Page 76 of The Devil

She smiles and flaps her hand, silently telling me to forget about it, which only makes me feel like a complete asshole. Normally, this doesn’t bother me, but she was there for my Topolina when I wasn’t. For that alone, she has earned my respect.

“I’m quite well known in your husband’s line of work,” I offer. “I’m a lawyer and I’m currently doing some deals with his company.”

“No…” she says, thinking about it, “no, that’s not it. I work in education so have nothing to do with his line of work. Between you and me, my mind switches off whenever he and Nate begin talking shop.”

I smile tightly but I like her. She’s very open, if not a little too chatty and perky. I also know she was the one who finally gave Helena the push to leave Evan.

“Weren’t you Meri’s sort of stepbrother for a few years?” she asks. “Specifically, when Helena went to stay with her?” My facial expression confirms her suspicions. “You’re the guy who pissed Cam off at that wedding, aren’t you?”

“What can I say? I’ve always been a bit of an asshole,” I reply with a smile. “He’s not still going on about that is he?”

“I hope not,” she laughs, “that would be one hell of a grudge to bear after all these years. I don’t do sulking; he knows that all too well.”

“Sounds like you’re good for him,” I murmur before sipping at my drink slowly. “Not what I’d imagined for someone like him, but definitely a step up.”

“Thank you?” she questions my compliment. “But I’m guessing you’ve never been on friendly terms with Cam?”

“To be honest, I’ve not had a lot to do with him or any of Helena’s close family. However, I am with Helena now and I have no intention of leaving her. If anyone has a problem with that, then I shall let them know how little I care about their opinion.”

She studies me for a moment, but I can’t read her expression. I don’t question it, just leave her to let her take in what I’ve just said.

“Good,” she finally announces. She stares right back at me with a serious expression when I gift her with a questioning frown. “I’ll be straight with you because I always am with people. Helena has been through a really shitty time, as you may well be aware. I’m pretty sure she had given up on life outside of Jess, but if you are as committed as I hope you are, I’m glad.”

“I’m impressed, Mrs Carter,” I tell her with a hint of a smile, for she’s managed to make me like her, if only a little. “Most people find me intimidating, but you don’t seem to be afraid to say anything to me.”

“Oh, you are definitely intimidating, but I’ve come across many intimidating types in my life. My husband being one of them.”

“And Evan?” I hold her gaze and begin to wonder if I’ve overstepped the mark by bringing up his name after what he did to her. “Youwere responsible for that piece of shit being put away, were you not?”

“Partly,” she replies before swallowing hard.

“I apologize if that was too personal,” I reply with genuine remorse. “I didn’t mean to-”

“It’s ok,” she sighs, “hell, I think I was lucky. There’s no denying Helena had the worst deal out of all this, not that she’s ever said anything to me, or the men in her family, but her mother and Meri have hinted at such. Plus…” She trails off before holding up her hand to reveal what looks like an old cigarette burn. “I think we have matching scars.”

I stare at the offending mark on her otherwise unmarred skin, which is slightly tanned but not by much. My jaw clenches when I think about the asshole branding her. It gives me an uneasy feeling that makes me think of where I came from; of the man who had destroyed my mother at the same time as creating me. My hands have balled into fists, but I try and remain calm in front of Lily. She’s been a fighter and doesn’t deserve to see me losing my shit.

Helena

As I pace back and forth across my small kitchen, my brother remains still. He simply continues to watch me in silence, but with concern written all over his face. I’ve never tried to confront him before, nor have I asked to speak with him alone since he decided I was all but dead to him. However, after last night, the time has come to start fighting back.

“What do you want to say to me, Helena?” he finally asks, sounding calm, but with a hint of anxiety in his voice. He hasn’t seen me this animated in years, not since we were barely adults.

“Eleven or so years ago, Lucius contacted you about me, did he not?” I finally stand still to ask him this, wanting to look him straight in the eye for the truth. He looks to the floor and sighs with defeat, knowing I won’t like the answer.

“He did,” he admits. “I told him to back off because I thought that’s what was best at the time. Had I known what Evan would turn out to be, I would not have been so hasty.”

“But you never approved of my marrying Evan, so why would you tell Lucius otherwise?” I ask with my brow furrowed in confusion.

“He seemed the lesser of two evils, Hels,” he admits with a shameful expression. “You gotta understand, you had just come back from Spain, seemingly happy with Evan. I thought you’d reconciled while he was out there with you. I didn’t realize it was all an act to try and convince yourself that he meant more to you than he did. When Lucius called, I thought you’d finally gotten over him, that Evan was the one who had made you happy again.”

“I appreciate that, Cameron, but I don’t appreciate the fact that younevertold me about it,” I say boldly. “I am your sister and whether you like me or not, you cannot seriously believe you have the right to speak for me.”

“What do you mean,‘If I like you or not’?” He jumps to his feet defensively before walking over to me. “Helena, I have been angry with you, but I have always loved you.”

Tears well in my eyes as I shake my head at him, unable to absorb all the emotion that his statement just evoked from me.

“You’ve been punishing me for years, Cameron, how can I possibly think that you love me? We were so close, and then you…you just pretended like I didn’t exist, that I was the enemy!”

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