Page 117 of Heist

Chapter Thirty-Two

“What the fuck was that?” Jax asked as Austin watched Patrick disappear.

“I think that was a panic attack of epic proportions,” Lance said, resting a hand on Austin’s shoulder.

“You OK, Austin?” he asked after a few seconds of silence.

Austin nodded. “I think so. I tried to tell him several times today about the plea deal the prosecutor wants to offer him, but he kept insisting we talk about it later. I don’t blame him for being upset. I’m sure he’ll come back when he’s cleared his head.”

She was trying to convince herself of that more than anything though. The hollow expression on Patrick’s face when he handed her the room key wouldn’t leave her head. He was on a dark path. She’d seen it in clients facing prison before, but her heart had never been on the line in any of those cases.

“I’m going to go upstairs, if that’s OK. I’m on the shut-down crew tonight so I’ll be back in time for that. I just think I need to be alone for a little while.”

Lance opened his arms for a hug and Austin willingly went to him. “We’ll get him through this, sweetheart,” he said as she laid her head on his shoulder.

“I know,” she said, pulling away. “Thank you both for looking out for him. Let me know if you need anything from me.”

She stepped into the lobby to find Holly talking to Eli.

“Hey, Austin. Did my brother leave? I thought I saw him storm out of here.”

Austin drew in a deep breath and tried to hold back tears. “He’s having a rough night. He needed to get out and clear his head. I’m sure he’ll be back.”

Just keep telling yourself that.The thought came from nowhere and her heart felt like it skipped a beat as panic threatened to smother her.

Eli blocked her path when she tried to push her way into the bar so she could go upstairs. “What’s going on, Austin?”

“Nothing I can’t handle, Elijah. I really need to be alone right now though.”

“Do we need a review of house submissive rules? Talk to me.”

Everything about the plea deal and the last hour tumbled out and she couldn’t hold the tears back anymore. “It felt like he was walking out on me,” she said brokenly as she tried to get control of her tears.

Eli and Holly had walked her to a couch as she poured her soul out. “Sorry,” she mumbled. “I didn’t mean to lose it like that, or be rude to you, Master Eli.” She ducked her eyes when she said his name.

He tucked a finger under her chin. “It’s OK. It sounds like you have a lot on your shoulders. I wasn’t trying to make you cry. Let Holly walk you upstairs. I’ll make excuses for you with the shutdown crew if you don’t feel up to coming back down. If Patrick isn’t back by then I’ll call him and see if I can talk some sense into him.”

Holly had been mostly quiet as Austin spilled her guts, and now she squeezed Austin’s shoulders. “Come on, honey. Let’s get you upstairs. If you need me or Dakota, or both of us for some girl time, just let us know. We can steal a bottle of wine from the bar,” she said with a giggle.

Eli just scowled and shook his head.

Upstairs, Austin hugged Holly. “Thanks for everything. Sorry I’m a mess.”

“You’re allowed. Just call if you need me.”

Austin promised she would and stepped inside Patrick’s suite. Exhaustion overtook her when she sank into the bed and despite her worry, she drifted off to sleep.

Hours later, she woke with a start. The room was still dimly lit by the lamp she’d turned on earlier, and she looked around for signs of Patrick. There were none. Knots of fear tightened in her stomach as she reached for her phone. It was just after two in the morning and there was still nothing from Patrick. The club would just be shutting down which meant she should go downstairs and help the closing team, but she wasn’t sure she could face anyone right now.

With trembling fingers, she typed a message to Patrick.

Where are you? Please let me know you’re OK.

There was no response or indication that he’d read the message.

As she stood in the bathroom considering whether to go downstairs, her phone buzzed. Her heart jumped into her throat as she lunged out of the bathroom and to the bed where she’d laid the phone. Disappointment flooded her when she realized it was a text from Holly.

Elijah and Lance asked me to tell you to get some rest. We’ve got shut down handled.

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