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PART 1
Damon
If she left me, I’m going to burn the whole fucking world down until I find her, and if she took my kid, I’m really going to take my time with her.
Cutting my trip short to race home, because she decides to ignore my calls and do little pirouettes all over my peace of mind? What the fuck? I knew I should’ve been single. I knew that I knew that, because this is what women do, isn’t it? They take you and ball you up into a nice, little, fucking knot until you can’t breathe, and…
She’s dancing. She practices in the pool a lot for balance.
I sheath the knife in the flower pot in front of me, stabbing the soil.
“You had you your chance,” I whisper in her ear. “My turn.”
“Decent men don’t do this,” I tell her. “But that’s why I wanted this one. She’s a devil, just like me.”
“I love you,” I say.
“Okay, okay,” I admit. “Yeah, I may have threatened your choreographer with…” I search for words that won’t piss her off, “removal of certain limbs. I don’t like him putting his hands there. I put my hands there.”
“The only one who can bring Ivar Torrance’s father to his knees is Ivar’s mother.”
“You won the bet.”
The bet. My chest swells, and a smile spreads across my face as I dive for the edge of the pool, catching up with her. “And you let me fuck you like that?” I scold, hopping out of the pool and lifting her up again.
So, we made a bet. She would get pregnant if I could get her pregnant. While she was on birth control.
“And in all fairness, I wasn’t trying to cut your trip short,” she explains. “I’m sorry. I was just making you mad enough that you’d hunt me down when you got home.”
I know he’s asleep, but it’s been a week.
His “grandmother” is danger.
“Yeah, so did we.” Her voice is somber as we both stare out the windshield. “Thank goodness we gave each other another one.”
I look over, seeing Will’s cousin, Misha.
“That kid doesn’t absolve you.” Rika inches in front of me again, trying to catch my eyes. “He doesn’t make your past go way or make you better than her.” I get in her face, gritting out. “Move.” But she doesn’t. “You tied me to a bed,” she says. “Kissed me. Bit me. Even as I cried.”
“Wanted to share me with your friends,” she goes on. “Wanted me to yourself for a little while, too, remember that?”
“Your little sister…” she taunts.
Yes, I made enough mistakes to last a lifetime, but I’m not a bad parent, and that’s just about the worst thing you can be.
“And I know you never will hurt me,” Rika tells me, her eyes soft and glistening. “I trust you. So, trust me.”
She does trust me. God, I don’t know why, but…she did let me go when she could’ve turned me in. And then she rescued me and bled for me and fought with me…
Maybe I want to punish her. Maybe I’m jealous that he gets to have what I didn’t.
“While we’re on the subject, I want you married before you have his child.”
“Kai married Banks in a day. What’s taking so long?”
Where is my girl
It was a little different when she was just my friend’s girlfriend, but things have changed.
I know it’s not it. They’ve been engaged for a while, and Will only left town about a year ago.
“Conclave,”
Not to mention Banks. We need everything nicely set up for my plans for her, and it’s past time to get started. I’ll need help getting her on board. And keeping Kai out of my way about it.
Yes yes yes tell me moreeeee
If his dad is dating Rika’s mother, and they possibly get married, we’ll all have to get really friendly.
Rika looks at me. “Rehab?” Possibly. They could be getting him sober and keeping it quiet.
“Ivar was born a year ago.” I look down at Rika as I hold Winter’s hand, realization hitting me. “He wouldn’t have abandoned me this long. Not willingly.”
He may very well be her step-brother at some point, but I’m blood.
“You’re bad for him.” “I didn’t let him O.D. to his death on my watch,” I growl, throwing the death of his sister in his face.
Okay, that was low. Annie was sweet and all. Honestly. But he has some nerve suggesting he’ll take care of Will better after what happened to his kid sister. What a little shit.
Sea is a great place to bury bodies, you know? Deep breath, asshole.
Rika
Damon and I have stashes in several locations, but none here. I guess if Ivar spends more time here, Damon will, too. May as well arrange one more stash, then.
“No,” my mother replies. “It skips several generations. None of yours or Damon’s children will have both.”
“That your father’s will accounted for you and any other children I’d have,” she says. “When are you going to tell Damon?”
But I have a feeling he doesn’t. I’m kind of proud of him. He’s the only one out of the four who can say they’re completely self-made. Damon is doing well. I kind of envy the freedom he has. He’s creating his own legacy.
What’s one more order of business to add to the conclave anyway? Nine friends locked on a boat with alcohol, spear guns, and the black ocean at night? This was a fantastic idea.
PART 2
One month later…
Rika
The fading light of the day seeps through the blinds, casting a striped shadow over Alex’s body, and I walk toward her and softly climb on the bed, straddling her on my hands and knees.
I look down at her. She’s the only one who can make me smile lately.
