Update for you guys! Thank goodness for a 3-day weekend! Hope you enjoy this chapter :)

Chapter 8: The Last Piece of the Puzzle

Charlie was practically skipping on her way back to the house, whistling a tune that had been playing at the party days prior. She smiled like an ingenue in love every time she remembered Bass. It was like living in a perpetual state of bliss that she wished would never end. The mere thought of him made her body react in unexpected and pleasurable ways and made her heart swell with joy. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been so happy. Jumping over a stream that ran through the meadow just a few yards from her home, she noticed Miles sitting in the front porch with a bottle of rye whiskey in his hands. An impending gloom came over her. Something didn't feel right. It was the middle of the week and although already after noon, still too early for Miles to be drinking.

She paced over slowly the rest of the way, eyeing her uncle carefully before she reached him. "Miles. Is everything okay?" Her voice was meek, like that of a child afraid of a negative response.

Miles looked up at her, a broken expression on his face but a furious flare in his eyes. Charlie felt a sickening tug in her belly. He narrowed his eyes at her, nothing but silence between them for a few moments. It was making her more and more uncomfortable with every passing second.

"Why don't you tell me, Charlie?" He asked with an accusing tone.

Charlie didn't reply. Her eyes quickly flickering over to Nora as she came out the front door to see what was the matter. When she saw Charlie, she lowered her gaze.

"Miles..." Charlie muttered.

He came to his feet, his form taking a massive and lofty appearance. With one swing of the arm, he chucked the bottle to the ground. It shattered, its contents spilling and seeping into the dry dirt.

"Did you think we wouldn't find out?" Charlie had never heard so much anger in his voice. "What the fuck were you thinking getting involved with him?"

Charlie felt faint, everything around her taking a blurry appearance as his words sunk in. Miles knew. The fear that crawled inside her had little to do with his reaction and everything to do with the possibility of never seeing Bass again.

"How–"

"How do we know?" Miles finished the question for her. "Your friend Greyson came over this morning." Charlie felt her insides burn with betrayal. "He told us everything. Your trips to the Republic. That fancy dinner you attended this past weekend."

"I can explain." She began. But could she? Charlie wasn't sure she even knew what had drawn her to Bass Monroe in the first place. How was she to explain her actions to Miles and Nora? She bit her tongue, unaware that she was hurting herself until she tasted her own blood.

"I don't know how I was so stupid to believe he wouldn't try to lure you in like a stray cat." He snarled. "I'm not gonna let him ruin you too, Charlie."

Charlie knew he had every right to be angry. She'd lied straight to his face and formed a potentially dangerous liaison with the man he most hated. But the thought of Miles trying to control her life only ignited her need to break from her sheltered life. Charlie had never felt more free than when she was with Bass. In a strange turn of events, her sense of true self and independence only shined when she was with him. She hated the way Miles always tried to shield her from the real world and made Bass out to be the oppressor.

"You being my uncle doesn't give you a right to decide what I do with my life." She yelled back, making even Nora flinch by the way she delivered the line.

"Charlie he's just trying to protect you." Nora replied.

The girl responded with mockery, "Really? Protect me how? By lying to me about what really happened between him and Bass?"

"Bass." Miles mumbled, laughing at the way Charlie said his name so effortlessly. "I don't know what Bass told you but if you think he's being completely honest with you, you're an even bigger idiot than I thought."

"Don't try to pretend like you've been a fountain of truth, Miles." She spat back.

Miles laughed, running his hand through his hair in a desperation. "I really doubt he's been any more helpful. And I swear to you Charlie, if you don't stay away from that man, I will be forced to take drastic measures."

"What are you gonna do? Ground me for a week until I get over it?"

He shook his head, "No. But I will find a way to get us across the Gulf and away from here."

Charlie felt like she'd been sucker punched in the entrails. "You wouldn't–"

"Don't test me." He replied.

Images of her times with Bass flashed before her eyes, the things he'd revealed about Miles playing on repeat like a broken record. Everything in her line of sight took on a different shape, her mind trying to unscramble every detail like a puzzle in disarray.

