Page 84 of The Devil

“Y-yes, I think I do. I want to stand up for me and my daughter; to show Dad I don’t need anyone else, least of all him. I can do this on my own…Ihavebeen doing this on my own. For far longer than he thinks.”

“Then, I will hold my tongue, but know that I am on your side one hundred percent.”

“Thanks, Mom,” I whisper just before I wrap my arms around her shoulders and hold on tight.

“We’re here for you too, Hels,” Meri says as she stands to hug me after I’ve finally managed to force myself away from my mother.

“I’m trying so hard not to throw up right now; I know he told you,” Lily whispers when she hugs me, and I laugh. “Remember to keep your head held high; you are not the bad guy here.”

“So, who’s waiting for me in the lion’s den?” I ask with my nerves suddenly attacking me.

“Cam, Nate, and your father,” my mom answers and I feel a sinking feeling inside of me, knowing my father has called upon the men of the family to try and kick me into submission once again. The man is delusional, but this time, I don’t need his support or his approval. I’ve survived more than he knows; I can survive this.

“Helena? Is that you?” My father’s voice travels through the house, and I brace myself. But this time, I am a grown woman, so I take a deep breath and walk in.

When I enter Cam’s study, it feels like testosterone overload. The three men I grew up with are all sitting around looking like rulers of the world. I’m not really intimidated by Cam or Nate anymore, but my father is a different kettle of fish. He’s always managed to make me feel small.

“So, we have quite the predicament here,” Dad says to me with a look of pity, or perhaps disappointment; whatever it is, it’s an attempt to shame me all over again. “What are we going to do about your daughter, Helena? She can’t stay here forever.”

“Cam, is it ok for Jess to stay over here tonight?” I ask, completely overriding my father.

“Sure, it’s no problem at all,” he says casually, looking quite confused as to why we’re all gathered here to discuss Jess’ lodgings for the night.

“There you are, Dad,” I tell him confidently, “Jess will stay here tonight, and I will come and collect her in the morning. Good, are we done?”

“Dad, why did you call us all here?” Nate asks with a shrug of his shoulders when he turns to look at me.

“Now, hold on a minute,” Dad says, holding up his hand as a signal for us all to stop and listen to him assert his authority over us ‘kids’, his favorite pastime. “This is a family matter, and it needs to be sorted. Perhaps we better tell everyone the whole story, Helena.”

“Why? This is an issue for me and Jess to work through. It’s of no one else’s concern, apart from Lucius’, maybe,” I say matter of factly. “Cam already knows what happened, as do you and Mom, so I’m not entirely sure why we all need to gather around to discuss my sordid past.”

“Lucius?” Nate pipes up, sounding utterly confused. “As in, LuciusHastings?”

Cam tries to shake his head discreetly toward my little brother, but I merely release a sigh and decide to just go for it. After all, it’s only Nate. Besides, I’m hoping my confidence and refusal to be sorry for anything gives Dad the message that I won’t be manipulated again.

“When I found out I was pregnant, it wasn’t just Evan who could have been the potential father, Lucius had also been a possibility. I had used protection with both, but obviously, one of them hadn’t worked. Evan and I were not exclusive, but Dad seemed to think he was the better candidate. Therefore, when Mom told Dad I was pregnant, he went above me and called Evan.”

“Fuck, you called him without Helena knowing?” Nate scoffs but instantly looks away again when Dad glares at him.

“Evan said he would marry me, but when I informed him of Lucius, he said he would do a DNA test when Jess was born. If she was his, he would marry me. When I brought her home, he produced a letter to confirm he was her biological father. Evan and Dad were over the moon, and I was threatened with being cast out if I didn’t marry him. That sound about right, Dad?”

The whole room looks over at my father who begins shuffling uncomfortably on the spot; this is not going the way he had envisioned.

Lucius

I wasn’t expecting to see Merial when I knocked on Cameron and Lily’s door, but her disgusted face tells me she knows everything and is not impressed with me at all. I can’t blame her, she’s right to be ashamed of me, but I’m not going to bow down and tell her that.

“Well, well, well, public enemy number one has arrived!” She scowls while crossing her arms and leaning against the door frame. “What do you say, Lily? Do you really want slime in your house?” she calls over to Cameron’s wife, who has just got up to invite me in.

“Careful, Merial,” I warn, “bitch is such an ugly color on you.” I walk in and nod politely at Lily, who I notice is looking a little green. “I apologize for barging in, Lily, but I believe my daughter is staying here and I’m hoping my girlfriend is here too.”

I haven’t called her that before now, but I’m hoping she’s still going to be up for having the title.

“Are you sure that’s what she is to you right now?” Lily asks with a non-judgmental smile. “They’re both here, but Jess is sleeping. I think she’s going to stay one more night. As for Helena, she’s in Cameron’s office with the rest of the family.”

She gestures toward the door, behind which, I can hear a range of raised voices. I walk slowly to the door but do not attempt to knock or open it. I want to hear what’s being said before I make an appearance. So, instead, I stand for a few minutes, eavesdropping on the conversation.

“You can go in, you know,” Merial pipes up.

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