Page 40 of Redeemed

I can’t blame Haven—never her. She has no idea who my father is. No idea how much of a danger he poses to someone like her. No, my anger is directed solely at him. The smug look on his face tells me he knows he’s gotten under my skin, and that only makes me want to strangle him more.

“Hi.” Haven slides her arms around me once I’m close enough.

“Hey. You’re early.”

“Yeah, sorry, studying didn’t take as long as I thought, and I was anxious to see Star.”

With an arm still around Haven, I angle her so I’m in between her and Mark. “You’ll see her after I show you around. How about that?”

She grins. “Sounds good.”

Without another word to my father, I turn her away and lead her farther into the house. Only when I hear Mark’s office door close do I loosen my hold on Haven.

“That was your dad?” she asks.

“Yes.”

Haven’s hand slides into mine, her skin soft against my calloused palms. “Everyone says he’s really powerful.”

“For now.”

Tilting her head to one side, she looks up at me. “He’s controlling, isn’t he? Of you.”

“For now,” I repeat.

She doesn’t need to know the full details of my plans. Hell, even Lucas doesn’t, despite him apparently being part of the Glass Rooks now. When it comes to something this important, thisdelicate,no one has my full trust. They’re told the bare minimum of what they need to know, and that’s it.

As I lead Haven through the mansion, she doesn’t say a word. Most likely, she can sense my growing resentment for Mark. I’ve barely known her for a month, but I’ve already noticed her knack for picking up on people’s emotions.

A protective instinct, I think.

Before taking Haven up to my room, I lead her into the backyard. It’s the only place I know for sure that Mark can’t hear us, and I need to make sure she understands what I’m about to tell her.

Beside the pool house is a rose garden that my mother planted before she passed away. Miraculously, my father still has enough of a heart to keep it tended to instead of pulling it out. This was her favorite place to sit in the springs and summers.

“This is pretty,” Haven says as I guide her down a stone pathway through the bushes.

“I thought you’d like it.”

There are a few late bloomers still on the bushes, and Haven brushes her fingers against the silky pink petals. One of the things I’ve noticed about her is that she tends to gravitate toward places like this. Quieter spots, typically with trees and flowers. She seems the most relaxed when she’s outside.

“Haven.”

“Yes?”

“My father is a dangerous man.”

She smiles at me. “Aren’t you?”

“I’d never hurt you,” I say softly. “I can’t say the same for him.”

Disbelief flickers in her eyes, chased quickly by fear.

Taking her hands, I guide her to sit on a wrought iron bench with me. The rose bushes hide us from view of the house, and Mark would never think to look for us out here. “Him and I have been at odds with each other for years.”

“Why?”

That pulls a bitter laugh from me. “A lot of reasons, angel. He’s not who he used to be. When I was younger, he was… well, I wouldn’t call him good, but now he’s pure evil. I don’t want that anywhere near you.”

---