Page 20 of She will Always be Mine

Her small hands ball into fists and she looks close to hitting me but controls herself. Backing down has never been in my nature, especially when something or someone reminds me that Nyra and I can never be together. My mind immediately wants to annihilate them until they are no longer in my way.

Why does it matter if she’s my cousin?

When in my heart, the last thing I feel for her is anything brotherly. Something I never felt in the last two years.

“No one will believe your word against mine if I told everyone what I just saw, Riaan. Your hands were on her and you were forcing my daughter, who is your much younger sister,” she warns in an intimidating tone. “Don’t for one second think I wouldn’t destroy your future to protect my Nyra.”

If only she knew that Nyra has already done the worst damage that could ruin my life and her threats hold no light to them. No power. In fact, she would only be helping me because then, we wouldn’t have to fight or hide our feelings. I’m about to tell her exactly that, when she suddenly gets in my face.

“How long has this been going on?” She asks in a low voice as horror etches itself all over her features. “Were you together when we came for your grandma’s funeral?”

“No.” I was too damaged and she was too young. Still, there’s no denying I craved her then and it was hard to keep my distance from her. “I didn’t touch her until she came here.”

“But you wanted her,” she guesses, and I don’t deny it, making her pale and murmur, “How did I not see it? I should have never let her come here.”

Her hand comes up to her mouth as if she’s about to throw up, but then she twists away from me and paces back and forth. She keeps mumbling something that I can’t hear and I wish I could read her mind. My own thoughts are running in a chaotic circle and a part of me wished for this night to end so I can run after Nyra and make her see that we belong together despite the circumstances we were born into.

“I never forced myself on her,” I softly and solemnly say because I’m sensing it’s her most important concern. Because every time there’s a mention of intimacy, the blood drains from her face and she loses herself inside her head. When she stops and turns to me, I reassure her, “I would never.”

“Says the man who shouldn’t have wanted her in the first place,” she blames. “Just because you’re sick in the head, I wouldn’t let my daughter become like you too. I’ll make sure she’s purged of the feelings she has for you and sees the monster that you are—one who manipulated her into believing this is all right.”

I’m tempted to tell her that it was her daughter who chased me first but I relent. It won’t matter to her that I pushed her away because her mind is already set. I’m the man who corrupted her daughter.

Then, with one last scathing look, she turns around and walks away.

Too bad she doesn’t know that monsters—who love unconditionally—always win.

As I recall the conversation from last night, I curse at myself and wish I didn’t say some of the things I said so harshly and unapologetically.

Maybe then, I could have protected Nyra and my aunt wouldn’t have been so angry to take it out on her. Nevertheless, it won’t ever happen again.

She accused me of being a monster so it’s only fair I show her just how menacing I can be.

I’m sitting in a chair in the corner with my legs crossed as I hear the water running in the bathroom and wait for my aunt to come out. She steps out as she’s drying her hands and instantly jumps in fear when I clear my throat to get her attention, the towel dropping to the floor.

Once the shock wears off, she straightens her body and glares at me while demanding, “Where is Nyra?”

“Obediently waiting for you,” I reply while smoothing my tie. “Don’t worry, I didn’t touch her.”

“I told you to stay away from her. Do that again and I’ll tel—”

“Your threats don’t scare me,Auntie,”I cut her off and tilt my lip to the side, “Want to know why?” She glares and I take it as a sign to continue, “Because it’s nothing but empty words. You’ll never tell the truth.”

“You’re wrong.”

“We both know I’m not,” I taunt, followed by a low and mocking chuckle. “Otherwise, you would have done it last night as soon as you caught us.”

“You have some nerve.” She bristles.

I slowly rise from the chair and walk toward her until I’m sneering down at her. “I’m only stating the truth. You threaten to ruin my life by telling everyone what youthinkyou saw,but it will also bring the same fate to Nyra. Her innocence and reputation will forever be ruined. No one will believe that she didn’t want me too, despite what you might claim. Unless you’re willing to risk it all, I suggest you stop with the threats.”

Simmering with aggression, she grits her teeth and her hands ball into fists, to which I narrow my gaze and taunt, “Do you want to hit me too?”

She must see it in my face because she blinks back in surprise and swallows. The fear evident in her eyes sates my anger, and I tilt my head. “I don’t appreciate anyone laying a finger, let alone raising a hand on what’s mine, and make no mistake, Nyraismine.”

“She’s my daughter and you don’t get to tell me how I treat her.”

“I’m only going to say it once so you better listen carefully.” I ignore her words because they mean nothing to me. Getting down at eye level with her face, I make sure she feels my wrath as I issue her a warning, one full of promise that she better follow if she values her life. “You will never lay a hand on Nyra ever again. If I find out you did, I will hunt you down and take her with me right in front of you, making your worst nightmare come true. So, I dare you to touch her again because unlike you, my threats are very real.”

---