Page 26 of One Little Mistake
“Okay. I meant what I told her. If she needs help, I know Ashton can do it.”
Mrs. Douglas smiles. “The Westbrooks are a remarkable family.”
Tears spring out of nowhere before I can blink them away, and one falls free. “They truly are.”
“You don’t happen to have Easton’s contracts with you by any chance, do you?”
“Ah, yeah. I-I do.”
Mr. Douglas smiles kindly. “May I have them? We would ask you to join us for dinner, but I’m guessing you’d like to get home and clean up.”
Self-consciously, my hand reaches for my hair that is still dripping the remnants from asshat’s glass.
“Marvin!” Mrs. Douglas admonishes.
“Not that you don’t look lovely,” he corrects, and I can’t help but laugh.
“Yeah, pinot isn’t really my color. Let me get you those contracts.”
“If you would like to press charges on the wine tosser, we saw the entire thing,” Mrs. Douglas states with matronly seriousness.
The thought has my body going rigid with fear. The idea of going to the police again for anything makes my stomach turn.
“Ah, no, I don’t … I don’t think so, but thank you.” I hand over the contract and suddenly can’t wait to get out of here.
“Our driver is out front, and he will escort you home.” It isn’t a request, and I’m too tired to argue, so I nod and thank them for their kindness.
Even though we’re only going a few blocks, I try to call East three times, but he doesn’t answer. For the first time in years, I worry about a man for reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with my safety.
Chapter 11
Easton
How the fuck could I have left Lexi there with those vultures? What in God’s name was I thinking? I can’t even call her because I threw my phone against the brick building so hard it shattered into a hundred pieces as soon as I left the restaurant.
Think,East. I’ve been pacing our hotel room for almost ten minutes, but I know I have to go back for her. However, my stomach revolts at the thought of seeing Dillon again, but I can’t lie to myself. The real reason I’m struggling is that Pacen has grown up to be the spitting image of her sister, Vanessa.
God, at one time, I thought my life would be so different. Death and betrayal tend to leave you bitter, though. The pain is deeply engrained.
“Fuck.” Grabbing my key, I head out the door.
The hostess tells me there was a scuffle at the restaurant, and all but two people left. I don’t even bother checking to see who it is. I know Lexi’s gone, and I’ve never felt like a bigger dick. All I can do now is head back to the hotel and wait for her.
I use the time on my walk to figure out how I will explain this to her. Ashton is the only one in my family that knows what happened, but even he doesn’t know it all. By the time I reach the Four Seaons, I’m still at a loss, and now I’m anxious in an uncomfortable, nervous way.
How the fuck did you leave her behind?
I’m still berating myself as I walk down the long hallway to our room. Stepping into the foyer, I’m relieved when I see her purse on the entry table, and I pick up the pace in my search.
“Lexi?” I shout as I round the corner.
I find her standing in the center of the family room with a towel in her hand. As she lowers it, I notice her light blonde hair is stained red, and the floor drops out below me.Is she bleeding?I cross the room in three long strides. Then, cradling her head in my hands, I search for a cut, a bruise, something.
“East? Wh-What are you doing?”
Taking a closer look, I notice the red has stained her neck in tiny lines that disappear at her cleavage.
“What the hell’s all over you?”
