Page 90 of Vicious Intentions

“You need to leave Chicago and never return,” Dad added.

“While I know you want the best for me, that’s not going to happen. I need the truth. I can’t sleep at night because of the nightmares. I can’t breathe any longer because I feel like I’m living a lie. What happened to me ten years ago?” They shared another look, and I did what I could to be patient.

“You were hit by a speeding car. You almost died. You were in a coma for over two weeks. The doctors were worried you’d have brain damage. After brain activity was detected, you had several surgeries, including reconstructive surgery on your face. They were still uncertain how much damage had been done. You were a fighter, refusing to die. You had to relearn how to talk, walk, and almost everything else except for singing. Music pulled you through.”

No wonder the three men hadn’t recognized me.

I took a deep breath and studied my father. It was obvious the secret had worn him down over the years. “So you faked my death.”

Mother dropped her head into her hands. I could tell how upset she was.

My father nodded and took her hand into his, pulling her fingers to his lips. The gentle action was endearing, but I wasn’t in the mood for niceties.

“Was it a hit and run on purpose, or truly an accident?”

“An accident. It was dark and there was a significant storm. The police did a thorough investigation. The boy who hit you was sick about it. From what he told police, you ran out in front of him. Unfortunately, he was going too fast. The impact should have killed you.”

It had.

“Was the boy’s name Cain Cross, Hunter Augustine, or Cristiano Moreno?”

The names struck a nerve with both of them even though they knew who owned the resort.

“No, but he was another member of a group called the Elite at the university that you attended,” Daddy continued.

“Crandall University where I studied music. The Elite are very special men who go on to Fortune 100 careers. That’s why I was there. Because of your job. It was secure and meant for people with fathers like mine.”

His eyes opened wide. “Yes. I could afford to send you to a facility I hoped would keep you safe.”

“Except you didn’t anticipate that one of your jobs would come back to haunt you. Did you?”

He blinked several times.

“You see, Daddy, my memory is starting to come back because I’ve been spending time with the three men I mentioned. For some crazy reason, we were all brought together again. Call it fate. Call it karma. I’m not certain. However, I’m performing in Cain’s resort, but you already knew that. Didn’t you, Mother? You did try and keep me from accepting the contract. If only you’d been up front with me then. Suddenly, Hunter and Cain showed up, supposedly for business, but there’s foul play going on.”

My mom finally had the nerve to look me in the eye. There was so much pain in her gaze that I couldn’t be angry. They’d done their best to protect me. “I’m sorry, baby girl. I wanted to tell you.”

“As I said, I wouldn’t allow her to. There was too much danger. You need to leave them. They’re dangerous.”

“You didn’t want to tell me because you knew Cain wanted revenge for the murder of his brother. Were you planning on killing him too? Is that why you were traveling again?” I was putting two and two together without the need for warped memories and ugly visions.

I could tell by the expression on his face that he’d thought about it. I was sick inside.

“I was there. In Chicago,” he said. “I didn’t want them touching you. You don’t know the men you seem enamored with.”

“Oh yes, I do. You didn’t raise me to be a stupid woman, Dad. I know what line of work they’re in. Do you honestly think what you’ve done for a living is any different?”

The sudden tension was disheartening. “I care about you, baby girl. It’s different when you have a child.”

“Maybe I’ll agree with you one day. They’re good man underneath the dangerous façade, just like you are daddy. I love them. I think I did all those years ago. I may never get my entire memory back, and that’s fine. I know enough to be able to let go of the past. That’s what I intend on doing.”

“At some point, they will hurt you. That’s their nature.” my mother said, although I could tell in her eyes she was resigned to my choice.

“No, Mama. It’s not. They want to protect me. They have protected me. They allow me to feel alive again. I love them. Maybe it’s crazy, but I know what I want.” I could see their faces. They’d come to my defense on a dark night in another lifetime. I touched my lips, remembering the way each one of them had kissed me. “Some other boy hurt me that night. Something terrible happened that forced me to run into the road. I know it. Did anyone mention that I was attacked?”

While I couldn’t tell if anyone had by the way they were looking at each other, my instinct told me I was right. What I wasn’t certain of was whether it was one of the three men I’d thought about spending the rest of my life with.

“No, nothing like that. Sage, we did the best we could do at the time. I still have several enemies, not just Cain Cross. We’ve had to be very careful.”

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