“What are you talking about?” Although a part of me wanted to accept her rantings as her just lambasting my father, I couldn’t ignore the abrupt tingle crawling up from the base of my spine.
“I might’ve screwed around on my husband, but I know the boundaries when it comes to touching my kid’s fiancé.”
“Would you just spit it out?” I gritted through clenched teeth, knowing what she was trying to say. Only, a part of me didn’t want to believe it.
“Your father slept with Sianna.”
Every muscle in my body pulled tight as my teeth clenched. I couldn’t move. Considering I’d teased Sianna about falling for my father then suspected her, I’d retracted that accusation, choosing to believe my girlfriend. “You’re talking shit,” I finally snarled, not caring that she was my mother.
Another curt laugh erupted from her twisted mouth. “It’s so easy to see me as a slut, yet nothing can taint your eyes when it comes to your father.” Her eyes narrowed, she took a step closer. “If you don’t believe me, go ask him.”
Without another word, I spun around and hurried to the dining room. I stopped at the door. My vision zoomed in on first my father’s seat and then Sianna’s. Both were empty. I raced down the passages toward his study. “It’s pure horseshit,” I muttered all the way. When I reached the door, I paused. “He’s my father. He wouldn’t do that to me.” I silently prayed I was right. Drawing in a deep breath, I rapped my knuckles on the heavy door and swung it open without waiting for an answer.
I stopped short, my hardened stare meeting my father and Sianna’s. Any dumbass could see they’d stepped away hurriedly. And right now, that dumbass was me. I remained still, unable to move, searching their faces for answers to my unasked question. “What are you doing here, Sianna?”
She recoiled at the venom in my voice. Her eyes flared, the guilt obvious. My father stepped forward. “What’s wrong, Rayden? I brought her here after—”
“Is it true, dad?” I squeezed out through clenched teeth. At his baffled look, I didn’t hesitate, not caring for the disgust already spewing out, as I asked, “Did you fuck my girlfriend?”
Sianna’s gasp was all the confirmation I needed.
“Rayden—” he began and stopped at my raised hand.
“Just answer the fucking question. Is it true?”
He hesitated, shifted his gaze to Sianna, and then back to me. “Yes.”
I glared at the man I’d respected and loved unconditionally. I wasn’t sure what a panic attack felt like, but the way my throat closed up and the harsh sprint of my heartbeat was probably an indication of what it felt like. “I just defended you to my mother—” I choked on the lump in my throat.
“Ray—” Sianna’s voice broke and she slowly shook her head.
The emotion in that one word stung, like a punch to the gut. I leveled her with a scowl. “How the fuck, Sianna?” Anger flowed through my veins like the rage of a suffocating tsunami.
“Rayden!” my father admonished.
I let out a harsh laugh, curling my fists to prevent lunging at him. “Are you seriously going to stand there and ask me to mind my manners when you fucked my girlfriend?”
“It’s not like that, son.”
“Don’t!” I scoffed. “Don’t you dare tell me—” I broke off. Tears burned the back of my lids as anger festered in my throat, stalling my words once more. My lungs ached from the sheer effort it took to breathe. He moved toward me and I stepped back, my palms up. How could he stand there and look at me as though he’d done nothing wrong? My eyes found Sianna’s over his shoulder, staring at me for a split-second before she scrunched them shut like it hurt to look at me. And by God, I hoped it did. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She inched forward another second later. I spun around and charged for the door.
“Rayden,” my father called out. “Please, son, let me explain.”
“Explain what exactly.” I punched the door. The resounding bang emphasized the strength I’d put into the hit. I ignored the burn in my knuckles. “How could you?” I spat, turning to look at him. My body shook. I fisted my palms and bit back the tears that threatened to fall. “I trusted you with everything. Bared my soul to you about Zena’s death and this is how you repay me when I finally find love again. By fucking her.” I pointed a finger at Sianna. “Was I not good enough for?” I closed my eyes.
“I’m sorry, Rayden, I never meant to hurt you,” her shaky whisper drifted through the air, almost like heavy raindrops—feather-light on its way down, yet piercing when it hit the ground.
Opening my eyes, I barked out a laugh. “Now your turning me down the last two nights makes perfect sense.” Shaking my head, I glanced around, not sure what I was looking for. Evidence of their fucking, perhaps. Not sure why, I walked up to her, my chest rising and falling to keep up with my harsh breathing.
“Please, Rayden, I—”
I looked at her. Pain spread from my chest down and I struggled to breathe. I reached out, with my hands on either side of her head, staring into those deep blues I’d fallen in love with, desperate to understand why. I leaned my forehead on hers, slowly shaking my head. I couldn’t stop the tears. “Why, Sia?” My body shook with the sobs. “I gave you my love, my heart, every part of me. Was I still not good enough for you?” My tears mixed with hers, staining my shirt. “You promised me forever.”
“I’m so sorry.” She lifted her hands to mine, her grip tight, her nails digging into my skin. “I-l l-love you, Rayden.” Her body jerked with sobs, her voice breaking on the words.
“How?” My grip tightened on her head. “How can you love me?” I ground my teeth, trying not to shake her.
“I don’t know, but I do,” she hiccupped. “I never meant to hurt you.”
