Protecting What's Mine
“Yes?”
“Don’t ignore me.”
With a sigh, I spin away from my monitor to look my exasperated mother in the eye. “You need to come to terms with this, Mom. Violet is the only woman I want, and I’ll wait for her as long as it takes. And if she never loves me back or can’t move on from her trauma, then I’ll be single. That’s how it is.”
“Unacceptable.” She lifts her chin and rises from her chair. “I won’t have my son be mired in misery for the rest of his life. I will have grandchildren.” With that proclamation, she stomps out.
I give my head a little shake before returning to work. There’s not really much Mom can do. It took only one meeting to fall ass over head for Violet. Even if I could move on, I wouldn’t want to. Loving her has given me purpose in my life, and it doesn’t matter if she doesn’t love me back. That we exist together at the same time in the same universe is enough for me.
Chapter Two
Violet
I slam my hand down on the counter harder than I mean to. My palm starts to sting instantly. I’m madder at myself than I am at the delivery company. I hate this. I’m trapped behind these walls in a beautiful prison I’ve made for myself. But no matter how many times I try to get out of it, my mind and the fear I feel won’t let me.
Adam has a release date. He’ll be free all too soon. As for me, I can’t fathom when I will ever be. I’m stuck. My life is in limbo. The hardest part of this all is Turner. I try to keep him at arm’s length but he’s been pushing more on me lately.
He’s been my head of security since the day he saved me. It wasn't the cops who found me. It was him. Now my brother insists on Turner handling all the security. It’s bittersweet to get to see him every now and then, but it hurts too, knowing I’ll never get to have any sort of future with him; I wouldn’t burden anyone with the mental baggage I currently carry.
“Hey.” I gasp, startled. I spin around to see Eden standing there, her hands lifted. “Sorry.” She gives me an apologetic smile.
“Nothing to be sorry for. You shouldn't have to announce yourself when you walk into the kitchen.” I hate that everyone always has to tiptoe around me.
“What’s wrong?” My brother’s fiancée Eden grabs a cup from out of the cabinet. She and her brother moved in here last week. My brother was head over heels for Eden from the moment he laid eyes on her. Eden never stood a chance. He set out to make her his as soon as possible, and now here she is. I enjoy having her and Ryan around. It makes me feel less alone.
All of us live in this giant house. I stick to the pool house most of the time. This place is gigantic. There is room for another twenty people if we wanted. It’s a family home. It’s meant for entertaining. It’s been years since we’ve done anything like that. The idea of letting a bunch of people inside my prison makes me want to throw up.
“I wanted to show you the box mockups I had done. They all can fit the Styrofoam insert with dry ice packs as well.”
“You’re really thinking of everything.”
She puts her cup under the coffee machine. Her nose scrunches as she tries to figure the thing out. I walk over and hit a few buttons to get it going for her. “I thought tech savvy homes were supposed to be helpful and make life easier.” I snort a laugh.
“I should have them tomorrow.”
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Eden asks, leaning up against the counter. My heart drops. This new project has been keeping me busy. It’s helped keep my mind off of everything else. Turner included.
“I do unless you want to do it yourself.” Eden had a bakery that went up in flames. They made killer desserts. I suggested setting up an online bakery when she said she wasn't sure if she wanted to open another shop. One thing led to another, and the idea bloomed into reality.
“No. I do,” she rushes to say. “I’m excited, but I feel like you’re doing everything, and I don’t want you to think you have to do this because I’m marrying your brother.”
“Violet doesn't do anything she doesn’t want to,” my brother Miles says as he strolls into the room.
He’s older than me by five stupid minutes. He makes sure to bring that up anytime he tries to pull rank. I turn my head when he starts to kiss Eden. Not only because I don’t want to see my brother make out with anyone, but their love has been a bit of a fairy tale. It makes me crave things I can’t have. Thoughts of Turner try to creep to the front of my mind, but I push them back.