Shit, comforting a weeping female is a foreign concept to me.
I lie beside her and wipe her tears. “This is who I am. Accept it.”
“I finally decided to control my own destiny and liberate myself from my father,” she wails.
“Goal accomplished. What is the fucking problem?”
“It was supposed to be on my own terms, but you took the choice from me and made my victory hollow!”
“A victory is a triumph, no matter how it’s obtained.”
“You don’t get it,” she sobs. “After the hell he put me through as a child, I needed closure.”
I gleaned some information about Pepper, but the particulars of her childhood are a mystery.
“What did he do?” The thought of anyone harming her makes my blood boil. It’s convoluted given the fact I find pleasure in causing her pain, but no one is allowed to hurt her,except me.She guides my fingers along the underside of her left wrist. The skin is slightly scarred there. It’s imperceptible, so I hadn’t noticed before.
“You’re not the only one who’s been burned.”
Pepper bawls her eyes out, recounting the sordid details of her upbringing, from the death of her mother and being homeschooled to recently learning of her half-sister. All of those events led to the life-altering decision to escape her father’s rule. The story of her sperm donor holding her wrist over an open flame affected me the most. That motherfucker shouldn’t be breathing. I want to rage but bite my tongue and listen to Pepper divulge horrific tales into the wee hours. Eventually, she falls asleep, fatigued and wrapped in my protective embrace.
Though Pepper went to sleep late, she woke with the sunrise. She stumbled to the bathroom, grumbling unhappily about cum in her hair and having to wash it. Once she’s all clean, I’ll take her to breakfast. I’m starving, and I’m sure she is too since neither of us ate dinner. I put my pants on and head to the kitchen in search of caffeine. I have a pot of coffee made in minutes and pour myself a huge cup. No sugar or cream added; I drink my java strong and black.
Before I can savor the flavor, there’s loud banging on the front door. I slam the mug on the counter, spilling some of the hot brew on my hand.
“Goddamn it,” I growl, walking to the door. “Who the fuck could that be at this time of morning?”
I look through the peephole and spot Pepper’s brother.He’s probably here because of his father, I muse, opening the door. His face scrunches in confusion, and he glances at the number on the door to verify he’s at the correct location.
“I-is P-pepper h-home?” he asks, stuttering.
“She’s in the shower,” I answer, stepping back to allow him entry.
The shock wears off, and his eyes widen in recognition. “You’re Dominic Stone.”
“In the flesh.” I go back into the kitchen, and he follows.
“Dude, you’re rich and famous.”
“I’m hardly a celebrity.”
“Last year I had to write an essay about an entrepreneur who inspires me for my business class, and I chose you. You’re one of the wealthiest self-made billionaires in the world.”
Damn, an impressionable kid shouldn’t see me as a role model. I’m a fucking asshole.
“My name is Patrick, by the way. I’m Pepper’s brother.”
“Good to meet you.”
“Likewise.” He grabs a carton of juice from the refrigerator and chugs down a big gulp.
I raise an eyebrow at him.
He smiles sheepishly. “Pepper buys fruit juice for me. She hates it.”
I’m lucky I didn’t drink any.
“I’m saving money for the Beacon Trinity. My father won’t buy me one and refused to cosign for a monthly installment plan.”
