Bitter Truths (Crimson Falls Duet 2)

He pulls out his phone and taps on the screen. We wait. Silence once again hangs in the air, threatening and foreboding. And then the dining room doors slide open and a few of the Kovenant saunter in.

“Take him to Atreo. I’m certain the mafia will know how to deal with trash,” Darius orders, and this time, I do chuckle.

Alexei’s brother is Darius’s other half, both ready to kill and torture at a moment’s notice.

He looks to Marinda. “You going to follow him?”

She glances over her shoulder at Scarlett.

I’m not sure what my wife wants to do. Her mother was mostly innocent in all this, but she still kept secrets. Even though she wasn’t responsible for her husband’s actions, I don’t trust her. She needs to leave my home, my wife, and my family. But I’ll allow her daughter to grace her with that news.

“Will you sit with me, to talk?” she asks, turning to face her daughter. Hope dances in her eyes, her expression is one filled with the need to come closer, but she doesn’t. I’m not sure if she’s fearful of me or Scarlett, but she doesn’t shift an inch. But she waits, and I’m almost sure she’s holding her breath, waiting on the answer.

Scarlett glances at me for a moment, and I offer a nod of support. It’s her choice, not mine. But whatever she decides, I’ll stand by her side. I can’t deny her the chance to learn about her mother, I mean truly get to know the woman, but it has to be her who makes the decision.

“We can talk,” Scarlett says when she turns her attention back to her mother. “But I can’t say I’ll ever forgive you.” Her voice is strong, confident, filled with conviction, and my chest swells with pride.

“I can live with that.” Marinda nods, and a hint of a smile graces her lips.

“I want to know what happens to him,” Scarlett says suddenly, and I realize she’s looking at Darius. “I need to know exactly what is done to him, and if he’s alive afterward.”

“Of course,” he says with a smile. “You’ll be the first to know.”

I take this moment to step forward, making my way to Marinda, and I stop inches from her. “Let me make something very clear to you,” I start, before fisting my hands to calm down, and continue, “This opportunity you have with my wife, is what she graces you with. If you decide to fuck it up, I won’t think twice to get my brother involved and let me tell you, he does enjoy torture. If you so much as make Scarlett cry, I will come for you. The time you spend in our home, Scarlett and I are allowing you, is a privilege, because you don’t deserve it.”

I take a deep breath, my body is taut with anger, with the rage I felt when I learned about what Grace and Randolf did to my father. It wasn’t Marinda’s fault, but she was an accomplice.

I lock my glare on hers so she can see the rage swirling in my eyes. “So, don’t for one second take this for granted. Am I understood?”

“Yes, of course. I just want a moment to talk with her, just to try and explain. I was wrong. My husband made bad choices, and I followed him. There’s no excuse, and I kept those secrets of theirs as well, I’m as guilty as they are, but I’ve always loved my daughter even if I couldn’t show it like I should’ve.”

“The moment Scarlett tells you to leave, you’ll be escorted from this property,” I inform her before stepping back. She nods, and I turn to my wife, taking her hand in mine. “I’ll give you some privacy.”

“Thank you,” she mouths with a small, grateful smile, and I press a kiss to her lips before Darius and I leave. I don’t close the door, because I still don’t trust Marinda. And if Scarlett needs me, I’ll be in there within seconds.

“Time for a drink, brother,” Darius says as he follows me into the connected living room so we’re not too far from Scarlett.

“Time for you to apologize for fucking shooting me,” I bite back, and he chuckles.

30

Scarlett

My mother.

I watch her as she settles on the chair on the patio. Anger doesn’t cover what I feel for her. I’m not sure I can explain it. All my life I wanted someone to show me that I’m worth more than what I can offer them. The only person who’s given me that is him—the wolf in a tailored suit—Lycan Shaw.

I settle opposite her, needing to be as far away, but also as close as I can be to her. She watches me for a long time. Her gaze flitting between me and the garden. Her nervous energy makes me anxious, and I wonder what she’s about to tell me. Probably something I don’t want to know.