"Bass has been more honest with me than you've ever been." She began, "You, the integral Miles Matheson, leader of the Republic. How many men did you kill during your time at the head of the most nefarious organization of our time, Uncle Miles?" She sneered. "Or are you going to deny that you helped him in his efforts to start a regime?"

Miles was speechless.

"Oh, did I hit the nail in the head with that one?" Charlie continued. She watched as Miles's expression changed to that of imminent defeat. "You and him were like brothers. What changed?"

"You want to know what changed? You want me to tell you who he really is?" Miles looked like he was about to deliver the lowest of blows.

"Miles don't..." Nora said, stepping in front of him with pleading eyes. "You can't do that to her. Not like this."

Charlie stepped up on the porch, her feet inching closer to them as she demanded answers. "Tell me, Miles! For once in your life, tell me the fucking truth!"

Nora turned to her, "This conversation is over." She rose above the quiet and meek appearance she usually took on. The Nora standing before her now was one to fear. "Do you understand me, Charlie? Not one more word of this. Give your uncle some time to clear his head."

Charlie gritted her teeth but agreed to Nora's request.

With her gaze to the blue skies and the breeze blowing through the open window of her bedroom, Charlie recounted all the ways in which her life had changed since that fateful day of her encounter with Sebastian Monroe. Before him, her existence had been nothing but a specter of what she really wanted out of life. He'd shown her there was more to her journey than met the eye.

There was a light knock on the door.

Charlie turned to see Nora's head popping in through the narrow crack, "Can we talk?"

She rolled her eyes, "If you're here to try to convince me that Bass is the devil incarnate and that I should stay away from him, save your breath."

Nora walked inside and closed the door behind her. "I know what you're feeling." She said quietly, "It's the same way I feel whenever I think of Miles."

Charlie looked at her, surprised that Nora was able to see through her so well. "How do you know that?"

"Because I'm a woman and I know exactly how a woman reacts when she feels like something is threatening to destroy what makes her happy." She took a seat next to Charlie on the bed, making her move slightly on the mattress. "I saw it in your eyes. And I'm pretty sure Miles saw it too."

There was no point in trying to deny it. The fact that Nora had been the one to bring it up was a relief all on its own. "I love him." Charlie admitted, her heart pounding in her chest and producing an all too familiar ache.

Nora's lips pressed together, relenting a tiny but comforting smile. "I know."

"But you also know the truth and that's why you agree with Miles."

The brunette took a deep breath, her exhale heavy and full of thought. "It's not so simple, Charlie. It's not a truth that belongs to me, I'm not the right person to tell it." Her words were sweet, mothering in a way that Charlie appreciated. "And as much as I love Miles, I don't necessarily agree with the way in which he's handled the situation."

"Then tell me." Charlie pleaded. "I need to know if Bass is deserving of what I feel for him."

Nora could relate to Charlie's uncertainty. Many times she too had felt like Miles wasn't deserving of her whole heart. "I think you already know who's the only person who can tell you the truth."

Charlie's eyes widened, "But Miles is downstairs, there's no way he'll let me go."

Nora pressed her lips into a straight line. "He told me we're leaving tomorrow, Charlie. Which means, if you don't do this tonight, you might not have another chance."

The fear those words instilled in her was unbearable. Charlie knew what she had to do.

Crossing the border into Austin felt like reaching the promised land. Between the opening of the gate, the run up the trail that led to the estate and the flickering of the lights in the corridor, Charlie's body felt like it was being guided by an unseen force. The sudden dimming and brightening of the lights gave the archways and halls an aura that seemed otherworldly. By the time Charlie reached the front door, she felt like she'd lost track of time, trapped in a endless wormhole of what-ifs and what-might-have-beens.

She rang the doorbell over and over, knowing that the fluctuating power might not put some of those rings through. It was late, close to the midnight hour, without a soul in sight.

The door opened slowly and quietly. From behind, the old maid peered at her, dressed in a night gown that looked like it belonged in another century. "Miss Charlotte." She said with a warm smile.

"I need to see him." Charlie replied.

