Page 61 of Twisted Bonds
"You can't order me around any longer,Bain.In case you have forgotten, I'm an adult now…"
"Well, then start acting like one instead of being selfish…"
"Bain!" Ryan hisses at me, and I take a deep breath to calm myself.
"I'm—sorry." This time, I ask Beau, "Can we please speak in my office?"
"I should really get Ryan home," Beau states as his eyes land on my hand, still wrapped around her arm.
Suddenly, Ryan's arm is ripped from my grasp by her own doing. "I'm not staying here at the Manor," she says sternly before turning and staring at Beau. "I'm not going back to the house, either."
"Ry…"
"No! You not only hurt me by doing what you did, but you made the memories flood back in. I will not let you make me think less of myself just because I like to have certain things done to me. Bringing up the brothers like you did was a cheap shot."
I glance back and forth between Ryan and Beau, and now I want to know what my son said to have her come here and do what she did. Whatever it was, I can see the remorse in my son's eyes, but that doesn't change the fact that he didsomethingthat chased my pretty girl away.
"I'm going to stay at the shelter house tonight. I think the two of you should talk." After stating this, Ryan reaches up, presses her lips to my cheek, and says, "Thank you," then bids me, "Goodnight."
I close my eyes and savor their feel, along with her scent.When I open them again, she's doing the same to my son, pressing those perfect lips against his stubbled cheek and walking out as soon as she steps back. Beau and I watch her walk down the hall until she turns the corner and disappears.
I pour a few fingers of the amber liquid into two glasses and hand my son one. I'm not sure he even drinks, but this would be the first time I’m having a drink with him. I'll admit that our relationship isn't the best, and I will take a lot of the responsibility for it, but he's never tried either. Now, because of Ryan, I will most likely never have that father/son bond with him.
Beau takes the glass I hand him and downs it in one go before slamming the glass down on my desk. "Start talking."
I lift my brow at him. "You know, you may be an adult, but you're not acting like one. This is my home, and I would appreciate it if you would show just a little respect for me."
"Oh, like how you respected me by moving in on my wife…sorry… mygirlwhile I was gone?" he sneers at me.
Sighing, I pinch the bridge of my nose. "I never meant for that to happen," I tell him and look him straight in the eye. "You left, and you stopped taking my calls. What was I supposed to think? Ryan told me you were checking your voicemails because your inbox never got full. I'm sorry that I never thought to see if my uncle, who was supposed to be dead, was alive and keeping you prisoner!"
"I understandthatpart, but why fuck the one girl I've been in love with since we moved here? You knew Ryan was my fucking life!" Beau glares at me, and I can't lecture him for doing it because he's one hundred percent correct—I shouldn't have. "You can have any woman you want. Why Ryan? She was mine—the first real relationship I've had with anyone since mom disappeared. God knows you were never around for me to have a real relationship with me. For once, I was fucking loved, and you had to send me away and forbid me to be with her!
"You lied to both of us and got her taken. You should have known that I wouldn't just sit around knowing the vile things those motherfuckers were doing to her! At least I did something and didn't wait months before developing a plan. Whatever damage was done to her, that's on you, and I plan on helping her get over it."
I scoff, "Oh, you do, do you? Then tell me," I start to inquire as I stick my hands in my pockets and rock back and forth on my heels, "Why was she at the shelter house in the freezing cold shower, cutting herself?"
"Wait, what? Is Ryan cutting again? How long has she been doing that…since she's been home? Is that another thing she started up again because of you?"
"You would love to blame that on me, too, wouldn't you?" I shouldn't say what I'm about to say, but fuck it. If he wants to be treated like a man, then I will treat him like one. I let a wicked grin touch my lips before saying, "No, Beau. Ryan didn't need drugs or self-harm because I gave her what she needed. I devoted my time and my talent as a Dom to give Ryan everything she needed to chase her demons away temporarily."
"Fuck you—"
I cut him off, "She was just fine in managing her flashbacks and memories. Tonight is the first time she's ever hurt herself, and she was upset with somethingyousaid to her because it caused the flashback. So, what was it you said to her?"
I watch a few emotions dance across his face, and it looks like he's thinking about something. When he suddenly turns and starts for the door, I call out to him, "Where are you going? I'm not done talking to you."
My son stops and pivots toward me. "I'm going to talk to Ryan, not that it's any of your business."
"It is my business, Beau. If you're going to make her feel liketheydid or say things to make her feel dirty for being the way she is, then you need to stay away from her. I will not allow you to cause her to spiral again. Either you be the man she needs you to be, or you can step aside and let me."
"What about Mom?"
"What about her, Beau? She's made it clear that she can't be who I need her to be; she doesn't want to try, and I'm not going to make her. She will always have a place here and in the company, but our marriage is well over." I feel the burn behind my eyes at this thought because regardless of how I feel for Ryan, I never stopped loving Chloe.
"So you're going to pursue Ryan? Is that it?" my son snarls angrily.
"No, I'm not. That's for Ryan to decide, but as I said, if you can't be what she needs, I will step in." No sooner do I repeat this than he's walking out the door, no doubt in search of Ryan.
