I pulled back, dropping my hands. “But, you did,” I sneered. I wasn’t sure what hurt more. Them betraying my trust or me having to look at my father with pure hatred. “Did my fucking cock not live up to his?” I yelled. She gasped, stumbling backward.
He yanked me away from her. “Don’t speak to her in that manner,” he growled, his tone menacing.
“Fuck you, Dad,” I seethed, my hands balling into fists at my sides. He jerked back, caught off guard by the vehemence in my tone. “You don’t get to threaten me.” My gaze shifted, falling on the painting above the fireplace. “I was her fucking lover fir—” my words stalled. A frown creased my brow. Something about the image looked familiar.The butterfly.I stopped breathing altogether. As if on autopilot, my gaze traveled from the painting to Sianna. “It’s you,” I finally found the ability to speak, yet my voice remained a hoarse rendition of its normal self. Eyes blinded by uncontrolled tears, my body shook. “She—” I gagged on the word, my eyes moving back to the painting. “She’s the woman you told me about?” Disbelief gutted my insides.
It was then I locked eyes with my father, his stare begging me to understand. To forgive him. His expression pained, his eyes glazed over with moisture before he nodded. “Rayden—”
I held up a hand. His gesture shot through me like a helpless animal being nailed by an unsuspecting bullet to the head. Nothing I’d discovered so far could’ve compared to the agony his confirmation inflicted. Bile hit the back of my throat, and I repeatedly swallowed to keep it down. “So, this wasn’t a one-time fuck,” I hissed, anger flaring my nostrils. I’d been manipulated to the point where I didn’t know whether her feelings for me had been genuine. “And you knew.” I scowled at her, my lungs fighting for air. Needing to get out of there before I did something I’d regret, I stormed out and down the passage. My father didn’t follow, and I didn’t expect him to.
“If she appeared right now in front of you, what would you do?”
Sliding his hand into his pocket, he swirled the contents of his glass with the other, stared at it briefly, then looked up. “I wouldn’t let her go.”
“And what if she came with conditions, or you know.” I lifted my shoulders in a light shrug. “Baggage?”
“I still wouldn’t let her go until she was mine.”
Taking a drink, I smiled. “Did she make that much of an impact on you?”
“You have no idea.”
That conversation played in my head, like a scratched fucking disc. Kyra came barrelling from the opposite end. I caught her arms before she crashed into me.
“Rayden?” Her frown was instant. “What’s wrong.”
“Nothing!” I barked. She jerked back in shock. I pulled in a deep breath.Shit.“I’m sorry, Kyra.” I’d never shown her anger, ever even when she’d barge into my room at odd hours demanding my attention. “I need some air.” I walked away before she could stop me. I felt like a royal fucking ass. I got played by my father and his—what? Lover? Girlfriend? One-night stand? Snorting my irritation, I stepped out the front door. Breathing hard, I stood there, fists balled, every inch of my body strung-out, running on a live wire that cemented the path of my feet to whatever awaited me beyond this moment. I pushed myself forward on shaky legs and headed for my car. As the engine roared to life, the passenger door opened. My sister folded herself into the seat. “What are you doing, Kyra?”
“You’re angry and I’m not letting you drive off in that state unless you take me with you.”
She matched me glare for glare and other than dragging her from the car, I had no choice but to let her sit there. I cut the engine and stared through the windshield, grinding my teeth to keep from cursing out loud.
“What’s wrong, Rayden. Please talk to me.” I turned to look at her, unable to stem the tears. Her eyes immediately glazed over. “The last time you looked this distraught was when Zena...” she broke on the name. Raking a hand through my hair, I relayed the last ten minutes of my life, and with each word, her eyes grew wider and the tears harsher. “Oh, my God,” she gasped when I stopped speaking. “How could a father do that to his son? How can dad do that toyou?” Anger shook her body. She raged enough for both of us.
“It’s done.” I shrugged. “I guess I’m not destined for true love.” I dragged a hand down my face, trying hard to keep calm while my insides resembled a ticking time bomb.
“Don’t you dare say that,” she scolded. “Everyone has a soulmate.”
“Do they?” I scoffed out a laugh. “Then, where the fuck is mine?”
Kyra leaned toward me and circled my neck, resting her head on my shoulder. “I’m sorry, Rayden. You and Sianna were good together. Maybe she just wasn’t meant for you. Although she had us all fooled with her Miss Goodytwoshoes behavior—”
“Don’t, Kyra.”
My sister pulled away from me, her eyes large marbles. “Are you serious right now? She breaks your heart and you’re okay with that.” She laughed. “Color me stupid,” she retorted, opening the door and stepped out.
“Kyra?” I opened her window.
“Yeah.” She leaned down to look at me as I turned the key.
“Don’t hate him.”
Her brow creased. “How can I not. What he did to you—”
“No.” I sighed. “He’s been nothing but a good a father to the both of us and we all make mistakes. His was unfortunate.” She tilted her head, confusion swam in her green gaze. “He fell in love.”
“But—”
“Sometimes, the heart plays tricks on you, Kyra. It makes you believe one thing when all the time you want something else.” I shook my head and as she stepped back, I shifted the transmission into first and shot off down the driveway.