The old lady nodded, inviting her inside.

Charlie didn't know what had come over her but the closer she got to seeing Bass the more frightened she felt of losing him. Her emotions were all over the place, splattered like pigments on an abstract painting.

She was waiting in the same room where she had bathed the day of the dinner party. Her eyes were glued to the stars sprinkled all over the black sky, a trickle of tears running down her cheeks as her emotions got the better of her. The maid had returned in one occasion to bring her a bathrobe and a nightgown, asking if a warm bath would help put her at ease.

Charlie was standing in front of the bathtub watching the still waters when Bass came into the room.

"Charlotte." He said, with a smile on his face. He noticed her saddened state and hurried to her side. "What's wrong?"

She hugged him, holding him tightly and breathing in his scent. Charlie could tell he'd just returned home, still dressed in his uniform and smelling of grime and gunpowder. "I just need you to hold me." She said quietly.

His embrace was like a soothing remedy. "Of course."

After a few minutes, she raised her chin up to him, staring into his striking blue eyes. "Miles knows about us."

Bass looked shocked. "What did he say?"

"Not much. He was really angry and then he threatened to take me away from you."

Bass tightened his hold on her, "I won't let that happen, Charlie." He kissed the top of her head, "He'll have to go through me first."

Charlie smiled and then pushed herself up on her toes to reach his lips. His kiss felt more liberating than ever. The warmth of his moist lips enveloping her like a protective armor.

"Why don't you get ready for bed and get some rest. We'll talk in the morning."

She nodded, not knowing if prolonging the discussion was actually preventing an inevitable heartbreak.

Bass couldn't keep himself from going in for another kiss. His lips brushed against the tender skin of her cheek before enclosing her mouth. He held her by the waist, his body tensing at the feel of her tongue swirling inside his mouth. The innocence of the act getting lost in the fiery depths of their desire. He pulled at her lower lip with his teeth, smiling against her mouth as her hands traveled across his back.

He pulled away slowly, knowing that it was leading them into dangerously racy waters. "Goodnight, Charlie." His breathe lingered on her lips.

She sighed with an air of disenchantment, "Goodnight, Bass."

Charlie wrapped herself in the bathrobe, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her soaked hair stuck to her neck, droplets of water running down her chest before getting absorbed by the silky fabric of the robe. Tomorrow would be another day but she couldn't help feeling like her time with Bass was running out. She wasn't prepared to live with the regret of letting him slip through her fingers, of having him so close and then having him ripped away. That night could have possibly been the last she had left with him? Charlie wasn't prepared to live in a world of what-ifs and shadows of what could have been between them. For all she knew, she wouldn't have tomorrow.

She smiled at the girl staring back at her in the mirror. Her eyes lit up with hope, her body trembled nervously, and her cheeks blushed at the thought of taking the initiative.

A few minutes later, she found herself standing in front of his bedroom door. The hallway was dimly lit by a flickering candle inside a tall glass holder. She breathed deeply and evenly before raising her fist up to knock but her hand retreated before it even got a chance to touch the wood. She shut her eyes tightly and reached for the doorknob, turning it slowly as it opened in front of her.

Charlie's eyes scanned the room, falling over Bass who was sipping a glass of whiskey by the window. He had his back turned to her, his eyes contemplating the quietude of the night. The only other sound was the crackling fire that flared behind the glass of the fireplace next to him.

She bit her lip and then shut the door.

Bass snapped his head in her direction, in awe of her sudden appearance. "Charlie. Is everything alright?" It seemed his first instinct was always to ask about her current state of well-being.

Charlie smiled, "Everything's fine."

He set his drink down on top of the fireplace. He was barefoot, still wearing his pants and a white undershirt. From the looks of it, he'd done little to ready himself for bed. Charlie approached him, like a hauntingly, irresistible beauty floating towards him and evoking feelings of arousal.

She didn't say a word as her hand ran over his hard chest. Her head tilted back and her lips touched the skin of his throat, moving gently and nipping at it lightly. Charlie could feel his pulse intensifying as a low guttural moan left his lips.

