Page 104 of Conquered (Highgate Preparatory Academ:y Compendium)
CHAPTER NINE
LILLY
A s we step towards the idling car that has been waiting for us, I hear an achingly familiar voice call my name.
“Lilly!”
My stomach drops. You know, like when you are at the top of a rollercoaster and start to descend? It’s like that but about a million times worse, like my heart skips a beat and the world stops spinning for a moment. I turn around in what feels like slow motion.
“Lexi?” I whisper as the gorgeous brunette woman comes towards me, wearing killer heels and a tan Burberry mac that showcases her curves to perfection.
My eyes flit to the hulking man coming up behind her, and my breath stills as I take in his huge form, tattoos peeking out of his shirt around his wrists and neck.
He could definitely give Ash a run for his money in terms of the amount of ink that covers his skin.
I’m speechless, not able to say anything as they reach our little group. What the fuck are they doing here?
“Lilly. My little Lilly Bear,” Lexi croaks, voice full of emotion as tears fill her green eyes. They’re not emerald like Loki’s, but more of a spring green like newly sprouted leaves covered in dew. “Oh, Lilly love, I’ve missed you so much.”
She goes to close the distance between us, but a blond Viking steps in her way, completely blocking her from my view.
“Who the fuck are you,” I hear Jax rumble as the others close ranks, until all I can see is a wall of muscled backs.
I mean, the view is fucking awesome, but, yeah, I need to see what’s going on in front of them as well.
“Guys, it’s okay. I know them,” I assure them, trying to push between Loki and Jax but not getting very far.
“Fucking move!” I hiss out in frustration, ready to start shit if they keep ignoring me.
I feel a desperation to make sure that they’re really here begin to stir in my chest, my pulse pulsing in my ears.
They move aside slightly, leaving just enough of a gap for me to squeeze through. Fuckers. As I step through, I see Ryan squaring up to Jax, both practically snarling and vibrating with the need to let their beasts loose. I roll my eyes.
“Can you guys do the whole my muscles are bigger than yours shit later please?” I huff, stepping in between the fucking giants, causing Ryan to back up a step.
Jax brings a hand to my waist, pulling me closer to his body until his heat feels like it seeps into me, regardless of our clothes and outside coats. It’s really bloody distracting, but I manage to keep Her Vagisty under control to deal with the matter at hand. Ho-bag!
Ryan’s gaze flicks down to Jax’s hand, then over the other boys, all of whom look a little scary with scowls on their faces.
It’s pretty adorable, and I have to rein in the smile that wants to spread on my face.
Turning back to look at Lexi and Ryan, the almost smile drops as I wonder what they’re doing here, and how they knew I’d be here.
“Damn, girl! You got yourself one of those reverse harems that you were always reading about, huh?” Lexi laughs, taking in all the guys with a glittering twinkle in her eyes.
It helps break the whirlwind of thoughts swirling in my mind, whilst also causing me to blush scarlet. She always knew what was going on with me, so I’m not surprised that she guessed correctly what is between me and the boys.
Her eyes come back to rest on me, and the soft look of pure love that shines in them makes tears spring to my own.
“Oh, darling,” she says, her own eyes filling up as she holds out her arms to me.
I don’t think about the fact that I haven’t heard from them in almost a year.
I just tear out of Jax’s grip and throw myself at the woman who was as close to me as my own mother.
Her arms wrap tightly around me, surrounding me in her floral perfume and love as she holds me close.
Tears track down my face, dripping onto her mac and darkening the fabric.
My own arms band around her, holding on for dear life.
I feel Ryan step up behind me, and his own arms come around both of us, adding his scent of sandalwood that feels so much like home that even more tears fall. I soak in their embrace for several moments, letting the comfort wash over me and soak into my bones.
Finally deciding that I need some answers, and need to explain to the guys what the hell is going on, I straighten up, untangle myself and take a small step away.
Immediately, Jax is at my back again, pulling me against him, and I draw from his strength to ask what has been silently eating away at me for almost a year.
“Why did you disappear?” I ask, swallowing the lump that is still in my throat. Ryan’s brow dips, his jaw clenching.
“We didn’t disappear, little one,” he tells me in his gruff voice. His chestnut hair is peppered with grey, more than when I last saw him a year ago, and his jaw is covered in a light stubble that really suits him.
