Chapter 38

CHAPTER

THIRTY-EIGHT

EDMUND

“This has been a great pleasure, gentleman,” I shake hands with the three white-haired men sitting across the boardroom table from me as I continue, “I appreciate you taking the time and your gracious—and unanimous—agreement that expanding The Plantation will be a great addition to Adelaide Cove.”

Gracious, my ass.

One hundred thousand dollars to each of those small-minded townies to agree to rezone the thirty acres of marshland abutting my current development. A bribe well-fueled by the sudden and untimely removal of Mr. Marshall from the zoning board. But thirty acres of prime real estate that I will more than make back my small investment on.

Walking from the boardroom, I pull my phone from my jacket pocket. It’s been buzzing against my chest for the last ten minutes. Swiping the screen, I have six missed calls from Harper and nearly twice as many text messages.

“So needy,” I chuckle to myself as I open the texts.

HARPER

He knows.

Eddie, he’s so angry.

He’s on his way.

Please call me.

What do I do?

Eddie?

I don’t know what to do!

Nikki isn’t here.

Why aren’t you answering?

Eddie?

Please!

My stomach drops as I read them. My instincts told me not to let her go alone to grab more of things. The sinking feeling only grows when two more pop up on the screen.

He’s here.

He won’t stop banging on the door.

Before I realize it, I’m running toward my car as I dial her number.

“Eddie…” she trembles my name. She’s fucking terrified. Two syllables, and there is no denying that she is absolutely petrified and on the verge of tears.

“Fuck! I’m on my way, little rose.”

The sounds of his fists slamming against the door rattle the speakers of my car.

I’m never going to fucking get to her before he does.

“Get in Nikki’s bedroom,” I shout into the phone, listening to the wooden door slowly give way as I swerve between cars at reckless speeds. “It’ll buy you a little time. And lock the fucking door!”

“Ed—” she cries.

“Just fucking do it,” I shout over her, needing put space between them just a little while longer. But it’s too fucking late. Harper’s shrill screams and the door splintering from the frame flood the air in my car.

The screaming doesn’t stop as I listen to him hit her over and over again. Loud crashes. Broken glass. Her screams grow quieter with every minute that passes, while the thumping of my heart only gets louder.

Her phone clatters against the hardwood floor, and she suddenly sounds galaxies away. Becoming further from me as I’m trying desperately to get to her.

“Please,” she whimpers between sobs as more crashes and bangs continue to consume me. “No…”

“What’s the matter?” Michales’s angered voice oozes through the speakers. “I thought you liked it fucking rough.”

“You’re a fucking dead man!” I yell as my blood begins to boil and uncontrollable rage takes over. My grip on the steering wheel is so fucking tight that my knuckles are white, and my fingers ache.

It's nothing in comparison to the pain I feel with every hit I hear Harper endure. A deep, agonizing, indescribable pain. One that tears at my heart with every blow.

“I’m almost there, little rose.” I veer off the highway as her screams and cries slowly subside until there is nothing but silence.

Absolutely terrifying silence.

Still minutes away, I scream my rage into the void until my lungs are empty. My whole body shakes as it builds again, violently demanding to be released.

Not a sound comes through the speakers.

Not Michales.

Not a single whimper or heavy breath from Harper.

Deathly painful silence.