“Don’t beat around the bush, father,” Aeron sneers. “You ordered me to murder Lark’s mother, leaving Lark and Rook at the mercy of her fucking scum father. It was never just retaliation for Mom, was it?”
Adam’s jaw works, his grip on the glass so tight that I’m surprised it doesn’t shatter in his hands.
“Not just about that, no. I was blinded by years, generations, of hate, and after he did that to Heather, I wasn’t thinking straight.” He straightens, placing a hand on Aeron’s shoulder. “I’m so fucking sorry, son, I should never have taken it that far.” Aeron shrugs him off, his entire body vibrating with anger.
“Apologize to Lark! You know what happened after her mom died, don’t you?” Adam shakes his head, and I’m frozen, my lips parted to stop him from revealing my dark, sordid past, but I’m not quick enough. “He let his second-in-command rape her, telling her it was all her fault because her mom took her out for a meal. That was the day after her twelfth birthday, and then she was used by his sick fucking men until we captured her, only to be tortured by us too.”
“Aeron!” I shout, the glass dropping to the rug beneath me as I shoot to my feet, gazing in horror at him. My whole body is shaking now, the memories of the many men who used me over the past decade trying to force their way to the forefront of my mind just like those men forced themselves into my unwilling body.
Adam’s wide gaze locks on me, his face crumpled as tears fill his eyes.
“I–I didn’t know it was that bad…Doc never said it was that bad…” he whispers, swallowing hard like he’s about to be sick. I feel the same, my fingertips freezing while the rest of me is suddenly too hot. The need to run is pressing against me so hard it’s all I can do to tear my gaze away from Adam, looking at Knoxacross the room, who is also standing, fists clenched and glaring daggers at Aeron.
“Knox, can you show me to my room, please?” I ask, only a slight tremble in my voice. His hazel eyes immediately find mine, and he strides past Aeron and Adam to take my hand.
“This way, Little Bird,” he says, drawing me under his arm as he leads us back around the couch.
“Dove, wait—” I hear Aeron start, his voice pained. I stop Knox, looking over to see Aeron with a hand out, his mouth downturned.
“No Aeron, that was not your story to tell. You took my choice away, just like he did to you all those years ago. Just like those other men did to me.” It’s a low blow, comparing him to my abusers, and I see it land as he flinches, but like so many things that have been said tonight, it’s too late to take back, and I just turn back around, letting Knox lead me from the room as tears fall down my face, their salt reminding me of all that I have lost.
“I CAN’T GO ON WITHOUT YOU” BY KALEO
AERON
I watch her go, bile leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. She was right. I never should have spilled her secrets like that. Rage blinded me, just like my father, and I hurt the one person who means more to me than anyone else. The one person who never needs to feel pain again after all that she’s suffered.
“Aeron, son—” my dad starts, but I cut him off with a glare.
“We need to go. Make sure nothing happens to her or I’ll fucking kill you myself,” I warn, barely able to look at him. He looks like he’s aged about ten years in the past half hour, not surprising given what his actions set in motion all those years ago.
“I’ll hand you the gun myself,” he tells me, and I know he means it. Our little bird has another monster in her corner, whether or not he’s deserving of her love.
I feel like I’m in the latter category, undeserving of her after tonight. I give him a sharp nod, then turn to face Jude and Tarl, who are both standing and giving me the stink eye. Again, not underserved.
“Let’s go wait out front,” I order, not waiting to see if they follow me out. I can’t take a full breath, my mind already trying to find a way out of this mess. A way back into her heart. Because I am fucking nothing without her, not having her love is not an option.
“Give her time to cool off,” Tarl advises as we reach the truck, the chill, early evening air allowing me a full breath after what feels like an eternity of shallow ones. My chest still hurts though.
“And then apologize on your fucking knees, dickhead,” Jude says on my other side, his lips drawn down in a frown.
I don’t need the lecture; I’d walk over hot coals and broken glass if it’s what she demanded. She deserves so much more than what she’s had so far in her shitty life, and if it takes the rest of my days, I’m going to prove that to her. Even if it’s on my knees. I may have vowed to kneel for no man, but I’ll prostrate myself at her feet if that’s what makes her happy.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“DON’T WANT TO BE ALONE” BY ABE PARKER
LARK
Knox shows me up the grand, carpeted stairway and down a luxurious hall lined with so many carved, wooden doors that I lose count, but I barely see the beauty that surrounds us, hardly feel the plush carpet underneath my boots. My soul is hurting from what happened downstairs with Aeron and his father. It’s as though a scab has been ripped off before the cut was fully healed. I feel exposed and raw, needing to curl in on myself and lick my wounds.
“Here we are, Little Bird,” Knox informs me softly, and I blink, coming out of a daze and looking around me at the bedroom that he’s led us into.
The walls are a deep forest green, the king bed made up in the same color sheets, and the space is vast. The entire room smells of cloves and motor oil, and there are bits and pieces of what looks like car parts mounted on the walls.
“Is this your room?” I ask, glancing up at Knox who’s looking a little sheepish, a slight blush on his cheeks.
“Yeah, I thought that you’d prefer to stay here rather than in one of the guest rooms?” he says, the last part a question. He looks so unsure, his arm dropping from my shoulders as he rubs the back of his neck.
