Leave Me Love (Call Me Cat Trilogy #2)(15)

By Friday I was ready to leave town and head to Brig's house. It had been a few weeks since something truly awful had happened, and with no word from the killer I'd started to let my guard down.

A laziness I would soon come to regret.





Chapter Ten


The Bruiser


BRIDGETTE AND I talk much during the thirty-minute drive to Dover, which suited me just fine. My head hurt, and I didn't want to have to carry on a conversation, particularly one that would likely lead to fighting, since she was determined I quit my job and I was equally determined to make my own way.

Instead, I texted Ash, smiling as he recounted his own day and asked about mine.

The snow had almost melted away, but you could still see the cold in the air, our breath turning to white smoke before us as we carried our overnight bags into the mansion. Mrs. Beaumont greeted us both with quick hugs and cheek kisses. "Oh Catelyn, we've been worried sick about you."

"I'm okay, Mrs. Beaumont. Thanks for letting us stay for the weekend."

She flipped her hand dismissively. "Any time, dear. Any time. Our house is your house." She fidgeted with a string of pearls around her neck as her eyes landed on my new necklace. "Oh my goodness, where on earth did you get that?"

I looked down at the diamond heart. "Ash."

She raised an eyebrow. "I had no idea you two were so serious. That piece is worth a small fortune. It looks lovely on you." Her eyes darted around in a nervousness I'd never seen in her before. "Let's get you girls settled. Your father is in his study," she said to Bridgette. "We don't want to disturb him. He's been in a mood."

As if on cue, Mr. Beaumont stomped out, a frown on his face. "It's too late for that. You three are like cackling hens chattering about nonsense. Please keep it down, I have work to do."

He looked at me, his eyes unreadable. "Good to see you, Catelyn." Making eye contact with his daughter, he scowled. "You two try to stay out of trouble, will you? The Beaumont name has enough drama for a lifetime."

Mrs. Beaumont tried to apologize but Brig was already dragging me upstairs. "God! My dad just gets worse with age. I think he and Mom need a weekend away. A good lay would do them both good."

"I thought most kids didn't like imagining their parents having sex." I couldn't remember what I imagined at fifteen.

She shrugged and tossed a pale blond strand of hair over her shoulder. "They're humans. They have needs. I mean, I don't want to see it or anything, but I get that they need to get it on now and then. My dad's been spending more and more time in his office lately. I think Mom's feeling neglected."

"That sucks," I said, lacking any better response.

I went to the guest room and flopped on the bed with a novel, not even bothering to unpack my bag, instead shoving it under the bed.

I didn't get far in the book, and honestly couldn't remember what I'd been reading, when Brig came in and sat down next to me. "How's your head?"

"Fine."

"Good. Look, Catelyn…” She paused, then cleared her throat and plunged ahead. “I know you're trying to be independent and all, but you have a rich boyfriend." And queue the arguing. "You can't keep doing your phone job. It's gross. Besides, it's not fair to Ash, even you have to admit that." She said this like a teacher schooling a young child who's been naughty.

My temper flared behind my eyes, literally making me see red. "You seem awfully concerned about my boyfriend, Brig. Why is that?"

She stood and faced me, small fists on hips. "What is with you? It's like you're a different person since… everything."

"Maybe I am a different person, have you considered that? Maybe being kidnapped and tortured changes someone."

She rolled her eyes. Rolled her f*cking eyes! "You were barely tortured. Ash saved you, and you repay him by continuing with a job that is basically cheating on him."

I pulled my bag out from under the bed and reached in for the manila envelope I'd brought. "Let's talking about cheating, shall we?" I shoved the pictures into her hands. "Care to explain why you're cozying up to my boyfriend at his f*cking house?"

Her face went pale as she looked at the photos, and her lower lip trembled. "It's not what it looks like, Catelyn." Then she looked up, her face defiant again. "Where did you get these?"

"Doesn't matter where I got them. I see you throwing yourself at a man you admitted having a crush on. Is there anything you want to tell me?" I was shouting now, completely out of control, and I couldn't stop this feeling that I was about to explode.

Mrs. Beaumont pushed open our door, her face etched with worry. "Girls, Mr. Beaumont left for the office, said it was too loud for him to focus. I'm heading out for a few hours. Are you two okay?"

I avoided eye contact, hiding my enraged face, but Brig smiled, always able to put on a mask when needed. "Yes, Mom, go have fun. We'll be fine."

Mrs. Beaumont hovered there a moment, her handbag clutched to her side like a shield against our angry words, then nodded and left the room. "The house is empty, so lock up if you leave," she said from the hallway.

I sunk to the bed, drained from the fighting, from all these unwanted emotions surging through me like poison. Before I could say anything to Brig, before I could figure out what I wanted to say or should say, my phone rang.