Chapter 53 A FLIGHT TO BRENTMERE
Troy’s POV
We had less than thirty minutes to get to the airport, and Jaxon was taking his sweet time upstairs trying to wake Miss Carter so we could leave.
I was already worked up, pacing the living room, when raised voices suddenly echoed from above. A second later, a door slammed so hard it rattled the walls.
Then she appeared.
Miss Carter stormed downstairs, fury written all over her face, looking like she could strangle someone with her bare hands. She walked right past me without a glance and dropped onto the couch, sinking into it like all the fight had drained out of her at once.
Jaxon followed immediately after.
One look at their faces told me everything—they’d had another fight.
Why couldn’t they just get along so we could get this done?
I hurried to Jaxon’s side. He looked calm on the surface, but I’d known him long enough to see the storm brewing in his eyes.
“What happened?” I whispered, flicking my gaze toward Miss Carter before looking back at him.
“Nothing happened,” Jaxon said, loud enough for her to hear. “Miss Carter just received an annoying message.”
She snapped her head toward him, her glare sharp enough to cut glass.
“I thought we were using first names now,” she shot back. “Or are we not being formal again, Jaxon?”
“Ah, yes. I almost forgot,” he replied smoothly, a forced smile tugging at his lips. “Forgive my manners.”
Then he turned back to me.
“Nancy here got some very unpleasant news earlier today,” he continued casually. “It turns out her warrant submission to the judge—to arrest a man suspected of aiding in the abduction of a woman—was declined.”
The moment he said it, Miss Carter shot to her feet and marched straight toward him, fury blazing in her eyes.
“Did you go through my phone?” she demanded.
Jaxon didn’t look bothered in the slightest. He only shrugged.
“It was right there when I came to check on you,” he said calmly.
Nancy’s chest rose and fell rapidly, her anger deepening with every breath.
“You son of—” She bit down hard on her lower lip, stopping herself before the word could leave her mouth.
Then she screamed.
“Aaaaaaah!”
The sound was so sudden it made me jump, my heart racing. But Jaxon didn’t even flinch. He just stared at her, unreadable.
“Let me give you some friendly advice, Nancy,” he said evenly. “If you want to survive this—and whatever Ravyn Vale is involved in—you need to start avoiding getting yourself killed.”
His voice hardened.
“Some people are so invisible in this world that even the law can’t touch them, no matter what crimes they commit.”
“And if you’re going through this with me—if you’re going to step foot into my world—then you do it as Nancy, not Detective Nancy. And you will do as I say. We’ll start with you putting this hoodie on.
Your identity should never be exposed.”
I stood there, staring from Jaxon to Miss Carter, utterly baffled. What on earth was wrong with these two?
“Do as you say? Great,” Miss Carter snapped. “How hard could that be?”
She yanked the hoodie from Jaxon’s hand and angrily pulled it over her head.
“Good,” Jaxon said calmly, like none of this rattled him. “I’m glad you’re so understanding. Now let’s head to your house so you can grab your passport. I’ll be leaving Alba behind. I’m sure Renna will be glad to have him around while we’re gone.”
He turned and walked away as a stunned Miss Carter hurried after him.
I nearly had a heart attack.
Those two were going to be the death of me.
Nancy’s POV
“What exactly did you mean back there?” I demanded, stepping in front of him. “Why would you leave your dog with my daughter?”
I hated the way he said her name—so casually, like he had any right to.
“Because I promised her I would bring him over,” he replied calmly. Too calmly. “And I keep my promises. Besides, it’s only for a day.”
I nearly slapped that calm right off his face.
I couldn’t believe how infuriating this man could be.
He walked past me toward his car just as Troy stepped outside with Alba beside him. The dog immediately ran up to me, tail wagging excitedly, white fur gleaming as if he knew none of this tension belonged to him.
I swallowed my anger, refusing to let the poor animal take the blame.
Despite myself, a small smile tugged at my lips as I patted the fluffy menace.
“If you’re uncomfortable with Alba staying around your daughter, I could take him to a daycare or the vet until we return,” Troy offered carefully. I could hear the discomfort in his voice.
“It’s fine,” I replied, straightening. “After all, he’s not the jerk around here.”
With that, I headed for the car and climbed into the front passenger seat.
I refused to share the same space with Jaxon.
Troy put Alba in the back seat as we drove off. I needed to call Linda—she had to know what was happening before I left.
The ride was quiet, and for once, I preferred it that way.
When the car pulled up in front of my house, I was the first to step out.
“You can drop Alba with my sister while I inform her of our departure,” I said to Troy. He had already finished packing the car and carefully lifted Alba out while Jaxon remained seated, completely absorbed in his laptop, looking distant and unreadable.
The moment I stepped inside, Renna was the first to run toward me—or so I thought—until I heard her scream Alba’s name.
She ran past me and wrapped her arms around her furry friend, who greeted her with uncontrollable excitement.
I let out a sigh as Troy released Alba. The dog immediately tackled Renna to the floor, licking her face as her laughter filled the room. The sound warmed something deep inside me, and a smile tugged at my lips as I watched them together.
“What’s going on here?” Arabella’s voice came from behind me. I hadn’t even noticed her approach.
I turned to face her, irritation flaring despite my attempt to suppress it. I still couldn’t believe she had applied to Lennox Lux Suites again after being rejected so many times.
“Why is Mr. Lennox’s assistant here, and who owns the dog?” she asked, her voice low, meant only for me.
“Come with me,” I said shortly, grabbing her arm and pulling her aside.
“I need you to watch the dog for me until I get back,” I added. Her expression shifted instantly—from curiosity to confusion.
“I don’t understand,” she said slowly. “Where are you going? And why is Mr. Lennox here?”
Her gaze drifted toward the gate. I followed it—only to see Jaxon walking in. Renna immediately rushed toward him, her face lighting up as he lifted her into his arms with ease.
I hated it.
I hated the bond I saw forming right in front of me, and I’d be stupid not to be worried about it.
“Are you going to answer me, or are we just going to keep staring?” Arabella snapped, pulling my attention back to her.
“Just watch the dog for the night,” I said firmly. “He belongs to Mr. Lennox, and he’ll be picking him up tomorrow.”
“Okay, but that’s not the problem,” she pressed. “Where are you going with Mr. Lennox?”
“That’s none of your business, Bella,” I replied coldly. “Just do as I said.”
With that, I stormed inside to grab my passport—and maybe a few clothes—but Arabella followed close behind.
“What do you mean it’s none of my business?” she demanded. “I deserve to know where you’re going. Ever since you got back, you’ve been everywhere. You haven’t even taken time to be with your daughter, and now you’re traveling without saying a word?”
Her words grated against my already frayed nerves.
“I am not having this conversation with you, Arabella,” I snapped. “Just look after the dog, would you?”
I turned away and headed straight for the bathroom, shutting the door behind me.
I needed space.
And I needed to make that call.