Bitter Truths (Crimson Falls Duet 2)

Scarlett shakes her head.

I want to step forward, to pull my wife away from the news she’s about to receive and keep her safe from the atrocities that her family has done over the years. But no matter what I do, I realize I can’t shelter her forever. She told me she’s strong. But this is far beyond anything either of us imagined.

“I’m sorry, Scarlett,” Grace says in a low whisper while I pull my cellphone from my pocket and hit dial on the number. Three rings, and I end the call. It’s time to put a stop to this and keep my wife safe. “I didn’t mean for you find out about this. I did things I’m not proud of and I accept my fate, but don’t blame your father for this.”

“Don’t blame him?” My wife’s voice turns loud, filled with shock that Grace can even request that of her. She shakes in my arms, her body trembling, and I can’t imagine what it must be like to realize your family never truly loved you. “He fucking sold me! Do you even understand what that means?”

Grace tips her head as if she doesn’t care. Her chin jutting out in defiance as she pins her granddaughter with a stare. “It doesn’t look like you’re too angry since you married him,” she snips before tipping her chin in gesture to me. “I think you did rather well. Lycan is wealthy, can give you children, I’m sure. And when the time comes, you’ll live a comfortable life without ever having to work again.”

If anger were an entity, it would be beside my wife right now. I release her when she pulls free from me and stalks toward the old woman. I’ve seen her angry a few times, when I took her for the first time. When I saved her from the woods and brought her to my house. But those moments have nothing on this.

She gets in Grace’s personal space, she’s inches from her, before Scarlett speaks. “Don’t you ever talk about me or my husband like that. I was pushed into this life, yes, but I made sure it was something I wanted. Do you even understand what it’s like to have your choices taken away from you?”

When Grace doesn’t answer, she merely watches her granddaughter, and for a moment, a split second, I’m sure I see pride in her eyes as she takes the younger woman in.

Scarlett continues, “You had a choice a long time ago, and you chose wrong. You could’ve righted those wrongs, but you didn’t. You could’ve raised your son properly, but you didn’t. I’m sorry to say, but you failed us, me, Dad, and even mom when she joined the family.”

Grace nods slowly, and I can see the wheels turning in her head. She can’t deny it anymore. And she most certainly cannot tell her granddaughter that she’s in the right because she isn’t.

“I know.” Two words and it’s almost as if Scarlett deflates. The breath is whooshed from her lungs, and I have to step in, pulling her toward me, wrapping my arms around her protectively. “I did things because I believed they were right. At the time. But now, looking back, I’ve made stupid choices. And I will pay for that. There is no doubt that I will, and I go willingly.”

Even though Darius and I were at odds for a long time, we still did shit because we cared. There was anger, guilt, and rage that would flow from our words, and yes, he did shoot me, which we still need to hash out, but when I glance over at him, relief washes over me at him being here, by my side to take this family down for killing our father.

It doesn’t take long for the doors to fly open after my call and the suits to walk in. They make a beeline for Grace. Her gaze locks on mine. She knows I was the one who called them, and she doesn’t put up a fight as they lead her out of the room.

Before she disappears from sight, she looks at me, then at Darius. “I’m sorry for my hand in what happened to your father. I should’ve stopped it, but I was weak. I never wanted to lose him or the baby, but fate had other plans.”

It’s time for Darius to step forward, and he quickly closes the distance. “Don’t you ever think about him. Don’t fucking shed a tear for him because you did this. Not your bastard of a husband, you.” The anger in my brother’s tone is chilling, and I’m certain if I left him to handle Grace Bardot, she’d be dead right now.

Second later, she’s gone. Scarlett is still shaking as I wrap her in my arms. The dining room door closes, and I can’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Grace is in for hours of questioning, and when they’re done, she’ll be locked up, the key thrown away. It’s what she deserves.