Page 24 of Kiss of Ruin (Brutal Empire)

She stands and starts pacing next to the coffee table. “I knew you had feelings for her when you would call. Never once did I think you acted on them. And that was why she looked broken all the time. What is wrong with you?”

I set my empty glass on the table after draining the remnants of the glass in one gulp. I don’t know how to answer her. Whatever I say next will reveal that I’m more of a monster than she thinks I am at this moment.

“I had a war to fight. I couldn’t give her my attention.”

Mom whirls around, her eyes blazing. “Don’t even try that. If she believed you cared and were staying to defend the business in New York, she would understand. The only way she would arrive in the shape she did was because of you. What did you say to her before you put her on that plane?”

I close my eyes once again. I can’t face the woman who raised me and admit to what I did to the woman I loved. “I told her that it was just a fling. We were both bored.”

I open my eyes and see her hand before it lashes out and slaps my cheek. My head snaps to the side. I’m completely unprepared, not sure why. I deserve her outrage. Hell, I expected Scarlett to slap me once I arrived. It wouldn’t be the first time.

When I look up at my father, he’s adjusted his position and now sits with his elbows on his chair and his hands steepled in front of him. He doesn’t react to Mom’s ire, just stares me down.

“I needed her out of New York.”

“This is not the man I raised you to be. We may live in a world of violence. Hell, we both have committed our fair share of violence. And here you sit, ignoring the one lesson I taught you about this world and how to survive in it.”

“That the only person who will always be one your side, as long as you’re on her side is the woman you love and who loves you,” I say quietly, knowing that they can both hear me.

“I knew you galivanting all over for the world for Carlos and Andreas was a bad idea. Never did I imagine how much it would change you.”

“I couldn’t have her there,” I snap and regret it immediately.

“If you ever speak to your mother that way again, I will get out of this chair and remind you who I am.”

I didn’t have a doubt in the world that my father could and would kick the shit out of me right in his office for disrespecting my mother. I nod. “Sorry, Mom.”

Dad gives the slightest inclination of his head. “Now, how are you going to repair the mess you made? That’s why you’re here right?”

“Yes. But how in the hell am I supposed to do that if she won’t even talk to me.”

Mom sits back down, smoothing the invisible wrinkles in her dress out. “Do you blame her? You have no idea how hard she had to fight over the last few months.”

Her words made my stomach churn. I knew it would be a battle, but I knew she wasn’t safe with me in New York. “New York wasn’t safe. Hell, it still isn’t safe. Elena DeLuca wants her dead. She needed to be somewhere safe to heal.”

My father sat forward in his chair. “Are you telling me Elena DeLuca is the person who shot Scarlett?”

The details at the time hadn’t seemed important. I wanted them to take her in, I only told her she was shot by the DeLuca’s and needed protection while she was here. “Yes. She kidnapped her. Then when Scarlett escaped and was running toward me, Elena shot her in the back.”

The cold look in Elena’s eyes as she stood there with the gun in her hand, aiming once more at Scarlett’s lifeless body in my arms still haunted me.

“Fuck. No wonder you wanted her out of that city.” My father runs his hand through his hair.

Mom rests her hand on my arm. “You should have been honest with her from the beginning and you probably could have avoided all of this. At this point, I think you need to beg for forgiveness. It’s what she deserves.”

“You’re right.”

Mom stands up. “I’m going to go meet her at the boutique.”

“I’ll drive you, honey. Will give me sometime to make some calls,” he says, following after her.

Both of my parents leave me alone in the study, giving me time to think about my next move. I know I fucked up when I told her she was nothing. I didn’t just break her heart. I practically ripped it from her chest and smashed it.

Scarlett deserves the world, and I will give it to her if I can. First I need to show her that I never meant anything I said. Then, I have to show her how much I love and care about her.

The question is, how am I supposed to do that when I’m still lying to her?

ChapterTwelve

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