Total pages in book: 164
Estimated words: 152853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 764(@200wpm)___ 611(@250wpm)___ 510(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 152853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 764(@200wpm)___ 611(@250wpm)___ 510(@300wpm)
Which means she knew last night. Coming to the cottage, fighting with me, fucking me. Sleeping in my arms. She fucking knew. And she said nothing.
Now, she clicks her tongue and shakes her head. “You’re doing it again.”
“Doing what?” Callum snaps.
“Pushing people around. You’re just going to send him someplace again? First, you want him home. Now you’re sending him away. Did you ask him if he wants to go? No, because you don’t allow people to decide for themselves. You’re proving my point. I should probably thank you.”
“What in the hell are you trying to say?” She needs to be careful. He is about as close to blowing up as I’ve ever seen him.
“It’s always about what you want. And I know you have good intentions, Daddy. You mean well. Although you never stop to ask if anybody agrees with you. It’s always your way or the highway.”
“I would watch your tone if I were you.”
“Dad. Come on. I’m not one of your guards. I’m not some subordinate. I’m a grown woman, and I’m telling you what I’ve seen with my own eyes. You know all that great redevelopment you’re doing in your old hometown? All the improvements and the projects? I’m sure you’re proud of that, and you have every right to be. Yet there’s another side to it. You’re driving up property values and increasing taxes to the point where people can’t afford their own homes anymore. Gentrification. Ever heard of it?”
Over the years, I have come to respect Callum for many reasons. He came from nothing, and look at him now. There is an entire army of men decorating his house for the holidays, all because that’s what his wife wants. He sits on top of an empire.
But he has his faults, just like anybody else. And right now, he does maybe the worst thing possible.
He scoffs. “Give me a break. And try to stay on topic.”
I can practically hear her heart break and for the first time in a decade, I’m disappointed in him. “See?” she murmurs, tipping her head to the side. “You won’t even listen when somebody tries to tell you what you need to hear. I’m not surprised, but it doesn’t change my mind. I’m going.”
“Not without Romero.”
“That’s fine.”
He holds up a finger. “One more caveat. You stay here through the holidays. Not that you could score a lease any faster than that. However, I want to be sure you’re here, with us. Got it?”
She draws a deep breath through flared nostrils, narrowing her eyes. “Whatever you say,” she agrees through gritted teeth before her head swings around. Her eyes are like lasers burning a hole through me. The message is clear. I thought you were on my side. Always a lapdog.
She doesn’t understand, and wouldn’t if I could find the words. She’ll have to go on thinking I’m nothing except a yes man who asks how high whenever her father commands me to jump.
Some sins can never be removed. I’ll never deserve her. This is the only way I can have her.
I’ll do whatever Callum wants, to give my soul what it needs.
CHAPTER 36
TATUM
Why are my palms so sweaty? Are they always this sweaty? I rub them over my thighs, hoping my jeans will soak it up. Then I realize both legs have been bouncing up and down since I sat in this chair almost an hour ago. I’m still nervous about opening up. I don’t want to ruin this.
It’s a nice room. Simple, yet comfortable. There are lots of plants and a burning candle fills the air with a light, floral scent I can’t identify. But it’s nice. It’s calming. Well, it would be if I wasn’t so damn jumpy.
This isn’t my first attempt at therapy, but it’s the first time I’ve actually put any effort into it. I understand why Dad wanted me to see a therapist after I broke down – and if it was my daughter or best friend going through the same stuff, I would have probably made the same recommendation. I wasn’t ready, though. The pain was too fresh. I was still too lost and locked away in my personal mental prison.
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve seen Dr. Jacobs six times. I want to do the work. I want to get through everything that’s holding me back so I can finally move on. The time I spent away from home helped — I feel stronger, more capable, more like myself.
Only there are obviously issues that still need to be worked out. Like how I can’t stay away from what I know will hurt me. He always does in the end.
Most recently, when he rolled over like a dog, showing his belly, when Dad ordered him to be my bodyguard. Just once, I want him to stand up for himself. To at least pretend he’s invested in his own life.