Page 77 of Monster

24

Mateo

Charlotte wasoff the rest of the evening, and I couldn't seem to pull her back. I figured showing her what she had access to if she’d simply listen to me would’ve been enough. But, it pushed her further away. She stayed on my arm, of course, fetching drinks and food when asked. However, if someone didn’t address her directly—which was almost never—she stayed completely silent.

No sassy remarks. No under-handed jokes. And no attitude.

I didn’t like that.

I wanted to earn this woman’s trust, not subdue her into submission. I didn’t know how the fuck to salvage the evening, though, so after shaking hands with everyone that was required I took us home. The entire drive was silent, like it had been coming to the party. Only this time, I felt a distinct tension between us.

And not the good kind, either.

“Miss Pettigrew?”

I looked over at her and found her staring out the window.

“Miss Pettigrew.”

She still didn’t answer me, though, so I reached out and took her hand.

“Char,” I said calmly.

She jumped at my touch. “Sorry. What was that?”

I sighed. “What’s on your mind?”

She shrugged. “Nothing.”

“Doesn’t seem like nothing.”

She scoffed. “Why would you care anyway?”

“Because despite what you might think, I’m not out to hurt you, or keep you locked away from the world.”

“Says the man who won’t let me out of his sight and constantly has armed guards at every available exit.”

I squeezed her hand. “That’s for your own safety.”

She slid her hand away from mine. “No, it’s entrapment and you know it.”

I sighed. “I know it’s hard to understand now, but when this all passes—”

She whipped her head around to face me, interrupting my statement. “Did my mother really crumple up that ransom note?”

I narrowed my eyes. “Where did you hear that?”

She turned her entire body toward me. “Enough with the cloak-and-dagger, or smoke-and-mirrors, or whatever the fuck this game is that you like to play. If you want me to help you and you want me to stay of my own volition? I need answers. And I need them now.”

I folded my hands in my lap. “Very well. Ask me again.”

She drew in a deep breath. “Did my mother really throw out the ransom note you sent her on my behalf?”

I didn’t hesitate. “Yes. She did.”

As I watched every single emotion wash over Charlotte’s face in a split second, I held my tongue on the back part of that statement. Because not only did her mother throw out the ransom, she hadn’t even countered. I hadn’t heard a peep out of Gloria since I got word that she discarded the ransom without a second thought, even though I hoped she would have been smart enough to pay up.

What was worse, however, was that her mother throwing out that ransom note didn’t even shock me.

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