Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 71832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Iain’s alive because of Carson.
And he wants me to stay away?
I know Carson’s dangerous, but I didn’t think Iain would care about that.
He voice is a pained rasp. “I don’t know what happened while I was out, but if Carson’s actually talking to you then things must be really bad.” His jaw works. “Ash, please, tell me he hasn’t gone too far.”
“I don’t… I don’t understand. Why are you talking about Carson? You know Dad’s dead, don’t you?”
He grimaces. “I had a feeling. I wasn’t sure. I just…” He curses, closing his eyes. “This is all so fucked.”
“Why are you telling me to stay away from Carson?” I step closer to the bed and decide to take a chance, vocalizing a feeling that’s been crystallizing for a while now. “Does this have to do with his obsession?”
Iain’s eyes pop open. “Did he used that word? Obsession?”
“Yes, a few times. Other people have too.”
“Oh, god.” He rubs his face. “Ash, how involved with him are you?”
“Tell me what’s going on first.”
He takes a slow, deep breath before letting it out. He’s clearly struggling with something, and when he speaks, it sounds as though his voice is tearing itself out from his throat. “For years, I’ve respected your wishes. I’ve kept my distance and fought with Dad to do the same. He took it hard when you completely cut us all out, but I made him understand it was your choice. It was around this time that I started to realize something was going on with Carson.”
My body feels like a needle slicing in and out of my skin. “What’s wrong with him?”
“I heard rumors. Guys were saying Carson kept giving them money and telling them to go to this bar. All they had to do was sit there, make sure nobody fucked with the place, eat and drink as much as they wanted, and not mention it to anyone. When I confronted him about the scheme, he admitted everything. He didn’t even seem ashamed. The fucking crazy bastard didn’t flinch.”
Iain takes a long breath. He pauses, visibly gathering himself. Dread fills my stomach. I don’t understand, none of this makes any sense.
“What did he tell you? What scheme are you talking about?” I don’t want to ask, but I can’t stop myself.
“They were going to Bottle of Smoke,” he says, staring at me, unwavering. “Carson was smart about it, only sending guys you wouldn’t have known, guys that might pass out on the street as normal assholes. He’d been doing it for years, it turned out, since the day you got the place from Granddad. But that’s not all. I got pissed and pressed him, and he admitted that he’d been steering bachelorette parties, bachelor parties, work functions, whatever he could toward your place. He said whenever business looked slow, he’d find a way to make sure you earned the money you needed. He said he was taking care of you without you ever realizing someone was doing it. He seemed proud of himself, Ash.”
I shake my head, backing away. Head reeling. Heart racing. “That can’t be real. He couldn’t have been… I don’t believe…”
But Iain keeps going like he’s not aware of the hammer blows he’s raining down on me.
“I asked him why. Do you know what he said? He said he couldn’t help himself. He said that since the first day he saw you, he knew you were the one for him, and the only reason he hadn’t taken you for his own yet was out of respect for our family. He said it was an addiction, a sick obsession, and he couldn’t stop himself even though he’d tried a dozen times over. When I told him to back off, when I threatened to tell you about it, he lost his mind and nearly killed me. He said everything good in your life came from him, and if I tried to stop him, you’d suffer as much as I would. He said he’d make sure of it. I pushed him, made him swear to obey your wishes and keep his distance, to never cross that line if he actually cared about you, and he reluctantly agreed. I think somewhere deep inside that twisted brain of his, he knows that what he’s been doing is beyond weird. Hell, a few years ago, his parents caught on when he started spending too much time watching Bottle of Smoke from his car. They got into this big fight about it, shit blew up, and I thought maybe he’d given up on you. But clearly, I was wrong. Ash, for years, Carson’s been watching you, spending money on you, taking care of you from afar. I tried my best to keep him away, but if he’s in contact with you, I’m afraid it’s too late. I’m so, so sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”