Bitter Truths (Crimson Falls Duet 2)

My lungs struggle to pull in air as deep voices come from the hallway, and men dressed in leather come bounding into my office. The smell of alcohol from mine and Darius’s drinks sting my nose as I push to my feet to find Horatio lying on the remains of the door.

His body slumps in a manner that confirms he’s out cold. Lifting my gaze, I find a couple of the Kovenant members staring at me. “Sorry, man,” one of them, I think his name is Howler or something like that, says. “Bastard managed to get free from the prospects that were watching him.”

Nodding, I step closer to Horatio, taking him in. His wrinkles more prominent with his face contorted in pain. His chest rising and falling. Honestly, I don’t care if he is or not.

“Get this bastard off my property. Make sure he doesn’t make a run for it,” I order, taking the lead, and I’m surprised Darius allows it. Suddenly, my wife races into the room, her pretty gray eyes wide with shock as she takes in the mess.

“What happened?” Her voice is a soft gasp that has a direct link to my cock. “Uhm… Why is he—?”

“Your dad tried to make his way back in here, to kill me I guess.” I shrug it off as she steps into my arms and wraps herself around me. She doesn’t notice the looks she gets from the rest of the men as they lift her father from the broken door and carry him out. “Bastard needs to pay for a new door,” I mumble before pressing my lips to the top of her head. Her silky hair smells like a spring morning, fresh and floral. Her fragrance has always been something I notice about her, it’s as if it enters a room before she does.

“My mother is gone,” she whispers into my jacket, and I glance at Darius, who nods. I watch him take out his cell phone and tap out something before looking at me. A smirk gracing his expression. He must have sent someone to make sure Marinda doesn’t try to disappear. I need to know where she is at all times. With my wife choosing to allow her mother to leave, I want to make sure Scarlett is safe.

“Are you happy about that?” I ask softly, running my knuckles over the smooth skin of her cheek. The warmth she radiates is nothing like I’ve experienced before. Nobody has ever made me weak and strong in equal measure like she does.

“Sort of,” she admits with a shrug. “I just needed to hear her side of the story. The thing about it is, she always taught me to be strong, to never allow anyone to walk all over me and yet, she let my father do just that to her.”

“But even so, she must still love you in her own way. Parents aren’t perfect,” I tell her gently because my father wasn’t. My mother was her own person, she didn’t allow my father to dominate her or tell her what to do. She was a strong woman. Even when she died, she looked like she was sleeping.

“I realize that, but it’s just that all these years I craved her love. I wanted her to see me, to allow me into her heart, but she never did. I lived my life alone because my parents were more concerned with what they appeared to be to their friends. They didn’t love like parents should love.”

My chest tightens at her words. She hasn’t had a good relationship with her folks, and that makes me sad. I don’t like seeing her cry, not when it’s from sorrow. When those pretty eyes fill with emotion, I want it to be from pure pleasure.

“When we have kids, I’m going to be a good mother,” Scarlett says suddenly, her wide gaze on mine. I have thought about kids before, a few times. But never realized I would have the opportunity to be a father.

“Well, I wouldn’t mind being an uncle,” Darius interrupts, causing me to glare at him over my shoulder. I wanted to ask her about her dreams for the future, but now that my brother spoke, the moment is gone.

“I thought you had some place to be,” I bite out, frustration clear in my tone. Arching a brow, I pin him with a glare.

His chuckle only rankles me more. He does it on purpose, there’s no doubt he does, but it doesn’t stop my annoyance from building. “I do actually.” He nods as he makes his way to where we’re standing. He takes Scarlett from me, and for a moment, I want to hold on to her, but he’s only saying goodbye. “I’ll be seeing you soon, little one,” he tells her before pressing a chaste kiss to her forehead. “Be good for him.”