“I haven’t heard from you in almost a year! What the fuck else do you call it?” Anger washes over me in a wave at his words, the feelings of rejection and abandonment roaring to the surface.
“Lilly lovely, he’s right. We've been trying desperately to get ahold of you, but seem to be blocked at every turn,” Lexi rushes in, stepping towards me and taking hold of one of my hands.
“We tried everything. All the socials, email, and even sending bloody letters! But we never heard a dicky bird,” she tells me, her eyes pleading and her East London roots showing with the use of Cockney slang.
“I–I don’t understand…” I trail off, looking between her and Ryan whilst being held by Jax with the others on either side of us.
“It’s the truth, little one,” Ryan assures me, his hazel eyes boring into mine. “We didn’t even get invited to the funeral, so we couldn’t talk to you then.” His jaw works like his teeth are clenched tight, a shimmer of tears in his own eyes that he tries to blink away.
“W–what?” My breath whooshes out of me, and I suddenly feel lightheaded, leaning into Jax more who tightens his grip.
I never got to go to her funeral. I was too drugged up, basically under sedation for several weeks after Mum’s death.
Whenever I was awake, I would be an absolute mess.
Screaming, rocking, and unable to cope. My uncle said that anytime the funeral was mentioned, I would fly into a mindless rage, and they’d have to sedate me yet again.
I have very little memories of that time, more a feeling of pain and terror, but then, I guess that’s what trauma and heavy drugs will do to you.
Although I wasn't able to attend, I’d assumed that Lexi and Ryan would have been there.
Before I can even formulate a response, Ash steps in.
“Can I suggest that we take this indoors somewhere? Before it starts raining again. This seems like a conversation to have in private.”
“Y–yes, that's a good idea,” I stammer out, seeing the concern in Lexi’s and Ryan’s eyes, their gazes pained as they look at me. “We’re staying in Claridge’s, can you meet us there?”
“Of course, Lilly Bear,” Lexi replies, squeezing my hand. “We’ll be right behind you.”
I watch as they walk away until Jax takes a step back, and turns me back around to face the car, his huge hands on my upper arms.
“Come on, Baby Girl. Let’s get in the car, and you can have some breakfast,” he softly suggests, letting go and grasping my hand in his warm one. I follow him, my mind a maelstrom of emotions and thoughts.
We settle inside the plush interior, the luxury lost on me as Jax buckles my seatbelt, and Ash opens one of the food containers that he got from somewhere.
It’s full of fruit and those small caramel Stroopwafels, and although it feels as though my stomach is churning, when he brings a waffle to my lips in silent command, I take a bite.
My appetite returns full force as the sweet flavour hits my tongue, and before I know it, I've finished them and the fruit, leaving the container empty.
I must have eaten quickly, because we pull to a stop outside the hotel as I swallow my last mouthful.
“Good girl,” Ash praises, using his thumb to wipe a crumb from the corner of my mouth. “Right, before we go in, can you tell us who Lexi and Ryan are?” he asks, and I’m shocked to realise that I didn’t even introduce them. I take a deep breath.
“Lexi was Mum’s best friend, she worked at Grey’s too,” I tell them, looking at Kai who gives me a small smile that warms me more than the heating in the vehicle.
He’s putting his stuff aside to help me deal with mine, and my chest feels like it’s going to burst, my heart so full as I look at him and then the others.
“Ryan was Mum’s long-term boyfriend, practically a father to me although she never made it official for some reason. ”
Ash nods, Kai obviously filled him in on our conversation by the lake last term, then the door opens and he’s stepping out, holding out a hand for me to take like a gallant Knight.
I look around to see Lexi and Ryan walking up to us, tentative smiles on their faces as they take in the hotel. Like Mum, Lexi earnt well, but this is next-level shit.
I step away from Ash, taking hold of Lexi’s hand and her face lights up with a brilliant smile, the very reason why she had the best tips at Grey’s. It feels so comforting to be holding her hand, and we walk like that, following Ash and Jax with Kai, Loki, and Ryan coming up behind us.
Once inside, Martin, who was there to greet us, takes us over to the Art Deco style lift, ushering us inside.
He leaves us to it, only after Ash assures him that we know where we’re going several times.
Apparently, The Prince Alexander suite is their usual, and they’ve stayed here quite often before.
We take the lift up to the third floor, the male uniformed lift attendant making sure we get where we need to be, because heaven forbid we press the damn button ourselves.