Page 41 of Only Everything
“Wow, I can't believe our old house is on fire. It’s so unreal. We used to sit on the porch and watch traffic. Now, I don’t even see it through the flames.”
Reid nodded. “I can't say I'm upset about it.”
I finally glanced over, taking in his face, nodding as it dawned on me. The house didn't just hold good memories for him; it held the worst things imaginable. His mother was murdered in that home. We’d chosen that locationover moving away to be with him. Everything bad transpired behind those walls.
“I'm sorry. Your mom?—”
“Don't you dare fucking tell me you're sorry. If anything was cursed, it was that goddamn house. I hate that place. I’ve always hated it. You were what made it bearable, but after—” His face hardened even more. “It’s done now. I'm glad neither of us will ever have to look at it again.”
The hatred that dripped from his tone had me slowly nodding. Reid reached over cupping my cheek as he pulled me towards him.
“I want you to look at that fire, and I want you to see the past leaving you. What happened in that house doesn't exist anymore. It's gone just like our parents are. Just like your piece of shit father. Look at the fire, Tauren.” He turned my face, but he stayed level with my ear, kissing against it. Tugging at my earlobe as his hand slid down the column of my neck to grasp. “Know when I say I love you, I fucking mean it with everyfiberof my being.”
My pulse jumped as I watched the blaze devour my past.
“Reid…did you…did you do that?”
He let me turn back to face him. His eyes narrowed as he nearly closed the distance between us. I could feel his heavy breaths against my face.
“It's nothing compared to what I’d do for you. I said eternal, and I meant it. If there's a hell, I’ll be meeting your father there. It’s not over between me and him. Mark my words. I don’t want to lose you, but I don’t fear death either. Someday, he’ll suffer for everything he’s done, andthat someday can’t come fast enough. Tauren…God dammit.”
I pulled back, taking in the pained expression on his face. I didn't have to be a mind reader to know what he was speaking of had a lot more to do with what he wasn't saying. I couldn't be right. This wasn't happening.
He knew.
He fucking knew.
CHAPTER 15
REID
It wasdark by the time Tauren and I stood from the booth. I watched her mood lift with every beam that collapsed in our old house, but we mostly stayed quiet. And her… she was watchful of me. I knew she suspected that I had figured out her past. I couldn't even slide the keys into the ignition before she squirmed. It was driving her crazy to wait any longer, and I sensed that as I stared ahead at the remaining firefighters who were starting to pack things up.
“You figured it out. Last night.”
I didn't look towards her. I kept staring ahead, wanting her to feel comfortable enough to continue speaking without my gaze intimidating her in any way.
“Emmett wasn’t the only cop, Tauren. That was my job. I know a lot more than I say.”
A long pause left us in silence.
“Reid, I never wanted anyone to know. What he did—It didn't start when you found me inthe shed.” A long pause. “I can't remember a time when he didn't do this. Even my earliest memories were down in that basement.”
I did turn to her then. I couldn't help the horror that took me over. And I had to see her pain. I had tofeelit.
“As a baby?”
“Well…I don’t know. The first memory I have of my dad, I was…young. Before I ever attended school. My play area used to be in the basement when he and my mother were together. She…worked a lot.”
“Tauren…”
“But then they divorced when I was seven, and I left with my mom. My dad always fought to see me, but I would throw such fits. I finally told my mom when I was nine. She threatened my dad that she’d call the police if he ever came near me again. It seemed to work for a while. She used words like revictimized when she spoke to my aunt, but I never understood what she meant back then. All I knew was that I was finally safe. But then…she died. It was so fast. She didn’t know she had cancer, and by the time we found out how bad it really was, she only lived a few weeks. My aunt couldn’t take me. Not even after my mother begged. She couldn’t afford to, nor did she have the space. My mom kept trying to find someone, but I told her to stop worrying about me. I truly thought she’d get better. But she was so sick. She never stopped looking, but she also wasn’t in her right mind either. I don’t know. I was distraught, and everything was a blur. Coming back to Frank’s was the last thing on my mind with what I was seeing my mother go through.”
I grabbed her hand, staying quiet so she wouldcontinue.
“Anyway, she passed, and my father naturally stepped up. He promised things were different. That you were all a family, and he’d make up for…hurting me.” She stopped. “I think maybe he tried.”
“Fuck him. Do not make excuses for that bastard.” She got quiet. “I’m sorry. For all of it. I know you owe me nothing, especially not details, and I hate to ask. I’m not saying what happened was insignificant. I’m just stating what I know, and…I took your virginity.”
