Trace stands by his chair, steady and sure. “We’ll be safe, Dad. Uncle Aiden taught our cousins how to fight, and the military taught us.”
“We’re well prepared for this life,” I add, my voice strong so he doesn’t worry.
“And I taught you nothing?” Dad says, not exactly insulted, but hurt.
The room goes silent. Not because I can’t think of anything. No, the list is too long. Trace and I stare at each other.
Finally, he glances at Shea. Now I get where my gentleness with Fallon comes from.
I smile. “Dad, you taught us how to love a good, strong woman.”
Chapter 51
Fallon
Ican’t feel my fingers.
I glance down and see they’re curled in my lap, but they’re pale. It’s Christmas day, but I feel like anything but merry and bright.
My father’s living room is cold, even with the fireplace roaring. It’s just my stepmother and me sitting together on the velvet sofa that Rhys sat on yesterday. Hours ago, I believed he loved me.
But he left me…
Now there’s a cardigan over my shoulders, and I’m wearing a soft green blouse tucked into black pants. It’s all stuff I don’t recognize. Boring, stiff clothes they shoved me in after I was dragged from the cell down in the basement.
Where is my sweater with reindeer stitched across the chest? Where are my candy-cane leggings? My red plaid skirt?
Boxes wrapped in silver paper lie at my feet. Some are opened with the same ugly clothes spilling out.
“Where’re the gardening gloves I asked for?” I manage, my throat dry.
“We bought you appropriate attire to be Kosta’s wife,” Roxy says with a brittle smile and whiskey on her breath.
“I don’t want to be Kosta’s wife,” I whisper.
“Look at the expensive pearls he bought you.” She lifts a jewelry box with an extravagant necklace inside. “Kosta loves women in dresses, silk stockings, and high heels. As his wife, you will be expected to look expensive. You will have the best of everything, just like these pearls.” She yanks my shoulder.
“Pearls are fancy shackles,” I murmur, pushing hergreedy hands off me.
“What?” Her thin brows arch over her eyes.
“Pearls are?—”
“I heard you and all your other remarks. How ungrateful. Look at all this.” She shoves more boxes of delicate gold chains, a dainty diamond watch, and onyx earrings under my nose.
“I want my star earrings. Rhys likes it when we’re in bed, and I scratch down his back during sex wearing those and nothing else.”
She slaps my face, stinging my already sore cheek. “Stop saying things like that. If you talk like that in front of Kosta, he will hurt you worse.”
“Worse than this?” I point to my face, although I’m not sure I remember what I look like since I’ve not been allowed to look in the mirror.
“You betrayed him.” Roxy starts packing up the boxes. “Consider his reaction a lesson. A warning. I had to learn, too. Your father gives me plenty of lessons.”
I’m at the dining table now. I don’t remember walking here, but here I am, slumped in a chair. A smelly cooked duck glistens on a white ceramic platter. Steam curls from bowls of vegetables. Oh look, the carrots are dancing. But my stomach heaves just looking at all the food.
My head spins like a carousel, but with no pretty fiberglass horses. Just mean faces. Like Kosta sitting across from me, ignoring me.
No one speaks to me. Daddy and Kosta chat about weapons and warehouses. Their voices are flat and dull. No accent.
