She flips her wrist, slips up the cuff bracelets I’ve seen her wear, and that’s when I see them. The jagged scars. I move, and I don’t care as she smacks at me to back up. I pull her into my chest and hold her, thinking of how close I was to never knowing her. She softly starts to cry, and Icarus takes Oly and moves off to the living room, whereFrozenis playing on the television.
Wing moves closer, and I want to deck him. I want to make him hurt as much as he hurt her.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
Marnie lifts her head, and I bury my hand in her thick hair, forcing the messy bun loose. Thick, long wavy locks fall down her back.
“I didn’t want you to know,” she says. “I tried not to get upset, but when you questioned me, I couldn’t stop myself.”
“Who?” he asks, and it’s like it’s just the two of them.
She takes my energy from me and calms herself. Her fingers flex against my skin as she buries her hands in deeper. Her body shakes.
“My father and his head of security. They’ve been together since before I was born. I used to overhear the staff saying that Silas had a thing for my mother too. I only know that after she died, he became a darker man. He wouldn’t let me out of his sight. I felt violated from the lack of privacy. He would do the beatings while my father watched. My father would sit there, in his three-piece suit, and watch with those black eyes. I never saw emotion cross his face. Not when my skin would tear apart from my back. Not when the whip would splatter my blood across the room with each flick.”
I tremble, thinking of the pain she had to have been in.
“I was so glad the day I went to Paris for culinary arts school. I was so wrong. Silas would show up and be there. I know they had cameras on me at times. It wasn’t until Jean-Louis and I married that Silas really became angry.”
She stops as she comes out of the memories, and I hold her closer, thinking that with my arms, I can hold her together. She pushes away from me and shakes her head.
“I have to go. I can’t be here.”
My men disperse, taking Oly outside.
“I’m not letting you go again. Tell me their names. I can protect you.”
She softly shakes her head, and my heart starts to break.
“I don’t want you dead too. I must go.” She turns away and walks outside.
I stand there and watch her, knowing deep inside I have to let her go. I don’t want to, but I can’t force her to stay here. I’d be as bad as them.
Icarus drives her home in my truck because she asks him and begs me not to come. I know it’s because of the creepy neighbor.
CHAPTER
SIX
MARNIE
It’s Monday and Harley doesn’t have class. I’m in the middle of making some of my signature gougères. The Mat-Su Valley population loves the light, fluffy cheese puffs.
I avoid talking to Harley about what happened over the weekend with Rylan. I don’t want to admit that I’m hung up on her brother. She also doesn’t know about the conversation I had with Wing, regarding Quinn.
Oly is at the summer day camp program at the local family fitness club.
“Okay, I’ve let you wallow long enough. We’re friends. I’m not giving up on you, even if you and my brother don’t work out.”
I release a deep sigh. She’s right.
“It’s not that. I just don’t want you to get your hopes up. I can’t be with him.”
She’s sitting on a chair, watching me as I work.
“It’s just that my life isn’t in a good space for a relationship right now,” I explain.
“Are we ever ready? Do you think I was ready for Crue when he came into mine? I wanted revenge for my dad’s death. I wanted to prove I was tough enough to do it on my own and didn’t need the men who walked away from me all those years ago,” she says.
