Page 61 of Possessive

His lips moved as he thought about how to respond to that. Finally he said, "Probably not. You know how to throw a knife and use a gun. You don't flinch when Reuben orders us to kill. It's possible that if it wasn't for Kurt, you would have become as jaded as me in time."

I stepped over to lower myself into the chair beside him. "It's also possible the girl you think you saw never existed. You've had years to build her up in your mind and make her something else."

"I know what I saw," he said with a grunt. "What I don't understand is why your father handed you over to that fucking prick. It was clear for everyone to see that he adored you. You were his favourite. His princess."

A knot in the table became absolutely fascinating for a minute or two. I focused on it and let his words rattle around in my brain.

"He had a debt," I said eventually. "He had to pay it."

"He had money," Damon insisted. "What could be so big or important that he had to give up his favourite daughter?"

"You might be wrong that I was his favourite," I suggested. "Have you met Rose? He adored her. And Dane and Asher. Just like tonight, he did what he had to do."

Damon shook his head. "I don't buy it."

"It doesn't matter whether you do or not," I said, sharper than I intended. I didn't want to break this fragile truce between us, but he couldn't keep pushing the way he was. I couldn't give him the answers he needed. Not tonight. No matter how much I wanted to tell him everything. I couldn't guarantee he wouldn't turn on me the moment I stepped foot out of the kitchen. Or before.

He sat back. "I guess it doesn't. " His stony expression was back in place. "All those years is enough time to trick myself into thinking someone is different to how they really are." He clearly didn't believe that either. If he did, that would mean questioning his own memory and judgement. In his line of work, that was a dangerous slope to get onto. One that was difficult to get off again alive.

"It's nice to know you were thinking of me," I said lightly. "I must have made quite the impression."

That wasn't the point he was making here, but I couldn't resist the gentle dig. It seemed as though he'd given me a lot of consideration over the years. Now I thought back, I remembered seeing him with Reuben. He was sullen and stayed in the background, much like he was now. Much like many of my father's visitors were.

He smirked. "Short skirt, cute tits, fuckable mouth, it's hard to forget. Don't flatter yourself too much, I just pictured you riding my dick, that's all."

I returned his smirk. "If you say so." That was not all and we both knew it.

Although, that may have been part of it. I was cute and confident back then. Happy and comfortable in my skin. As comfortable as anyone could be at eighteen.

Now— Calling me a shadow wasn't inaccurate. I was a shadow of my old self. If you showed me photos of me back then, I'd probably struggle to recognise myself. Especially if I compared them to my reflection in the mirror.

"You're still a distraction," he said.

"You're still an asshole," I retorted. If he wasn't going to give me a centimetre of leeway, then I wasn't giving him any either. Although, there wasn't as much animosity behind either of our words as there was before.

The sides of his mouth tugged up just a fraction. "Yes, I am. Don't forget it. I'm a reckless asshole who likes to drive too fast and smash perfectly good cars. I missed my calling. I could have done that professionally."

"I'm guessing this pays better," I said. "And you get to be surrounded by family."

"There are worse ways to live," he conceded. "Or die."

I raised my mug and toasted him. He raised his and tapped it against mine.

"I propose we don't die anytime soon," I said. "In fact, I refuse to die until I know Kurt is dead." However long that took, I didn't care. Until I saw him dead with my own eyes, I wouldn't fully relax, and I sure as hell didn't plan to die. After everything, I wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

Damon hummed. "That sounds like a good ambition to me. I think I'll do that too. Although, I might add Samuel Bell to that list. And maybe those daughters of his. They're a pair of snakes, both of them." He pressed his lips together and rolled them a couple of times.

I toasted him again, then took a sip. "To outliving our enemies."

He nodded and gulped down the rest of his drink. "With that goal in mind, I need to get some sleep before the actual sun rises."

I nodded and watched as he stood and stepped out of the kitchen.

I finished my tea and put the empty mugs in the sink. Now the adrenaline from the attack had finally subsided, I was exhausted. Hopefully enough to get some sleep myself.

With the house in silence, I slipped up the stairs and into my room.

CHAPTER 24

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