Page 36 of Dove

“Good evening, folks. A disturbing investigation is underway in Sayton City tonight as anonymous sources tell us Senator Brent Collins will soon be arrested for child molestation. Several victims have come forward. Harrowing images were found on his computer, as while as video evidence-“

The sound cut off as the elevator doors closed in front of me. I leaned back against the glass and smiled. There was no greater power than secrets. Than information. There was something poetic about the sweet justice of the underworld.

19

Kincaid

“Isn’t there a TV in here?” Tessa sighed from her place on the couch next to me. She’d been allowed to visit several times since I’d been staying with Maddox. He didn’t want me to leave for my safety but allowed her to come over whenever she wanted. Much to Sebastian’s dismay.

Men always reacted to Tessa. Whether she was dancing at Entice or walking down the street, they melted in a puddle for her. She wielded her sexuality like a power in a way I never could.

We were alone, Henry waiting in the hall, giving us the illusion of privacy. We sat curled up under blankets in my library. The library Maddox had built for me. I spent most of my days here reading while he was off doing whatever a mafia capo did. Killing. Torturing. Checking on his clubs. I honestly wasn’t sure, and I didn’t ask.

“Yeah. Hold on.” I reached for the remote and pressed the button.

The picture hanging on the wall in front of us slid up to reveal an impressively large TV. I didn’t know much about TV sizes, but by the way, Tessa whistled low; I assumed it was a nice one. I tossed her the remote so she could flip through the channels. I wasn’t much of a TV person, which is why Maddox had installed this one to hide away.

“So how are you doing?” Tessa’s voice was soft as she looked away from the TV to glance at me.

I played with a loose thread on the blanket as I contemplated her question. “Honestly, I don’t know.”

“Talk to me.” She gave my knee a light slap as she turned her body to fully face me. I mirrored her position and rested my chin in my hand as I leaned my elbow against the back of the couch.

“He’s just so… intense.” I said, trying to find a way to describe Maddox. “I know he’s only obsessed with me because I’m a challenge, but what happens when that’s over? When he decides he’s done?”

“Why do you assume there will come a point when he’s done with you?” Tessa’s question was sincere, and I almost laughed.

I rolled my eyes. “Come on. I don’t belong here.” I waved around at the expensive house. The guards outside. “Money. Mafia. That’s not my life. I’m not cut out for this.”

“Why? Because you came from nothing? You told me Maddox was the same when he was younger. I doubt he cares where you come from.”

“Because I’m not strong enough for this.” I whispered, my throat closing at the admission. I had barely survived my life before when it was just being poor and helpless. I knew I couldn’t survive this. Maddox’s world was ruthless. I didn’t have it in me to be that way. To do the things I would need to, to stay alive.

Tessa squeezed my knee, forcing me to look at her. “You survived being kidnapped. You survived Maddox when he wanted to break you. You survived almost being raped. Not to mention being alone and starving. You’re a lot stronger than you think you are.”

I contemplated the version of me she saw. The girl she described sounded like a warrior. Like a badass. But it was easy to say it like that. It wasn’t easy to live it. To fight the darkness in my own mind. To decide to be happy even when the world told me it was wrong.

The sound of a breaking news alert cut through the library. Both of our gazes flicked to the TV as the perky blonde news anchor came on.

“Good evening, folks. A disturbing investigation is underway in Sayton City tonight as anonymous sources tell us Senator Brent Collins will soon be arrested for child molestation. Several victims have come forward. Harrowing images were found on his computer, as while as video evidence-“

“Oh my god.” I rose from my seat without even realizing it. “That’s my father.”

“What?” Tessa shouted as she came to stand next to me. “I thought—Collins is a really common last name. Isn’t he married? Like been married to his high school sweetheart since college?”

“Yeah, that didn’t stop him from having an affair with my mom. She didn’t know he was married, and when she got pregnant with me, he threatened to sue her for defamation if she said anything.”

“Yeah, but it’s not defamation if it’s true.”

I waved my hands in the air as if to push the conversation away. “Doesn’t matter. She didn’t have the money for a lawyer and didn’t want to fight with him. He’d have been a shit father anyways.” I gestured to the TV, where the story was still playing. “Obviously.”

“Yeah, wow I can’t believe it’s all coming out now.” She sat back down. “I wonder who these anonymous sources are.”

A dark thought spiraled through my mind. Did Maddox do something? No, why would he? His words echoed in my head.

I’ll do what I have to, to keep you safe.

Did he take down my father for me? How many others had he destroyed in the name of keeping me safe?

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