Page 202 of Hidden Ties

“She doesn’t need me for protection now that the Ashwoods are dead.”

Creed bent over, resting his elbow on his thigh. Placing his face in his hand as he held the phone in the other one, he dejectedly closed his eyes, picturing Sage the last time they had made love. How was he going to survive without her?

“The only reason I was able to convince her to marry me was because Victoria Ashwood put a hit out on her. With her and her husband gone, she doesn’t need me anymore. I fucked up so bad with another woman, and she can’t forgive me … I thought I had more time to convince her I love her, that I regret screwing up. I just wanted to pay Garrett back for you losing your home.”

“You’re why Garrett sent me the deed to the condo? The letter he sent me said that after looking over my file, his accountant found I had been overbilled.”

Creed gave a bitter laugh. “You should have seen the motherfucker’s face when I made him sign the condo over to you.”

“You should have seen mine when I read the letter.”

“You moved in yet?”

“Yeah. You should stop by and see the place. We can have a beer. It’s been a long time since we shared one.”

“I’m going to have plenty of free time after Sage leaves me. She doesn’t have to worry I’ll fuck around with another woman. She’s all I want, Dad.” His voice broke, and he didn’t even care. “I can’t live without her. She’ll take the girls, too. I’ll lose them, too. And I’ll miss Glory. I never even knew I wanted a sister until I met her. They’re my family … I’m losing my family, Dad.”

“Creed, even if Sage does leave you, that doesn’t mean you have to stop convincing her you love her. Eventually, she’ll come back. She might just need more time to get over her anger. It isn’t easy for a woman to love men like us.”

“Do you really think I can convince her to come back after she leaves?”

“Son, when you love someone, no matter how angry they are, eventually, they come back. You can’t break the tie that binds you together. If you love her as much as you say you do, and she loves you, that love will bind you. My bond with your mother was cut with her death. I survived because I wanted justice for losing her and what the Phantoms had done to you boys. Sage might leave, but as long she’s breathing, that’s the only reason you need to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Besides, Creed, since when do you accept defeat? If you can get Garrett Hollingsworth to deed a two-million-dollar condo over to me, I think you can handle getting Sage to stay.”

His dad’s confidence in him didn’t boost his own.

“I’ll let you go, Dad. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Call me if you need me, son. I’ll always be here for you.”

Tossing the phone aside, he sat hunched over, his hands hanging loosely in front of him. Picturing how beautiful Sage had looked this morning, lying sleeping in his bed, made his composure break without anyone there to witness.

He was thinking of getting up to get flowers when he heard piano music playing. Frowning, he reached for his phone, thinking that was where the music was coming from. Had he not disconnected from the call with his dad? Confused when he saw the music wasn’t coming from his phone, as the ethereal notes filled the air, he dropped the phone back down and rose from the couch.

Striding past the kitchen, Creed followed the haunting notes. He approached the music room but was almost afraid to look inside. Unable to resist the pull of the music, however, he took the final step to cross the threshold.

Feeling the burning sting of tears behind his eyes, he walked further into the room, mesmerized by the woman playing the piano. Sage hadn’t touched it since it had come through the door. At first, he’d thought he’d been mistaken about herwanting the piano when she had looked at it longingly at the Hollingsworths, but it hadn’t taken him long to figure why.

She hadn’t played the piano because she was still hurt by his betrayal, nor was she sure she would stay, or if she loved him enough to do so.

He moved around the piano so he could get a better view of the alluring picture she made as Sage played the exquisite music, and their eyes met over the piano.

“Who composed the song you’re playing?” he asked softly, not wanting to break the spell of the music.

“Yiruma,” she told him just as softly.

“What’s the name?”

“‘Kiss the Rain.’”

“It’s beautiful.”

“Yes, it is.” Her hair to fell forward as she lowered her face to look back down at the keys. “I heard you talking to Twister.”

“I didn’t think you were home.”

“Why did you think I was going to leave you?”

“The Ashwoods are gone; you don’t need me anymore. I’ve been waiting for you to tell me you’re leaving since their deaths hit the news. I saw the girls’ suitcases packed in their rooms last night when I went in to make sure they were all right before I went to bed. I saw you had one packed in your closet. I checked while you were sleeping. When you texted me this morning, I thought that was what you wanted to tell me tonight.”

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