Thorns and Forgiveness (Twisted Legacy Duet, #2)

by Coralee June

My father taught me that we were all born with hearts made of glass. Delicate, murderous little tools pounding in our chests. I just needed to take some time and toughen it up with a bit of fire and agony. After all, I was a Beauregard. And Beauregards didn’t suffer from empathy, remorse, and guilt. We stepped barefoot on the shattered shards like little psychopaths, proving to the world that we didn’t need pretty emotions to survive.

I’ve always been the person fighting for the relationships in my life. Just once, I wanted someone to fight for me.

“Fuck yeah, you’re mistaken. Don’t call me again. I don’t want your forgiveness. I don’t need your used-up pussy, either.” “I’m sorry,” I croaked.

“Let me be very clear, baby,” Hamilton said in a sinister tone. “I don’t like you. I barely even wanted you. I used you up, little rose. Now there’s nothing left but the stem, and I’ve got no use for thorns. But hey,” he added as I nearly crumbled from the pain, “thanks for the pussy. It was fun while it lasted.”

It was a privilege to kiss Hamilton Beauregard. It wasn’t wholesome, like the tender moments shared between two lovers. It wasn’t kind or polite. Kissing him was like a glorious apology. A physical manifestation of the truth budding between us. Sweeping tongues. Crashing teeth. Sucking. Groaning. He tugged on my lip. I pulled at his soul.

Love was like a pendulum, and I kept going back and forth, always stuck, never actually going anywhere.

“People can only make your life hell if you let them, Hamilton. Beat him at his own game, and you’ll never have to deal with him again.”

“One of my favorite philosophers is Ludwig Josef Johann Wittgenstein. Brilliant man, if not a little twisted. He said my favorite line. ‘Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent.’” Anika looked down at the phone in my hand. “Wittgenstein explored the concept that there are limits to language. There are many things that can’t effectively be said. Some things have to be shown, Vera.”

Sometimes people don’t realize that you have to put in the work. It’s not just enough to tell someone off, then cut them out of your life. Sometimes you have to fight that daily fight, you know? You have to work on yourself still.”

“Don’t try to save me, Hamilton. I don’t need a hero. I just need you.”

“I’m the one in control. I choose who is worth fighting for. I don’t get on my knees for martyrs and cowards.”

You can want better for someone, but you can’t force it on them.”

We were mad. Hurting. Healing. But we were together. Family was the motherfuckers you chose, after all.

My mom taught me a lot of things, but the most important lesson was how to love someone while still loving myself.