away to speak with our dear old dad.”

My heart jumps into my throat and my breath catches. The last time the brothers had been called to speak with their father, they all came back different. Harder. Meaner.

Gods know what Neil is facing right now.

“Good,” Beau says. “You at least know the weight of what you’ve done.”

“What I’ve done?”

“Yes, Nanny. This is all your fault.”