Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 77295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
I saw the back of his head before I saw his face. He sat in the shade of the umbrella, looking across his manicured gardens with the many colors of hydrangeas. Instead of a pitcher of iced tea and two glasses, there was a decanter of scotch.
Wordlessly, I took the seat beside him.
He looked at the scenery, his hands together as his elbows sat on the armrests.
I wasn’t sure if he was angry or just savoring the moment.
After what felt like minutes of sheer torture, he turned to regard me.
Every minute that passed was precious. Every minute she was locked away with that asshole was a minute that could forever scar her. I didn’t have time for diplomatic bullshit, but if I didn’t play the game, I wouldn’t find her at all. So, I swallowed my pride and rage and held his gaze.
“You know why I’m here.”
“Couldn’t find him yourself, could you?”
I wouldn’t tolerate a slight like that from anyone else, but I had to grind my teeth and absorb it.
“What makes you think I know where he is?”
“Because you do.”
“Actually, I don’t. He never told me where he was going.”
“But you can figure it out.”
He gave an amused chuckle. “I can’t remember the last time you were so nice to me.”
“Not being nice. Just stating facts.”
He grabbed the decanter and filled the glasses.
Rejecting the offer was the only act of defiance I expressed. “Help me.”
“This is your pissing contest.”
“It’s not a pissing contest anymore.”
He turned to look at me again. “Cauldron, it’ll always be a pissing contest. You really think this woman means anything to you? She’s your brother’s favorite Christmas present, and even though your gift is better, you’d still rather take his. The two of you have always been that way since the day Grave was born.”
No denying that. “Even if that’s true, he’s taken her against her will, and I can’t abandon her.”
“And they say chivalry is dead…” He looked across the horizon again.
I grew tired of this game. “Name your price.”
“My price?”
“Yes.”
He gave a slight shake of his head. “You can’t afford my price, Cauldron.”
“You don’t have enough money?” I asked incredulously. “You want all of mine?”
“The currency isn’t money.”
“Then what is it?”
He looked at me.
That was when I knew what he wanted.
“I lost your mother. Then I lost you.”
“You didn’t lose us. Mother was murdered because you didn’t protect her. I’m estranged from you because your second wife plotted to kill me, and you brushed it off.”
“I didn’t brush it off.”
“You stayed married to her.”
“Because I couldn’t believe someone would be so malicious—”
“You should have put that bitch in the ground. Where the fuck is your loyalty?” Now it all came out, billowing storm clouds, smoke out of my nostrils. “You should have drowned Grave in the toilet because of his part in it.”
“Grave wasn’t involved—”
“Bullshit.”
Heavy silence passed. Silence full of rage and remorse.
My father spoke again. “Cauldron, I’m sorry for the past. There’s nothing more I can do than issue you an apology, which I’ve done many times. It’s time for us to move forward. We’ve already lost so much time.”
“You think an apology means anything to me?” I asked incredulously. “They’re just words. Your actions can’t be amended with words.”
He stared at me with the same eyes as my own, brooding and authoritative. “You’re so angry. I don’t want you to be this angry forever.”
I looked away.
“Son, I’m growing older, and our time together is growing shorter—”
“Don’t call me that,” I snapped.
He stared for a long time. “This is the price I command—if you want my help.”
“What price?”
“I want you to try. Try to build a new relationship with me.”
I wanted to throw my chair into the pool and storm off. The only reason I stayed was because of Camille. I was too proud for this, but not too proud to save her. “What does try entail?”
“Dinner once a month.”
“Once a month?”
“Take it or leave it.”
“You should help me because I’m your son—”
“You should never do anything for free. You want me to betray my son’s confidence, it’s going to cost you. What’s it going to be?”
I wanted to throw the table upside down then beat him to death with the chair. But I didn’t do any of those things. Wasn’t in my power. “Fine.”
THIRTEEN
CAMILLE
The furniture no longer blocked my door.
The knives were gone, and I didn’t sneak new ones.
My time at his Tuscan estate was spent in solitude because Grave never crossed my path. I spent my time in the pool, hiking around the grounds, the tracker still locked around my ankle. I ate my meals alone.
I should be thankful, but the loneliness was all-consuming.
Now I was waiting around for the Cauldron to rescue me, and that felt like a stupid plan.
But what else was I supposed to do?
I was afraid to linger if Grave had a change of heart. He might burst back into my room, and Cauldron wouldn’t be able to protect me for a second time. I lounged in the pool as I thought about all those things, sipping another drink that Raymond had brought to the poolside, when I heard Grave scream from somewhere else on the property.