Page 75 of Riot

“Sounds like they put him up to it. What else is in it for him aside from you?”

She chews on her lip. “Money. He already has a lot, but he’s greedy. My dad would’ve offered him some kind of deal in the family business. In my family, women are to be seen and notheard, if you get my drift. Even my brother is turning out to be exactly like my dad.”

“Let’s hope he stays in the Parish then,” I mutter. I don’t need another asshole to deal with, but if it comes down to it, I’ll do what’s necessary. Family or not.

“He’s my dad’s puppet. I doubt he’ll ever stick up for me. Antoine runs his own company, but it’s an offshoot of Parish Construction. I think my dad thinks he’ll be gaining another son if Ian comes on board. He has the right name, and he’s already wealthy; the only things my parents care about.”

“Were they always like this?”

She shrugs. “I guess. I just didn’t feel the pressure as much because I didn’t know any different. It was only when I showed no signs of getting married or starting a family that all this pressure started. I used to be so close to my mom, but now I just feel like she betrayed me.”

Tears well in her eyes and I reach over Cookie to stroke her cheek. “Don’t be upset. Clearly it’s their loss if they don’t wanna accept that you’re a grown woman who can make her own choices.”

“I’m sure your parents never put you through this shit.” She wipes a stray tear. Clearly this is upsetting her greatly and I might have to do something about getting through to her parents if this keeps up.

“You know how I told you about my mom dying? Well… both my parents are dead,” I blurt out before I can stop the words.

Her face drops and a strange sensation throbs deep in my chest. I feel my heart rate accelerate and my throat thickens. She needs to know some of my history.

She lays a hand on my arm. “I’m so sorry.”

Oh, God. I can’t tell her what I did… She’ll think I’m a monster. I haven’t even told her I’m an ex-sniper yet.

“It was a long time ago.”

“I’m really sorry. Do you miss them?”

She thinks that it was some accident. It’s another thing I love about her innocent mind. She’d never suspect what really went down.

“I miss my mom.”

She smiles. “You said she was an angel.”

Tell her. Tell her and get it over with.

“Yes, she was…she was angelic and had a good heart.”

Her eyes soften. “And your dad? You didn’t get along?”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “There’s somethin’ you should know, before we go any further and before you agree to be my ol’ lady for real.”

Her eyes widen, startled a little, but she just nods softly. “Okay.”

I take another breath, feeling like my heart is going to race out of my chest. “If you hate me afterward?—”

“I could never hate you.”

I look down at my mug, unable to set it on the side table because I need to distract my hands.

“My father shot my mother in cold blood one night on a drunken, drugged out rampage. He also shot my sister Lace…” Already, Halo’s hands cover her mouth, leaving her eyes gaping. “I found them… and I…”Tell her.“I shot my father dead before he turned the gun on me.”

Silence falls between us and when I have the courage to glance up, tears pour down her face. “Oh, Myles!” She leans toward me and I finally set my mug down, wanting her comfort. “I’m so sorry, that’s… that’s horrific.”

“Our neighbor, Charles, found me that night. He saved Lace. We got an ambulance in time and by some miracle, she lived. She’s survived a lot, but you’d never know it. She’s always happy-go-lucky with a smile for everyone. A lot of my mom lives on in her.”

She presses her forehead to mine. “I’m sorry you went through that. How old were you?”

“Fifteen.”

---