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“This way. I’ve brought the car around.”

CHAPTER 56

APRIL

The penthouse is ominously quiet when I let myself in, despite the warmth of the sunlight bouncing off the floors and walls. I make my way upstairs and enter my room, my limbs feeling as heavy as my heart. Dragging open the case, I used over the weekend I pack my belongings. I look at the row of clothes Caleb bought me after the fire, and the ones I’ve treated myself to with the money Scarlett has paid me.

I sink to the floor next to my case, my hands dangling listlessly over my knees. My chin against my chest. I shouldn’t have left the party. I’m a chicken. Cal deserves better. He always has, but I let myself believe in fairy tales. When will I ever learn? My throat thickens, my eyes growing wet. More tears, more despair. I need to wake up and smell the coffee. Get over this pity party. It’s time to move on. Move back to my old life, my community. To what I know. Where the rules are ones I understand.

The door downstairs slams, and I jerk upright, rubbing my eyes.

“April!” I hear Caleb’s frantic call.

I climb to my feet and make my way to the door, just as it flies open.

“April,” he says, his voice filled with relief. He steps up to me, wrapping his arms around me, pulling me flush against his body. I want to sink into the security of his arms but know I can’t. It’s not fair to him.

It’s because I have, I’m now in this predicament. If he and Elijah think they can do anything about Crawley and his cronies, they’re mistaken. I’ve spent too much time around men like them. The club kept them in line, but now I’m fair game and I refuse to take this beautiful man down with me.

My arms hang limply by my side, until he moves back, taking my face in his hands. “I’m so sorry, little dancer. I’m so sorry. Elijah is dealing with Crawley. Mum is on the warpath. I promise you’ll never have to worry about that man again.”

I look into the dark eyes I’ve come to care for so much, my hands coming up to grip his wrists. I pull them away from my face. Holding them between us.

“I can’t,” I say, my voice thick. “I’m sorry, Cal. I can’t let you do this. This is my reputation and therefore my battle. I will not drag your family’s name into it with me. My choices, my problem.”

“No, April. That’s not how this works. When Crawley went after you. He went after all of us. You aren’t alone. Not anymore. You don’t have to stand up to him on your own.”

“Crawley has nothing on your family. It’s not you he wants, it’s me. If it comes out, what will your board say when they find out I was a stripper. Think what the parents of my kids will say. Even Scarlett’s business will be marred by a stripper teaching their kids.” I bury my head in my hands. I knew it was all too good to be true.

Cal takes my hands and pulls them away from my face. When I finally look up all I can see is the beautiful man infront of me. “Everyone has been so kind, but this ismymess. If I walk away, hopefully he’ll get bored. Realise there is no power in his words or threats.”

“Ex-stripper,” he says calmly. “And Elijah will see there is no story.” The sincerity in his voice tears at my heart. If only I could believe him. He places a hand behind my head and pulls me towards him, our foreheads touching.

“We can get through this, April. I know about your dancing at Merryfellows. I’ve known from the beginning. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I knew. I honestly don’t care about your past. It never mattered to me.”

“Elijah told me about the dossier.” I pull back and stare him in the eyes. “You know how screwed up that is, Cal?”

When he says nothing, I sink down to sit on the edge of the bed.

He drops to his knees in front of me, clasping my hands in his, his thumb rubbing soothing circles over my knuckles. “I love you, April. It’s not something I ever thought possible. But you, little dancer have swept me off my feet, knocked me sideways.”

I gasp at his words, the pressure in my chest building. I stare wide-eyed at Cal, his eyes radiating the honesty and belief he has in his words.

I shake my head before he cups it in his hands, making me stop and look at him. He inhales, bringing our foreheads together again.

“I’m not proud of what I did. But information in my world is power. You fascinated me from the moment I met you in New York. Then you disappeared, only to reappear. A scrap of a dancer with fire in her eyes who was taking me on. When the studio burned down and you disappeared again,” he pauses. “I used Eli to track you down. I won’t apologise, it brought you into my life.”

“You can’t love me,” I whisper.

He pulls back, a frown marring his brow. “I can and I do. I don’t expect you to feel the same way. Not yet. But know this. I love you April Wilson and nothing is going to change that. No bully like Leonard Crawley, is going to stop me. Nothing you have done in your past is going to stop me. We live in the here and now, and look only to the future. A future I want you to be a part of.”

I let out a sob. Everything I have wanted to hear. Cal runs his thumbs over my cheeks, his eyes filled with love as he stares at me. “I’ve not exactly been a choir boy, and I hope you can find it in your heart to look past my misdemeanours.”

I let out a choked sound at his words. He can’t mean it.

I drop my forehead back to his.

“Sir Leonard won’t give up. Even if he does, he’ll be one of many. There’ll be others, Cal,” I bite my lip to prevent a sob escaping. “Every party we attend, there will be snide comments. They’ll eat away at us. You think you love me now, but.”