Once my cries have died down, and my breathing returns to normal, I lift my head off his chest enough to look at him. I wince at the large wet patch covering his shirt, but he doesn’t seem to care.
Even though his expression is kind and caring when aimed at me, I can see the fire in his eyes that he’s trying to hide from me, so as to not scare me.
“You don’t have to be scared, Court. I promise, I will make sure that nobody will ever hurt you. I think you should move back home with me, where I can keep you safe,” he says, as he gently gathers a blonde strand that’s fallen over my eyes and tucks it behind my ear, soothing his thumb along my puffy cheeks.
I reach around him, picking up one of the pictures that are scattered on the bedwhere I left them. It’s a picture of the two of us going into his flat a couple of weeks ago, when I stayed over for a night, and we had a takeaway together. Despite still living in the same town, I missed my brother, and he was only too happy to have me over for the night.
“The stalker must have followed me to the flat. If he knows where you live, I’m not sure it would be any safer for me there than it is here,” I tell him, my voice catching in my throat as fear bubbles away.
Miles’ flat has always been our safe space, since we moved in there six-years ago. It’s been our little home since Miles moved back to Blackthorn, and it’s where I let go of my past and embraced this new version of me.
Knowing that my safety is now gone scares me almost as much as the bloody heart on my bedroom floor.
“Fuck,” Miles snaps, his eyes narrowing on the offending images.
Marcus, who has been hovering behind us, looking over the images in silence, with a stern, hard expression on his face, clears his throat, grabbing our attention.
“I have an idea. Why doesn’t she move into Morelli Mansion? With its level of security, there’s probably no safer place in Blackthorn. The only problem is that it would require Courtney leaving university, as she’d need to stay at the Mansion at all times, until we eliminate the threat.”
Before Miles can respond to his best friend, I nod my head enthusiastically. “I don’t mind leaving university for a bit. I’d rather know I’m safe, which I don’t think I will be here.”
Miles glares from me to Marcus, looking furious. “It’s not necessary for you to quit university, even if it is temporary. We can arrange to have guards with you at all times to protect you.”
I take hold of Miles’ hand, lacing our fingers together as I take comfort in his warm touch. “I don’t want that, Miles. I’m scared, and being here will only make that worse. Even with your guards, I’ll spend the whole time I’m here looking over my shoulder, terrified that someone will get me. I won’t be able to do my work, or live a normal life. I’ll be on edge the whole time, which will only make my life more miserable. I can’t do it.”
As each word rushes out, the panic in my voice becomes more evident, and when I finish, I pull in a ragged breath, trying to blink away the tears that are threatening to fall again.
Although it’s clear Miles doesn’t agree, as he wants to put my education before anything, he can’t ignore the fear in my voice. With a resigned nod, he agrees that I can move to Morelli Mansion, but only on one condition.
“As soon as the threat has been eliminated, Court, you have to promise me you’ll go back to school. I know you’ve been finding it hard here, making friends and trying to be normal, but I promise, getting a good education will be the best thing for you.”
I shake my head as I try to hide the smile that’s threatening to make an appearance as I take in his stern, brotherly tone. He’s been more like a parent to me my whole life, and this is just another occasion where he thinks he knows best.
“I promise you, I’ll come back to school when the time is right,” I tell him, keeping my promise vague.
Miles glares at me and Marcus lets out a short, sharp laugh that he quickly turns into a cough when Miles turns his hard expression onto him. “A true politician’s answer. I think you may have missed your calling, Court,” Marcus adds, his lips lifting into the smallest of smiles.
“Why don’t you gather your things? Take only essentials for now, as we can come back for everything else when you’re settled,” Miles tells me as he lifts me from his lap, keeping a hold on my hips until he’s sure I have a secure footing.
About half an hour later, I’ve gathered up everything I think I will need, while Miles and Marcus collect the photos and ‘gift’ I was sent, so they can hand it over to their team to be investigated.
As I sit in the backseat of Marcus’ car, with Miles driving, I watch the university campus fade away behind us. I hoped there’d be a sense of loss, that I’d regret having to leave, but there’s nothing except a small sigh of relief when we pass the exit sign.
I hate not knowing what I want to do with my life, and feeling such an overwhelming level of uncertainty about everything. Everywhere I turn at school, they all know what they want to do with their lives, or at the very least, what subjects they want to take… I’ve never had that. When I picture my future, it’s like a blank space, giving me no hints as to what I’d enjoy doing with my life.
As someone who has lived her whole life a day at a time, desperately trying to survive without anything awful happening, I guess I just got good at not planning for the future. Only now I’m at a crossroads, and I have no idea which route to take.
Once we turn onto the driveway for Morelli Mansion, all other thoughts fall out of my head, and I stare with my mouth wide open as we drive up to the massive house.
The gravelled drive is long and windy, taking us through perfectly manicured lawns with big trees and beautiful, well looked after flower displays. The house itself has three floors, including the ground floor, and is a stunning white colour that you don’t normally see on houses. But there’s some intricate plants climbing up the walls to give it a hint of colour.
The black outlines of the windows are a stark contrast to the white, and it gives the place an almost regal feel. Which is only emphasised by the two large white columns in front of the entrance, and the small set of wide steps that lead up for the front door.
Don’t even get me started on the elaborate circular water fountain that’s in the middle of the driveway, acting almost like a roundabout for people to drive around, so they can go back down the driveway in the opposite direction.
I push open the car door and climb out, rushing to Miles’ side as Marcus strolls on ahead. There’s an older woman, who looks to be in her late sixties, waiting at the top of the stairs.
She’s a shorter lady, with tight grey curls that frame her face. She’s a bit on the plumper side, but it probably looks more pronounced because of her height.She’s wearing a full length black skirt and a floral blouse, with sensible black pumps.
