Page 41 of Twisted Bonds
Beau pulls me to the couch and has me sit beside him. Chloe is already sitting in one of the chairs across from us, and Bain stands by the fireplace. I've avoided meeting Chloe's stare, but I can't help but glance her way now. However, she isn't looking at me. She's staring over Bain's head at the giant portrait of their little family from just before she disappeared.
"Mom, do you want to start?" Beau asks, but Chloe only shakes her head.
"I t-think we should start with you, and t-then we will get to me," she says, smiling warmly at her son.
Beau's grip on my hand is constant as he nods and then begins, "That last night I was here, and you and I got into it,"—he looks at his father, "something you said kept playing in my head about Uncle Liam's estate. I went online and found that the farm was still under grandfather's name, and a new house had been built on the land."
Bain straightens and gives Beau his full attention. "Impossible! Liam told me he had sold it because my father had left it to him when he passed away. I was in Italy when it happened, but my uncle delayed telling me, so by the time I returned, my father had already been cremated."
"So, you're saying that you didn't know your father was still alive?" Beau questions doubtfully.
"No! I never heard from him after Liam died, either," Bain states defensively.
"I don't believe it for one minute," Beau says, shaking his head. "Oh, and in case you want to know, Uncle Liam has been alive and well, living out at that farm with grandpa, who is, by the way, bedridden for the most part."
Bain runs his hand down his face, trying to take this news in. He glances at me, and I wish I could go to him, but now is not the time. Beau must notice, too, because he tightens his hold on my hand.
"Are they still out there now? Is that where you've been all this time?" Bain asks his son.
"Yeah, it is, but not by fucking choice. You notice anything different about me,Dad?" His tone is condescending and I'm not liking it at all. It reminds me of old times when he was still my bully.
"Of course, you're too thin…" Bain replies.
Beau's chuckle gives me the chills, and I try to pull my hand away, but he holds tight as he stares at his father. "That's what will happen when you are imprisoned in a basement for a year and a half."
"What?!" I gasp.
Beau turns to me, and his features soften. "I couldn't come back to you because my Uncle Liam had me locked up in his basement."
My hand goes to my mouth, and I shake my head in disbelief and shame. Shame that I didn't try harder to look for him when I knew deep down that his actions didn't match who I knew him to be. I failed him. He searched for answers to help me, and what did I do? I took up with his father because I couldn't handle Beau deserting me.
"No, please tell me it isn't true," I say, unable to hold the tears back.
"It's true," Chloe responds instead.
"Why?" Bain asks. "Why did Liam keep you there?"
"It sure wasn't for the same reason why he's kept Mom there all these years." Beau glares at his father.
"That's where you've been? I thought you were dead! I thought the D'Angelos killed you…they sent photos. I have your ashes, for fuck's sake!"
"The ashes are t-those of the D'Angelos' mother, Liam's m-mistress," Chloe explains it all to us as we sit here and listen to how Liam took her back from the brothers and then beat and raped her, finally drugging her to make her look dead.
"Cayley, you can come in now!" Beau calls out.
I don't know where the girl comes from, but a pretty young girl steps from around the corner. Bain is just as surprised as I am. "Who is this?"
"This is my daughter, Cayley Huntley," Chloe states proudly, and the room goes silent.
Twenty-Three
Beau
I wanted to turn around and walk out the door when Ryan ran from me. I don't understand. Have I been gone that long that she no longer feels anything for me? I glance over as soon as I hear my mother's voice and watch my father's interaction with her. Shock, disbelief, and confusion play across his face, but as soon as he realizes it is my mother, he pulls her in and hugs her. It's what I had hoped for. I look in the direction Ryan ran in and find her staring at my parents, a strange look on her face.
Then, her eyes find mine. Emotion passes across her features, but I can't determine what it is because she's gone again a split second later.Just how close were Ryan and my father? Will he tell me if I ask him?
"I should go find Ryan and talk to her." I take a step forward, but my father blocks me immediately.