Bass could feel himself growing hard, his cock responding to her mere presence. Her wet hair dampened his shirt as her mouth left faint bruising on his neck. With one foot behind the other, she pulled him in the direction of the bed. Hands ran freely over his back, pulling at his shirt in an upward motion until she managed to peel it off his body. Charlie kissed his chest, tracing the muscles of his stomach with her fingertips before returning her lips to his.

He darted his tongue into her mouth, his hands clasping to her face. Charlie's heart was pounding, her center pulsing at the feel of his hardness pressed against her leg. She stopped for a moment, turning his body and shoving him onto the bed. He laughed, positively turned on by her hunger and determination.

Charlie untied the bathrobe, letting it fall to her feet. Bass's eyes trailed over her, taking in every inch of skin and quietly gasping at the perfection that stood before him. He felt unable to resist, her imposing form only making him want her that much more. She had an alluring quality with an air of sweetness that he found almost impossible to withstand. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he pressed his lips between her breasts, his hands caressing her ass, fingers kneading plump flesh like malleable clay.

"I need you Bass." She said, teasing him with her breasts. His lips parted, suckling her nipple and glancing up to see her gratified expression. "I need you inside me." The words fell out of her mouth as it dropped open, exhaling a drawn out moan.

One of his hands slid between her legs, drawn by the heat and dampness of her sex. His fingertips touched the slickness of her opening, and his cock throbbed with need at the feel of her wet slit. Bass looked up at her, knowing that one step further and he'd be in too deep. As much as it physically pained him to restrain himself, he groaned. "I want you to know the truth first." He said, coming to his feet.

Charlie shook her head.

"Charlotte, please–"

She put a finger up to his lips, quieting him down as she took a hold of one of his hands and interlocked their fingers. "Not now, Bass."

Bass cleared his throat but of all the thoughts that circled in his mind, none managed to materialized into spoken words. He placed his free hand on the tantalizing bend of her hips, her soft skin feeling like velvet underneath his palm.

Charlie kissed him once. Twice. Three times before speaking. "There are so many things I'm unsure of Bass." She paused, "But this." Taking his hand and guiding it down to the mound between her legs, she continued. "This is the only thing I'm sure of right now." Her lip trembled. Heart accelerating with each rushing thought before she let it do the talking. "I love you, Bass."

The admission was the sweetest of symphonies to Bass's ears. He seemed stunned at first but then he smiled, holding her face with the gentlest of touches and lightly stroking her cheek with his thumb.

"It's okay if you don't feel the same." She said, with a waning smile.

Bass looked at her intently, his ardent blue eyes consuming every ounce of reason in her. "I love you too, Charlie." He said whole-heartedly.

He waited for her to smile again before crashing his lips into hers. Hands moved keenly over naked skin, outlining slender valleys and wide bends. Their breaths quickened and hitched with each eager exploration. When Charlie reached the barrier of clothing between her fingers and his body, she yanked at it with greed, ridding Bass of everything and leaving him bare to her touch. Her hips moved against him, his stiffened cock crushed against her flat belly, leaving remnants of his undying need for her on her skin.

The flames in the fireplace danced in tune with their movements, their drawn out shadows playfully adorning the bedroom walls. Charlie moaned as he settled her back atop the bedsheets fluffed over the mattress. His hand wrapped around her calf, gliding up and down like he was worshipping a mystical artifact.

Charlie bit her lip, her center pulsing with excitement as she watched him stroke himself. The tip of his cock barely brushed her slit but already she felt like she was melting into an abyss of endless pleasure. She begged him for more, her glistening center eager to welcome him.

"You're everything I'll ever want and everything I'll ever need." He said to her as he began to invade her depths.

Charlie whimpered and her body shuddered at the feel of his cock sliding into her, inch by inch. Bass gasped, the sensation of her walls expanding and clenching around his girth proving to be exhilarating. Every cell in their bodies vibrated with electrifying delight. Bass moved inside her, increasing his speed at her command. His hands were restless, fervently touching her body like a blind man trying to memorize every last detail.

