“Okay,” I said, handing my trash over. “But what do you mean?” I liked him well enough. I was sitting in the car with him when just weeks ago I couldn’t stand to even see him.
“I like you more than I should, okay?” he admitted sheepishly. “And I know I shouldn’t tell you anything of my feelings.”
I thought he liked guys?
“I’m not sure I understand, Zev,” I said as I moved to sit in the seat and slip the buckle across my body.
“Then we should leave it at that,” he said, putting the car into drive. “Dominic already has claims, anyhow.”
“No one has a claim over me,” I muttered, looking out the window.
“Good. Keep hold of that feeling with both hands. You’ll need it.”
“Why?”
“Everyone wants to claim you as their own. A sister. Daughter. Friend.More.I know how to stand back and not take what isn’t given, emotion-wise. I’m pretty damn sure about how you feel about me, and I’m lucky enough to have you sitting, talking to me right now. I’m not gonna push my luck on that. But others will.”
“Like who?” That was a lot easier to focus on than what he was hinting at. There was no way he wanted more from me than friendship. It just wasn’t possible, was it?
“The Voss’s have a number of families they work with, and many have sons that would love to marry you. Or even just get the chance to talk to you.”
“I’m not going to marry. Ever.”
“Let’s hope so,” he muttered. Louder, he said, “I don’t want you to marry anyone. You need to figure out what you want out of life before diving into all that, anyhow.”
I rolled my eyes.
Dear Scarlett,
First off, I hate the fact that this letter has to be written. I hope, God do I hope, that you never have to be given it. But if you are reading this, then that means I have passed on.
For insurance reasons, I wanted to have a backup plan in case something was to happen to me before you turned 18. I had to have a way to let you know the truth.
I met Alan years before you were ever in the picture. Our parents were friends, and they had hoped that Alan and myself would have a happily ever after. But that was never in the works. It couldn’t be. Not when I knew Alan better than the back of my hand.
Alan was always a great actor. He could woo any girl to his liking. He always got what he wanted. Everything except me and a family. So he did what he could, and he got it anyway. It didn’t matter to him about the price of it all in the end. He dabbled in the dark life, where monsters lurked and you either jumped all in, or ran as far away as you possible could.
I know I should have done a lot of the things I did differently. I regret every chance I had to do the right thing when it passed me by.
It was in 2007 when a man named Alan Adams came across you in a backyard. I don’t know the exact details, but I know that he took a sweet, pretty little girl. He kidnapped her days before her fifth birthday. She left behind a family that loved and adored her.
Over the years, Alan did everything he could to make this girl believe all of his lies. He told her that he was her father, and that all of his rules would be followed or he’d cause unbelievable pain and destruction to her.
Oh God, did he ever, too.
This girl is you, Scarlett. Your real last name is Voss, not Adams.
I had a plan.
When you turned eighteen, I was going to take you away from Alan in the dead of night. He’d never know it, either. I’d spike his food and he’d sleep like the dead for enough hours to get you far, far away. I’d take you to your real family.
You know I see you like a daughter, Scarlett Elise. I should have gotten you out as soon as I suspected who you were, but I didn’t. Ace told me to wait, and I had to follow my orders, despite the knowledge that I possessed.
You’ll probably hate me for doing it, but please don’t hold it against me.
The Voss’s and the Vicci’s are two powerful families that combined years ago to create one great one. They protect their own by any means necessary. Your father, Caesar, will find you and take you home one way or another.
I know you will have a bunch of questions, and I hope beyond anything that your family will answer them straightforwardly. I don’t have all the answers, nor would I ever have gotten them if I were still alive.
