Love Among The Ruins-Chapter 69

NADINE’S P.O.V

I headed back to the room in a daze, my heart pounding in my chest.

My hands shook, my legs felt like jelly and my mind was running a mile a minute but I somehow managed to keep my feet moving in the right direction. I thought I was going to throw up, bile clawed up my throat and my skin crawled with disgust from where Trent had touched me.

All I could think about was finding Rowan. I couldn’t tell him how his father threatened me, but I needed his presence. I needed his warmth and his comfort or else I’d scream.

"Nadine!" a hand closed around my wrist and I panicked.

I jammed my elbow into the person’s chest, earning a loud groan. A kick to the groin was my next course of action but the person moved, pushing me into the wall behind me. I shoved against their hold but the hands were firm on my shoulders, keeping me pinned to the wall.

"Stop! What the fuck?"

It took me a second to recognize the voice. I forced myself to relax, forced my breathing to even out as I blinked rapidly to make out the person in front of me. Joshua raised his brow, his eyes wide with confusion and worry.

"Were you trying to kill me?" he hissed out but I said nothing. "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing, let go of me."

My voice was tight, my tone clipped and Joshua must have noticed because he let me go but stayed close to me. I wiped my clammy hands against my pants and started to walk away when he side stepped me. Thankfully, he didn’t touch me this time.

"Where are you going?"

"None of your business." I tried to move again but he was faster. "Joshua, please, I need to go."

"Where are you coming from? You looked green. I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

"Everything is fine."

"Should I get Rowan?"

I stilled. "I thought you didn’t like him."

"I don’t need to like him to know that he seems to be good for you."

I swallowed deeply, somewhat touched by his worry but also on edge. I wasn’t sure if he was still my friend or if he was Trent’s lackey. Was it truly a coincidence that he was the one who found me? Had they been watching me this entire time? If Trent had all these big plans for me, then it was unlikely that he would have left me out there on my own without trying to find me.

"I just want to go back to my room."

"Let me walk you then." Even though it sounded like an offer, I knew he wouldn’t take no for an answer.

I didn’t try to argue, I just turned on my heels and started walking. I heard his sigh behind me, but he didn’t try to stop me, he just walked in step with me, his hands shoved into his pockets. I could tell there was so much he wanted to say but he was smart enough to keep his mouth shut.

He still didn’t speak when we got to the room.

"You can leave now," I told him but he ignored me, raising his fist to knock.

He had barely knocked once when the door opened. Rowan ignored him, his eyes immediately finding mine. I thought I’d managed to get myself together but Rowan saw through all my bullshit because he immediately turned to Joshua and slammed him into the wall hard.

"What the fuck did you do to her?" he hissed out.

Joshua raised his hands in surrender. "I didn’t do anything. I just found her."

"I don’t know what stupid fucking game you’re playing but leave the both of us out of it."

"Rowan!" His head snapped to the side at my voice. "He just walked me back, that’s all."

Rowan frowned but let Joshua go. He didn’t even apologize as Joshua coughed and spluttered, trying to get air back into his lungs. He made his way over to me, his hands gently stroking my cheek as he ran his eyes over me.

"What happened?"

Everything was at the tip of my tongue. It would only take a few seconds to tell him, and yet, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Trent was not a man I wanted to double cross, at least not while I was here. He’d kill Rowan and I without breaking a sweat.

I’d always known he wasn’t a good person, but this... this was beyond what I’d imagined.

"Nothing," I lied. "Can we go in please? I want to lie down."

I didn’t give him a chance to respond, I just brushed past him and headed for the bed. Rowan stood at the doorway for a few minutes, presumably speaking with Joshua before he shut the door behind him.

I avoided his eyes, focusing instead on the plain grey walls as I stripped out of my clothes and into one of Rowan’s loose shirts. I climbed into bed, curling into myself while Rowan watched me without speaking.

For a long minute, he just watched me. "Are you going to just lie there?"

I shrugged. "You could always lie next to me."

"Nadine-"

I rolled my eyes and turned to him. "I hate it when you call me Nadine, which is weird considering I used to hate it when you called me princess. Now, I’m used to the latter. You only say my name when you’re upset."

He lowered himself onto the edge of the table. "I’m not upset. I just need you to talk to me."

"There’s nothing to talk about."

"Bullshit!" he spat. I’d never seen him this upset at me before. He ran his hands through his hair and sighed. "I know Trent, I know what kind of a bastard he is. If he threatened you-"

"He didn’t."

It wasn’t a complete lie. He didn’t threaten me, he threatened Rowan. I knew if I told him, he’d get upset and do everything in his power to defy his father but I couldn’t. I couldn’t risk his life that way.

"Princess, please, I want to help you but I can’t if you don’t tell me how. What did Trent want with you? Why did he call you?"

"Nothing."

"You’re lying."

"I’m not. Now please, stop."

I turned on my side, hoping it would discourage him but it didn’t. He just pushed off the desk and made his way over to me, his hand soft on my shoulder and his lips against my hair.

"Whatever it is, I’m right here," he whispered. "You don’t have to hide from me."

"I’m not hiding."

"What did he say? Did he threaten to have me thrown out? Did he threaten your dad?"

"Rowan, stop, please."

I hoped he would give up, but he didn’t, he just kept going.

"Did he say he’d make our lives hell?"

"He didn’t say anything."

"Then what is the problem?"

"I’m pregnant!" I screamed and he went silent. "Your father called me because I’m pregnant."

"What?"

"We’re having a baby. Congratulations. Are you happy now?"