Page 7

SIX

IMOGEN

Summer appears shocked as she stares around the sodden house.

“Look at the damage. Our stuff is ruined.”

We have been instructed to pack up and move into temporary accommodation until the principal arranges for the house to be restored to normalcy.

“It’s a disaster.” I stare at the wet furnishings and wrinkle my nose at the smell of damp.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d blame my brother for this.” Summer’s eyes flash and I laugh softly.

“Why would Frankie destroy Willow Tree House?”

“To make me move in with him, of course. He hates me having freedom, and this is a page out of his little black book in getting what he wants.”

She pouts and appears so furious it makes me laugh, despite the situation.

“He got his wish then.”

She frowns. “Only temporarily.”

She sighs. “Are you okay with moving in there until this is ready?”

“I’m fine with it.” Actually, I am because I’m having Cassie’s room as she shares with Frankie, anyway. Summer is pissed because she was given the spare room next to Frankie’s, which is far enough away from Luca’s, causing them a huge problem.

It’s almost amusing except for the fact that Jesse also lives there and when he learned of the new sleeping arrangements, he whispered that Cassie’s room isn’t far from his and to make sure not to lock my door at night.

The thought of it sets me on edge because I haven’t forgotten what happened just before the sprinklers malfunctioned. It’s the only explanation anyone can find because there is no evidence of any fire or heated devise that could have set them off.

The fire crew couldn’t explain it, and neither could the company who installed them.

I’m grateful for it though because things were getting pretty heavy back there and I’m trying not to think about the fact that Jesse wasn’t going to stop anytime soon, despite my obvious reluctance.

The guys help us move our stuff and Summer glares at Frankie the entire time, who merely grins when he catches her. It’s obvious he likes to control her, and I pity her for that.

As I hobble beside Jack, who is holding several of my boxes, he says in a low voice, “Are you okay, darlin’? You don’t seem yourself lately.”

“I’m okay, merely adjusting to everything.”

“The Claiming?” Jack, as always, hits the nail spot on and I sigh.

“I was meaning to talk to you about that. When you claimed Siri the first time, Cassie told me it was a setup. You didn’t want to claim her in any other way than to save her from Frankie’s control. Are you happy with the outcome of that?”

I’m asking because our situations are almost identical. Jack saved Siri and my aim is to save Jesse, but taking our relationship to the next level wasn’t really on the agenda.

“Of course.” He smiles at the girl walking in front of us, deep in conversation with Summer.

“Admittedly, at first I wasn’t sure. I was confused because of Cassie, I guess.”

“You wanted her.” I state the god-damned obvious because for my entire life I’ve always known they share a close bond that I hoped would deepen into love one day. I suppose it did, just not the kind of love I hoped for them.

“I wanted the dream.” Jack smiles. “You understand how it is, Imogen. We live the same life and are surrounded by men and women who are fiercely devoted to one another. I am the same with both you and Cassie, whereas I always regarded you as my little sister. My relationship with Cassie was more–” he sighs. “Complicated.”

“It may happen one day.” I attempt to reassure him because I’m still not certain Jack is over the idea. Despite how good things are with Siri, I still catch the yearning in his eye when he watches Cassie and Frankie making out, and my heart bleeds for him.

“It may, but I’m happy with Siri. Really, I am.”

He lowers his voice. “Why the questions? Are you having second thoughts about Jesse?”

“A little.” I admit because there is no point in lying to Jack.

“I understand why.” A flicker of concern passes through his eyes.

“Jesse has a lot of demons to fight and I hate that you’re caught up in that.”

“Demons?” I hold my breath and he nods.

“His involvement with Jenna Sloane affected him deeply. Did you know she fed him drugs and tried to control his mind?”

“I heard a whisper about that.” I remember what Cassie and Summer told me and I whisper, “But she’s gone. Surely the drugs are out of his system by now.”

“Or he found another supplier.” Jack’s expression is grave, and he stops and glances around before saying in a dark undertone, “Watch him, Imogen. Don’t get me wrong, Jesse is a good guy, one of the best, but comes from a town that gets off on controlling its inhabitants.

Jenna Sloane saw that and selected him for that reason.

He is used to being controlled and is a willing student to anyone who offers him freedom.

She did a lot of damage to his mind and word is, she isn’t done with him yet. ”

“I think you’re wrong, Jack. Jesse wouldn’t let her control him. He told me he wants out of that life.”

“Then I hope you’re right, Imogen, because if Jenna Sloane isn’t controlling him, somebody else may have stepped into her shoes.”

“What makes you say that?”

The urgency in his voice doesn’t escape me and he appears worried, which isn’t like Jack.

“Frankie told me that Jesse is hiding something. He guards his phone and ignores text messages that come in and passes them off as nothing important. He intends on discovering Jesse’s secret, but so far, Jesse hasn’t made any moves.”

“Perhaps he hasn’t got any moves to make.”

I don’t know why I’m defending Jesse, but something is telling me he’s innocent and just trying to deal with a shit upbringing colliding with the freedom Rockwell is giving him.

Jack sighs. “It’s good that you and Summer will be under our roof. You may hate it, but it’s the safest place for you.”

“But Jesse lives there and from your own words, Jack, you believe he is the biggest threat to me.”

He grins and chuckles softly. “You are a shrewd woman Imogen and I rate you against Jesse any day. Just take it slow with him and be certain before you do anything you may regret.”

He glances at Siri and a soft smile lights his face. “It worked for me and I can safely say I have never been so happy.”

As we continue our journey to The Elusive House, Jack’s words roll around my mind.

I don’t need him to tell me something isn’t right with Jesse, but he’s given me an idea.

Is someone controlling Jesse and is that person here at Rockwell?

Once thing’s certain, I’m in the perfect position to uncover the mystery and if it means saving Jesse, then hold my drink, I’m going in.