Deception (Infidelity #3)(4)

My eyes roamed, unable to endure the intensity of Nox’s stare. Deloris had gathered the pages of Bryce’s letter, using a tissue to pick them from the floor.

“I’ll assume you both handled these pages?” she asked.

“Yes,” Nox answered.

“I’ll have them dusted.”

“Why?” I asked. “Bryce signed the letter.”

Daggers launched from the icy blueness of Nox’s eyes. “Bryce? Edward Spencer? I thought you said your family?”

“What?”

He stepped closer, his chest nearing mine, cologne again clouding my thoughts as I fought to project a sense of calm I truly didn’t feel.

“You said you thought it was your family trying to scare you. Edward Spencer isn’t your family.” He emphasized the last word.

“My family’s complicated. He claims to be speaking for my mother. The point is, there’s no reason to dust anything. We know who it came from.”

My gaze moved away from Nox, back to Deloris. She was silent as she read the letter, my letter, the one addressed to me.

“Privacy. Is that what I give up if I stay here?”

“If?” Nox repeated.

“Lennox, you should read this,” Deloris spoke from the other side of the room.

I slapped my hands against my thighs. “Sure, everyone fucking read my letter. Let’s get Isaac and Jerrod in here. I know, call Lana. Is there anyone else?” I pursed my lips waiting for a response. Finally, I went on. “All I want is answers; instead, I’m getting more and more questions.”

Deloris turned toward me. “There’s a plethora of accusations in this letter. Don’t you agree that they could be best addressed if Lennox knew what he was supposed to answer?”

“I’ve already asked the most important one.”

Nox’s eyes narrowed in a silent warning, telling me to avoid the subject that loomed around us, the figurative elephant prancing around the room, its trunk raised like a trumpet alarming each of us of its path of destruction. A momentary tinge of apprehension infiltrated my righteous anger as the question resurfaced—did Nox kill Jocelyn?

His posture straightened as he tightened his jaw and lifted his hand toward Deloris. When she hesitated, he said, “I’ve already touched it. What difference does it make if I handle it again?”

She shook her head and pulled another tissue from the box. Handing that first to Nox, she then passed him the letter.

I shook my head dismissively and reached for my backpack. My overnight bag was already packed.

As I stepped toward the doorway, Nox’s command stilled my footsteps.

“Stop.”

Images of Alton raced through my mind as I spun Nox’s direction. “I’m not a child. If you won’t talk to me, I’m not staying here.”

“You’re not going to that apartment. The security isn’t complete.”

I rolled my eyes as I let out a long sigh. “You’re putting security in my apartment?”

“Chelsea’s,” he corrected. “And of course.”

Shaking my head, I replied, “You’re unbelievable. Did you think to ask me? Ask Chelsea? I mean, she interviewed for that job. If she gets the one in DC she won’t even be here that much.”

“Alex…”

I lifted my hand to silence Deloris. I was tired of listening to them answer my questions in circles. “Call Jerrod, or I will. I’m leaving.”

“No, you’re—”

“Yes, I am.”

“Jerrod works for me,” Nox declared.

Fuck him! This was Alton all over again.

My neck straightened in indignation. “Then I’ll take a cab. You want a say in this? That’s your choice. This time it’s my number in your phone and the ball’s in your court. If you’re ever ready to talk to me, to be honest with me, call. Otherwise…” I took a deep breath, debating the end of my sentence. “…otherwise, don’t.”

“Charli, do not leave this apartment.”

His order hung in the air, the final word. Nevertheless, I walked into the bedroom seeing the vibrator upon the bed. Its presence mocked me. Ignoring it and the plans that I’d had for this evening, I found my overnight case.

How had our date gone from amazing to shit in record time? The ring of my phone encouraged me forward, moving me toward the living room, where earlier—when this evening had hope—I’d dropped my handbag.

The screen read JERROD.

“Hello,” I said after pushing the green icon.

“Ma’am, I’ll have the car out front in five minutes.”

I wasn’t sure if it had been Nox or Deloris who’d contacted him, but at least I wouldn’t need to get a cab.

A tear slid down my cheek as I closed my eyes. “Thank you, Jerrod. I’ll be there.”

My destination options came in rapid succession. I could go to my and Chelsea’s apartment. If I did, I was not only disobeying Nox by leaving, but also by going where he told me specifically not to go. Then again, until he could be honest with me, I didn’t need to listen to his directives. I could go to Patrick and Cy’s apartment. Surely it was safe. Or I could do as Bryce’s note implored and travel back to Savannah.

With a heavy heart, I stifled a ragged breath and turned back toward the glacial-blue eyes. Though Nox watched my every move, he didn’t speak. Silently, I turned toward the door and exited our apartment.