“Thank God, Didrick!” With every ounce of strength he can muster, Olan tugs at the restraints holding him in place. “Get me out of here! Florian has lost his fucking mind!”
Didrick’s head tilts to the side, a questioning expression on his face. “You think I’m here to save you?”
“Of course!” Again, Olan tugs at his restraints. “I need you to cut this damn tape, then call your brothers so I can tell them where we are. I need all my men to gather and hit this place again.”
Didrick crosses his arms over his chest. “After everything you’ve done to me, why the hell do you think I would do that?”
Olan stops pulling at the tape and glares at my youngest brother like he could kill him for even asking the question. This is the type of man Olan is. He tries to intimidate you into doing whatever he wants.
He starts this brainwashing at a very young age, so when you’re old enough to resist, you won’t even think about it because you’re scared to death of how he’ll react. I’m proud that Didrick doesn’t cower to Olan’s attempt to intimidate him even though it’s ingrained in him to do whatever Olan says.
“Because I’m your goddamn father!” he shouts. “Cut me the fuck loose, Didrick! Now!”
“Fuck you,” Didrick says. “You can rot here for all I fucking care.”
Although I would have liked for him to be more forceful with Olan, at least he’s finally making a stand for himself. I’m proud of him for being able to do that at such a young age.
“You ungrateful little shit!” Olan sneers with such malice in his eyes and voice, you’d think Didrick was just a stranger, a random person on the street. If you were on the outside looking in, you wouldn’t believe that this man was actually speaking to his son. “I’ve done everything for you! Every fucking thing, and you’re treating me like this? Wait until your brothers find out.”
Didrick laughs, but there’s no humor in it. Immediately, the anger drains from his face and is replaced with heartache. “Kicking me out of the house after you got me addicted to heroin is doing everything for me? You’re a piece of shit!”
Now that’s news to me. From what Olan told me when he came to me and asked me to pay Didrick’s drug debt, Didrick was in a bad accident and became addicted that way. I guess there are some more questions I need answers to.
As I enter the cooler, Olan glances at Didrick and then shifts his attention to me. “You! I’m going to fucking kill you!”
“Yes, it’s me, Olan.”
I approach my younger brother. “Now, tell me how our father got you hooked on drugs and why.”
Now that I’ve heard that Olan is behind Didrick’s addiction, I’m going to need to hear the entire story. I’m sure he usedDidrick to get to me because he knew that I would help him if the price was right—the price being Larsson Industries. However, I’m not sure what part Didrick played in this little scheme, but I hope he wasn’t a willing participant because I actually believe he has a chance at a long and prosperous life. As long as he didn’t cross me or try to fuck me over.
22
Arabelle
Idon’t know why I thought Florian would listen to me. Despite the beautiful ring on my finger, we’re still strangers. I’m his wife in name only, despite the intimacy we’ve been experiencing lately. To me, it’s more than sex, and we actually have a connection. I thought that maybe, just maybe, his feelings for me were getting stronger like mine are for him. Obviously, I misread what we shared. I linked our intimacy with feelings, and now, I realize they are not the same thing.
He and his father are on a collision course headed straight for disaster, and I don’t know if Florian will survive it. Truthfully, I want nothing to do with it. I want us to build this relationship so we both can have a life that isn’t full of misery. So, I thought he’d at least put me first since, according to him, he wants this to be a real marriage. According to him, he’s wanted me for a long time. But, of course, he didn’t put me ahead of his vendetta. Even when I gave him the choice of staying or leaving, he chose for me to go, which stung a little.
“Are you all right?” Dale asks.
My eyes fill with tears as I shake my head, standing next to the only person I can call a friend. “I don’t know why I thoughtthis would be easy, Dale. This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”
With his arm around my shoulder, he pulls me into a warm embrace. When I left Florian’s home, which is now our home, Dale was the first person who came to mind. Although I’ve distanced myself from Dale because of his feelings for me, I have no one else to turn to. I can’t rely on my sisters because they would probably be happy to learn I’m going through this, or they’ll tell me to suck it up and get over it because I’m lucky to even be married to the great Florian Larsson. My father would only be worried about how it affected him. So, I don’t regret not reaching out to them.
“You always see the best in people, sweetheart. So, you thought you could be yourself, and everything else would fall into place. But Florian is a different kind of man. A man you didn’t quite prepare yourself for.”
“So, you’re telling me I’m an idiot?”
I sure as hell feel like an idiot.
“No, you’re not an idiot, Arabelle. You’re just too kind sometimes, especially when it comes to your family. Do you feel like you’re in danger?” Dale asks.
Unfortunately, I don’t have an answer to that question. It’s not as simple as black and white. Florian and his father walk in the gray, which makes everything difficult to answer.
“Not entirely,” I say. “At times it feels like I’m living a fairytale. He’s sweet. Attentive. He makes me feel like a queen. Then there are times I understand why they call him Beast.”
“Has he hurt you?” Dale asks, his voice dripping with anger.
