SWNOVELS Acts of Grace: Part 1 – Chapter 19
My palms are sweating and my stomach is churning.
I know that I’m going to get heat for what I’m about to do, but I’m in fact a grown woman and I don’t need my brother’s approval to move into a new apartment.
Yes, I know things are crazy right now and that my security team is probably calling him right this very moment, ratting me out, but I don’t care.
It’s time I moved into a place of my own.
Florida was temporary, and the first time I lived away from William. College gave me the perfect excuse to move out, but now that I’ve graduated, all I have is my newly asserted independence and the desire to stay out of William’s drama.
It’s been five days since he decided to get back with Heather and the last straw was seeing Bella’s broken heart on full display as I picked up Harper last night.
The poor girl looked like she hadn’t eaten or slept in days. I wish I could’ve offered her more insight as to what my bull-headed brother was thinking, but I have no clue.
Doing the only thing I can think of, I pull out my phone and dial Bella’s best friend, Cassie.
The phone rings twice before a cheerful voice answer, “Hello?”
“Hi Cassie. This is Ashley Hawthorne, William’s—”
“Sister! Yes, Bella has told me so much about you. Is everything okay? God, is Bella’s dad okay?”
“Yes, he’s doing as expected with minor improvements every day. We’re holding out hope that he’ll make a full recovery.”
“Oh, good. Now that I can breathe, what can I do for you?”
I wince, knowing that I’m probably about to step over the line here since we’ve only ever really talked in passing but I know Bella needs this. “So, I’m not sure if Bella’s told you what happened with my brother…”
I hear her groan on the other end of the line, “What has the buffoon done now?”
I chuckle, at least I won’t have to explain my brother’s irrational mood swings. It seems she knows them well. “He’s broken things off with Bella and when I picked up Harper last night, Bella didn’t look like she was doing too hot. I was thinking if I offered up the jet, maybe you could pay her a visit? She’s really in need of a friend right now, and I’m afraid I just wouldn’t fit the bill, since I’m the offender’s sister and all.”
“Ugh. Why are men so damn stupid?! Of course I’ll go visit, and I don’t need the jet, thank you very much. I don’t want anything to do with Re—I mean William.”
I cock a brow… was she about to say Ren?
Deciding to ignore the slip up, I let it go, because come on… we’ve all fallen for a WRATH man and saying anything would be the pot calling the kettle black.
“You’re such a good friend. If only I could be so lucky as to find myself a Cassie.” I chuckle into the line, joking but not really.
“Well, there’s always room for one more. I have to warn you, we don’t sugar coat, can be crass, and love to bust balls, but we will always have your back.”
My smile could not be any bigger, “Thank you. I’ll definitely take you up on that. When you’re both back in Dallas, we should get together for a girls’ night.”
“Yesssss, margaritas and whiskey! There’s a new bar I’ve been dying to try out. It’s a martini lounge where they have live blues music.”
“That sounds amazing! Okay, it’s on when you get back. Keep me posted on how Bella’s doing when you’re out there, and thanks again. You’re the best!”
“Don’t I know it.” She laughs into the line before disconnecting.
With a huge smile on my face, I step out of my car and into what will be my new home.
I’m standing in front of the premier high-rise in downtown Dallas, about to meet with my realtor and what were once nerves is now full-blown excitement.
The cool lines of the all glass building perfectly emphasizes the name of the building, The Glass House. It has a rooftop bar and lounge area that overlooks the entire downtown scene, complete with a suspended infinity pool.
I cannot wait to invite Bella and Ashley over for some sun and fun!
“Ms. Hawthorne?” A tall blond man, with a killer smile beams down at me. “Are you ready to tour your new home?”
I nibble on my bottom lip, feeling as if I’m about to do something naughty, but reveling in it nonetheless. “Why, yes. Yes, I am.”
Titus
“She did what?!”
The man in front of me, lowers his face, staring at the ground as if it were the most fascinating thing he’s seen all year. “She met with a man, about six-three, blond, tailored suit. They went up into a sky-rise in downtown and they haven’t come out yet. Our men are running a background on who he is and what ties he could have with Ashley.”
I pick up the receiver on my desk and dial Ashley’s number. “They’re taking too long. I’ll just call the source directly.”
“Sir, do you think that’s wise? She’ll know we’ve been following her, and she doesn’t take kindly to her privacy being infringed upon.”
I scoff, “You think she doesn’t already know she has a full detail on her at all times? She’s essentially the princess of WRATH securities. There’s no way she didn’t know whatever she’s doing right now wouldn’t get back to us.”
He refuses to answer, because he knows I’m right. It’s sad, but in a way, it’s a price you have to pay when you’re part of the family. WRATH does a lot of good, but we also make a lot of enemies.
Not only do we provide services to the social elite, we also do extraction and other not so savory jobs for cartels and mafia families.
That in turn, earns us a spot on many shit lists.
I growl, slamming the phone down on its cradle. “She isn’t picking up.”
Visions of Ashley rolling around in bed with some blond asshole flash before me, making me want to hurl something.
“Find out where she is in the building and get her on the line.”
My man just stands there, mouth open, in pure disbelief.
Don’t they know by now that I’ll go through whatever means necessary to keep her safe? We don’t know anything about this man.
Standing, I press my knuckles to the desk and glare. “I meant now.”
“Yes, sir. Of course, sir.” As he turns to exit, I can’t help but hear Ashley’s last words to me, ‘I am not yours, Titus. You have no say in what I do or who I sleep with.’
Like hell, I don’t.