Page 42 of Twisted Bonds
"I think you need to give her just a few minutes. You don't realize what your appearance out of the blue after all this time is doing to her." My father says softly.
"Oh, and you do?"
His lips tighten into a straight line, and he nods.
"Well, as her husband—" I hold my hand up when my father goes to argue that point. "I know my wife better than anyone else."
My father stares me down. "But do you know the new Ryan? The one that lived through the D'Angelo brothers? The one who had to sit there andtrain innocent women who were being trafficked, and then be the one to take the money from the buyers? You don't know what that did to her because you left."
He never raises his voice to me, but his tone is stern, which angers me. I haven't been locked away for two years just to come back and not be granted access to my own wife. I eye my father and then pin him with a glare as I straighten my shoulders, readying myself to fight my father if need be.
"What is your relationship with Ryan?"
"Beau, I don't think…"
"Answer me!" I bite out, clenching my jaw as I do.
"Maybe this isn't the t-time, honey," my mom says, trying to keep the peace, but fuck that. I want him to admit it.
"No, Mom. I'm sorry, but I need to hear him say it," I tell her without taking my eyes off my father.
My fight almost deflates when I see him soften before simply saying, "I love Ryan. No, that's not right… I'minlove with Ryan."
He stares at me, waiting for me to say something; hell, he probably expects me to start in on him. Ryan is my world, and I will fight for her, but I have no words at the moment when I see the love my father has for her shining in his eyes. I have never seen Bain Huntley like this.
When he finally dares to look away from me, it's to look at my mother. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you were still alive…I swear!"
Mom nods and smiles slightly. "I know."
"Beau, why don't you take your mother into the living room while I check on Ryan. I think it's best to wait to see how she takes all of this before trying to talk to her alone."
I nod even though I want nothing more than to have a brief moment with her. I understand and don't want to push her away, but that doesn't mean I wanthimgoing to her. I watch him walk up the steps and then sigh heavily, hanging my head.
My mother places her hand on my shoulder, saying, "Give it time; she will c-come around."
I look her in the eyes, and suddenly, it's my mom that I'm feeling sorry for. I pull her into my arms. "I'm sorry I made him admit that in front of you. I wasn't thinking…"
"Baby, it's been t-thirteen—almost fourteen—years since he's l-last seen me. He thought I was dead this w-whole time. I wouldn't expect him toremain s-single the rest of his life," she says softly. "I know he loved me w-with everything he had back then. I knew his l-love, and whether I get that back, only t-time will tell, but I will not h-hold it against him for moving on with his life."
"I can't do that, Mom. I wasn'tdeadlike you were…"
"True, but honey, you've been g-gone for two years. Give them some slack…"
"That's my father! He should never have gonethere!" I say, my voice rising as I point toward the upstairs.
"I know," she sighs and then changes the subject. "I'll go to the living room; you h-have your sister wait in another room until we bring her in, please."
I nod and lean in, kissing my mom's head. God, this is so fucked up. It's worse than I thought. It seems to me that they may be an actual couple, not just a Dom and sub.
Peeking out the front door, I see Cayley leaning against the house a few feet away. "Come on, Cay. I'll show you where to wait until I call you out."
Pushing away from the wall, she takes my outstretched hand. "Will your father make us leave because of me?"
Her question takes me off guard and I stop. "Why do you ask that?"
She shrugs her young shoulders. "Because you seem to think he's a bad man, how you were talking to him."
I fake a small smile. "No, Cayley. I'm just mad at him right now. I doubt he will kick you out," I tell her when a memory of something Ryan once told me resurfaces. "My dad has always wanted a daughter he could spoil."
