Page 67 of Fractured Constellations
“He will pay for putting her life at risk,” I murmur darkly, knowing that regardless of what Luna says, I won’t let our dad get away with this.
“Yes, he will. It’s a legal issue, though be prepared to lose Banks Industries. I’m not sure it can recover from something like this.”
“I don’t give a fuck. I just want her to be safe,” I reply, and he nods.
“Me too, brother. Me too.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
“I CAN’T HEAR IT NOW (FROM THE SERIES ARCANE LEAGUE OF LEGENDS)” BY FREYA RIDINGS
LUNA
The guys are quiet as we drive to The Cottage, which is only forty minutes away from Greenwich. There’s been tension in the air since Chase and Thorn returned from the meeting with Richard, and I suspect it’s more than just the fact they told him I’d be stopping his treatment and we’d be moving out.
The tension coils in my stomach, making the food that Jerry made me settle uncomfortably. I’ve tried to ask several times, but Chase just insists that they’ll tell me everything when we get to The Cottage.
The sound of the ocean hits me first. I opened the window to let in some fresh air, and now it’s tinged with salt as we drive through a small set of metal gates that quickly leads to a modest but charming little house.
“It’s only got three bedrooms, but the master is big, and we’ll put the beds together so we can all stay in there until ournew large bed arrives,” Thorn tells me, catching my gaze in the rearview mirror. There’s a smile on his face that’s been missing since his talk with his dad.
The Cottage is pretty, made from warm-colored stone and with what looks like a cedar shingle roof. There are lots of windows, and they’re painted a sweet light blue, but the best bit is that I can see the private beach as we pull up outside the front. The house is basically built into the side of the stone outcrop, which the waves lap against, with a sandy beach curving out from it.
“It’s stunning,” I whisper, waiting for the car to stop before I unbuckle myself and reach for the door handle. Thorn is driving, Blade next to him, and Chase beside me, but I don’t wait for them as I get out, slipping my sneakers off and walking barefoot onto the sand, straight into the water.
It’s a little warm, and quite refreshing as it laps at my ankles, and I don’t give a shit if my leggings are getting wet. It’s as if, for just this moment, all the stress leaves my body and I just breathe in the sights, smells, and feel of the sea.
Strong arms wrap around me from behind, the scent of warm cinnamon letting me know that it’s Chase who’s holding me.
“I’m scared that what I need to tell you will hurt you,” he confesses quietly, and some of the anxiety returns to my body as I stiffen in his arms.
“As long as it’s not you guys leaving me, I can handle it,” I answer, my pulse rushing in my ears as I wait for his next words.
“That’s never going to be an option, Star, and this…” He sighs, pulling me closer as the water keeps lapping at our legs. “This may make you want to leave us.”
“Never,” I reply without hesitation. I know that maybe it’s unfair of me to continue with them, especially as they have already lost one person to cancer and I can’t stand the idea of my death hurting them. “I won’t leave you by choice, Chase.”
“You won’t leave us at all,” he growls, his embrace tightening around me. I love how possessive they are of me. It makes me feel invincible, like I really will beat this. Then he lets out a rough exhale. “Dad targeted your mom because of the likelihood of your cancer returning. He wanted to use you as a test subject for his new drug, which hasn’t been properly tested. It was all planned, Star. He had a treatment plan including his new drug before the wedding was even finalized, and got your mom to sign medical authorization papers as part of the marriage paperwork.” I’m frozen, his words hitting my ears but not sinking in properly. “Say something, baby, please.”
It’s his begging that breaks me from my stupor. “So the drug may not be safe?”
“Correct,” he answers, pulling me even closer into him. The warmth of his body leeches into mine, which suddenly feels cold, and I realize I’m shivering. “I’m so fucking sorry, Luna. I should have checked more thoroughly, I should have?—”
“This is not on you, Chase,” I tell him, looking away from the water and turning in his arms so I can gaze into his tortured green eyes. The gold in them is dull, the skin around them tight. “His sins are not yours, love.”
He hangs his head like he’s ashamed. “I didn’t look after you properly.”
“Hey…” I reach up and cup his cheek in my hand, tilting his face so he’s looking at me again. His eyes are sparkling now, but not with happiness, instead, with unshed tears that rips my soul apart. “You’ve looked after me better than anyone ever has, Chase Banks. You’ve given me something to fight for, made me feel invincible and sexy and like I can really beat this. Don’t let your father’s actions sully that.”
His lips tremble as he swallows hard. “I feel like I’ve failed you, so fucking badly, and it’ll be my fault if we lose you, and I can’t lose you, Luna. I just can’t.”
The first tear drips down his cheek, and I pull him into me, my own eyes stinging as he holds me so tightly I can barely breathe. Rough sobs fall into my neck as he lets go, and I hold him, my own tears making a hot path down my cheeks as he gives up the careful control on his emotions he always has.
The sounds of the water lapping the shore provides a calming backdrop, soothing both of us as all the uncertainty of dealing with this horrible fucking disease washes over us. But we won’t drown under it, because we have each other.
Footsteps splashing through the water have my eyes looking up to find Blade and Thorn coming towards us. They don’t say a word, just encircle Chase and I in their arms, the sunset casting its stunning orange rays over us.
“I’m still here,” I whisper as Chase’s cries quieten, my neck damp from his tears. “And I don’t intend on leaving anytime soon. I made you a promise, and I’m going to try my best to keep it.”
