Destined For Them (Story 3)✔

~23~

~Caroline~ 

I should have known the moment Lenny Baker had shown up that things for Clark Turner were not going to end well. I'd given up my fight against Thomas quickly and went to the suite-having no desire to hear just what was happening down in the study. I was restless, crying, pacing the carpet in front of the bed for what seemed like ages. I could hardly think of what could have happened if Clark had only one more minute with me. It sent chills up my spine. 

Then I thought about more unbearable outcomes; like what if Chris and Lydia had been home? I had to force myself to stop. Nothing would have changed the outcome of what was happening to the painter. 

The sun was rising over the forest of trees on the edge of our property-the soft blue sky streaked with pinks and golds-when Sol finally came into the suite. It would have been a perfect sunrise, hadn't the events that had transpired during the night been such a nightmare. I turned away from the window and when I got a good look at the male, my throat swelled, burned. Tears threatened behind my eyes. 

"Do you really have to be such an animal?" I asked, wanting to put some harshness into the words but they left my mouth in barely a whisper. Sol didn't even glance my way, just went for the bathroom. The truth was, I had no anger towards him, I was just terrified. How one choice could lead to this. If we had just dealt with our daughters kidnappers the right way-by going to Harrison Marsh, instead of going to Lenny Baker-then none of this would be happening. 

And it wouldn't be the end. I leaned against the door frame and swiped at tears as I watched him strip from his bloody suit and crank the water on in the shower. "That was a really stupid thing to do, Sol." Leaving Clark Turner's DNA all over his fucking study. Finally he looked back at me, blood smeared one cheek, his knuckles were busted up. 

"What was stupid, was him putting his filthy fucking hands on you. If he isn't sorry now, he will be when he goes to spend a little private time with Lenny." The look on his face was cruel and he left it at that before stepping into the shower. 

I let out a shaky breath before I turned and went back into the bedroom. I had an interview with Juliet Santini in a couple of hours and I could hardly wait. I needed to get out of this house. Fast. Away from the mess that was under the roof of my-his-lovely house.  I rubbed chills off of my arms and left the suite. 

My stomach curled and I nearly wrenched when I reached the bottom of the stairs and found a bloody trail that went from the front door down and down the side hall the led to the study. I stepped around blood with my bare feet and followed the mess until I was stopping at the opened French doors to Sol's space. 

Nick-beefy, threatening body guard, turned housemaid-was on his knees, my kitchen gloves on, a bucket of soapy water mixed with bleach was put on cleanup duty. God, it was something right out of a movie. I barely got on foot into the room before he paused and shook his head. "It would be wise to stay out of here for the time being, Mrs. Specter," He advised before he went back to his job. 

I crossed my arms over my chest and studied him. A thin layer of sweat covered his exposed skin and just like my husbands...his knuckles were freshly busted up. How fair-jumping the guy. "What would be wise, Nick, is you demanding one last check from my husband and getting the hell out of here before you end up in prison. You know, you don't have to do everything he asks of you. Especially this..." I waived my hand, motioning at the mess that had become of Sol's sanctuary. 

Nick just laughed, deeply and quietly...almost humorously, before he sat back on his haunches and looked up at me. "I know exactly what I am doing, Caroline. I'm a big boy. I have nothing to lose, unlike you and your husband. I take my job here very seriously. And you should know, this is not the first time I have cleaned up a mess and if shit ends badly, I've also been to prison before." End of discussion.