“I do, though. I watched as he searched for you, his frustration when he couldn’t find you. Kol was a complete mess, but he never stopped looking. Hold onto him because he’s one in a million.” Am I a fool to believe what she says?
Am I a fool not to?
Kol is always caring for me. Giving me whatever he senses I need, and he’s almost always spot on. He’s lent me his strength more times than I can count in the past few days by just being with me. Touching me in small ways. That first kiss was so tender that I could have cried. He knew that it had to be slow, soft, and sweet without understanding why.
Even though he tries to control what’s happening when we’re together, he always gives me an out. He’s so gentle with me.
“I’m not sure if I know how to love him, Ember.” And that is my biggest fear.
I loved my father, and he died.
I loved my mother, and she stopped caring.
I wanted to love Richard, and he hurt me in the worst possible way.
Everyone I’ve ever loved has left me shattered, and I’m not sure I can do it again.
“You do, Thea. You just need to recognize that he’s not going to hurt you.”
Richard
* * *
“Are you certain, Colin?” I stare at my brother. Rage like nothing I’ve experienced before boils beneath the surface of my flesh, causing my veins to throb with the need to cause harm.
“Positive.” He sits in the chair across from me in my chambers after explaining to me what he found in Knoxville.
We never did find sweet, little Thea’s body in the river. Only her belongings downstream. The belief was that she simply drowned. She was gone. It was what I needed to be true. The little tease tried to ruin me after seducing me into her bed. I had to lie to the police, to my wife.
Thea could never do what she was told. Too much like her father is what Alexandra always said. Now, she’s back to haunt me.
“
Can you dispose of her discreetly?” My gaze bores into Colin. I need him to take care of this.
“She’s a kid.” He’s shocked by my request. I’m not sure why. He does all of my dirty work. Although, he doesn’t quite know what happened between Thea and me four years ago. “Why is this such a big deal, Rich?”
Huffing out a breath, I realize I must tell him. Maybe I can lie my way through this, too. “When she was sixteen, some things…happened. She made accusations. Her disappearing was for the best.”
His gaze narrows. “What things?” Fuck sakes.
“Does it matter?” It shouldn’t.
“If you want me to kill my niece, yes, it matters.” Stubborn man.
“We had sex,” I snap out in a harsh whisper.
“Are you fucking kidding me? You raped the girl?” Someone found some morals.
“I didn’t rape her; it was consensual,” I defend.
“Not according to the medical reports.” Colin stands, buttons his coat, and begins to walk out. “Find yourself a new monkey, Rich, I’m done.”
“You knew? Why the hell would you make me say it then?” As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I understand. “Are you wearing a wire, Colin?”
Colin smirks as he leaves, shutting the door behind him. “Fuck!” I scream into the empty room, grabbing my coffee mug, and pitching it across the room. I watch in fascination as the ceramic shatters into thousands of pieces.
I’m ruined.