“Embarrassed? I’m sure your family is perfect in every way, Christian. All the right schools. The perfect grades. I bet you went to Harvard too. Right? You’ve never done a bad thing in your life. At least that you were caught for.”
The venom in her words no longer caught me off guard. If she had any idea about my family, she’d know there wasn’t a single person on this earth who hadn’t experienced some sort of trauma, tragedy, or misfortune.
Even ours.
“Yale,” I told her since I had no idea how to defuse the situation.
“Yale?”
“Where I went to college.”
She choked, slamming her hand on the button as if doing so would take her to the floor quicker. “Figures.”
I knew all about her. Duke, a straight-A fucking student graduating top of her class. From what I’d read about her, there was nothing she hadn’t excelled at.
The ping made her jump and she raced out, rushing toward the doors. Before we walked inside, we could both hear a loud voice, a man shouting. A single crash created a wave of anger inside. She didn’t need this shit. No one did.
I pushed around her, heading inside first.
Amelia was huddled in the corner of the reception area, immediately pointing to Vanessa’s office.
I tried to keep Vanessa from going in first, but she gave me a look that should drive me six feet under. “Just don’t. Please. I’m glad you’re here, but only I can handle him when he’s like this. Okay?”
Hissing, I nodded but remained close to the door as she walked in, closing the door behind her. When I turned my head toward Amelia, she seemed relieved.
“She can’t handle this anymore. It’s not fair. Their father does nothing. Their mother walks around like some zombie. Vanessa is left to pick up the pieces. I know you don’t care about her, but I do. I love her like a sister. Don’t allow that man to destroy her and everything she’s worked so hard for. He’s not a bad guy. Except when he’s like this.”
“How often does this happen?”
“He hasn’t come here before, but he’s nearly destroyed her house twice. She won’t tell you that and please don’t mention it. I’ve seen what his addiction has done to her.”
I raked my hand through my hair, trying to keep my patience. But it was wearing very thin. I could tell she was doing her best to defuse the situation, but Donovan wasn’t buying it. There was another loud crash and I couldn’t take it any longer.
I burst into the room to find the beautiful neon sign I knew was important to her smashed on the floor. Donovan had his hand wrapped around her throat, squeezing. I reacted, grabbing and yanking him by the shirt collar, tossing him against the wall. Without thinking, I wrapped my hand around his throat, crowding his space.
“How does it feel? Huh? You think you’re invincible. You think you can hurt your sister after everything she’s done for you. Well, I’m here to tell that will not happen. Do you fucking hear me? Do you?”
He grunted, his body flailing.
I held firm, hissing as I glared at him.
“It’s okay,” Vanessa said softly. “I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not.” I threw her a quick look, long enough for him to be able to throw a punch. I fisted my hand, ready to retaliate until she screamed.
“No! Christian. Please. Please, don’t.”
He dared try to hit me again. This time I wrapped my fingers around his fist, slamming his arm against the wall. I shook him a few times. His eyes were cloudy, wild from whatever drug he’d taken. “Just calm down. Calm the fuck down.”
Donovan continued to struggle, but his eyes kept darting toward his sister. She was sobbing softly, but I knew her well enough bynow. She was doing her best to try to keep her emotions in check. She didn’t want me to see her vulnerable side.
As he finally sagged against the wall, I squeezed his throat one more time before letting him go.
At least she stood near me, not rushing to him to forgive. I could feel her anger and frustration growing.
“How dare you,” she said to him in a much more controlled voice than I’d had. “I’m trying to help you and you do this? Do you hate me that much? Do you want to die? Do you know what that would do to me? Do you?”
It was as if she’d never talked to him so harshly before. Suddenly, his features softened and he slid down the wall. With his head in his hands, he wept.