Being with him was everything Charlie imagined it would be and more. Her body shaking in complete bliss whenever he found that magical spot that brought her over the edge. The minutes passed, enveloped in cries of pleasure and labored breaths. Charlie was sitting on the edge of the bed, her legs spread and eyes half-closed as Bass continued to pound into her. His length was sleek from the remains of her countless orgasms as it slid in and out of her at a rapid pace.

The look on his face told Charlie he was almost at his peak. He reached for her breast, pulling at the swollen nipple and then gripping the mound in its entirety with his large hand. In an instant he pulled out, vigorously running his free hand over his shaft and squirting warm release over her taut abdomen before collapsing next to her on the bed. He kissed her, breathing heavily as his heart pounded incessantly in his chest. The sensation made Charlie shiver in satisfaction.

A few minutes later, she turned to find him, noticing his eyes were closed. His breathing was calm, a serene expression reflected on his face. She smiled, turning on her side and kissing his forehead.

Bass opened his eyes, smiling back at her.

"That was incredible." She said.

His hand touched her flushed cheek, "No. You're incredible." Charlie grinned, her fingers raking his messy curls. "And now I'm a little hungry. You?" He asked.

Her heart pounded in unpredictable ways whenever she looked at his face. He was an impossibly beautiful man and the way he smiled obliterated all her senses.

Bass pushed himself up on the bed, the muscles of his stomach tightening in response to his effort. He'd been blessed with the most irresistible of features, the one between his legs being particularly jaw-dropping and splendid. Charlie couldn't help stealing a few glances, even soft, his dick was an awe-inspiring sight.

The joy of watching his nakedness only lasted a few seconds before he pulled up his pants. He placed a kiss on her lips and then excused himself downstairs.

Charlie was blissful, a carefree sensation coursing through her veins as she wrapped herself in a bed sheet and waltzed around the room like a character from an animated film. Her cheeks were starting to hurt from smiling so much. She paced over to the window, staring at the blackness outside, the ghostly silhouettes of trees barely visible to the eye. Moments later, she moved on to examine the art hanging on the walls. It was the first time she'd ever paid attention to them. There were black and white photographs of landscapes and an antique-looking abstract painting. She stared at it for a few minutes trying to decipher its meaning before giving up.

After looking at some of the trinkets atop the fireplace, her eyes caught sight of an old leather vault sitting underneath a side table. Charlie pursed her lips, staring at it with curiosity and debating on whether it was okay to take a peek. She told herself that she'd open it if after a few minutes Bass still hadn't returned. Her attempts to occupy herself with other things failed, and soon enough her curiosity got the better of her.

She popped the vault open. Inside, there were old envelopes with letters and documents stamped with the Monroe seal. Charlie dug a little deeper, finding old and tarnished photographs. One depicted a toddler, ivory skin and radiant blue eyes, a mesh of blond curly hair atop his head. She giggled, deducing she was looking at a baby Bass, and finding it absolutely endearing.

Beneath it there were more photographs. And older Bass with two other girls, most likely his sisters. Another of a teenage Bass with a young boy who strongly resembled her uncle. Charlie's expression shifted. The reality of why she had returned to Bass suddenly hitting her like a stray bullet. She threw the photographs back in the vault with the intention of closing it and putting the memories to rest.

But before she could fully pull down the cover, she noticed a color photo sticking out like a sore thumb from underneath the collection of black and white prints. Charlie jumped, getting caught off guard by the sudden flicker of the lights. A shiver ran down her spine, like a precedent to a bad omen. She stuck her hand inside, grabbing the corner of the square photograph and pulled it out.

Charlie felt short of breath, a faint spell suddenly taking over her whole being. She was breathing sharply, unable to fill her lungs to full capacity. The white strip below the photo had a written inscription that read Thanksgiving 2029. It had been taken almost four years prior. In the picture, Miles was laughing, his hand over Bass's shoulder, both of them with dirt on their clothes and face. And Bass, he was smiling proudly like he'd just won a medal of honor. His left hand was wrapped around the waist of a woman, equally grimy and also smiling with glee. Charlie couldn't believe her eyes. The woman on the photo was her.

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