Page 30 of Dagger's Property
“No! You fucking don’t. If you don’t keep your mouth shut about this, you and I are no longer brothers.”
Cage jerks back, seething in rage. “You can fucking make that choice. But that girl needs someone in her corner, and if you’re not going to protect her, I will.”
“I am protecting her. I’m getting rid of that monster.”
“No.” Cage shakes his head. “You’re going to make it worse.”
“Like I said, if you utter a word of this to anyone, I’ll…”
I can’t let him finish that. He can never take it back. And when all is said and done, he’s going to live with that regret. If he finishes that sentence, he will have already lost his brother.
“He doesn’t have to tell me anything.” I step out from behind the truck and both men slowly turn in my direction, anoh fucklook blanching their faces. I wonder what they see on mine. I wonder what broken looks like. “I heard every word, Vale. And Cage is right. It should be my decision.”
He was my father. I was the one who endured years of his torture. I’m the one who suffered through the nightmares. It should be me who decides his fate.
“Shit, baby. You… I … FUCK!” He runs his hands through his hair. “I didn’t want to stir up the pain again. Things have been so fucking good, and I wanted to keep it that way.”
“So, you figured you’d keep it from me? You’d have him killed and then what? Lie about the cause of death or blame an inmate for your crime. I thought I could trust your word, Vale. You promised you’d never hurt me.”
“I’m trying to help, baby.”
“No, helping would be talking to me. Helping would be trusting that I’m strong enough to handle the conversation. Cagewas trying to help. He was trying to protect me, and you lashed out.”
That’s the part that hurts even worse than knowing he was going behind my back and trying to take out the monster.
“How can I talk to you, Wyn? You won’t even tell me about the letter your dad sent. I’ve been trying to get it out of you for weeks, but any time I’d hint to the subject you shut it down. So, how am I supposed to trust that this wouldn’t set you off again and have you spiraling out of control?”
The letter? How does he know about that?
“Did you go through my things, Vale?” The dread of his answer is curdling in my stomach.
“I found it when I was looking for your fake ID. And I knew it was the reason you were acting out and drinking all the time. Why didn’t you tell me he’d written you? He’s not supposed to have any contact.”
I didn’t tell him or anyone else because I knew how they would react. Mom would tell me to rip it up and forget the man ever existed. My stepdad would be concerned about the threats made and would report it to the police. And Vale… He’d treat me like I was broken. And I was right. He thinks I’m so broken that he can’t even talk to me about my dad without sending me into an emotional spiral. So, he was going to have my dad killed in hopes that it would fix me.
“I didn’t tell you because I knew you would stop me from going to the hearing.”
“You bet your ass I’ll stop you. You’re not going.”
I am. And I will. And, no, this time he’s not stopping me.
“You have a choice, Vale. You either move aside and let me do this, or we’re done.”
There’s no other way. Cage said you find a way to face your demons, so you can move on, and this is mine. I want to face my monster in that courtroom. I want my father to know that I’mnot that weak little girl anymore. I want him to hear every word I have to say and know that I’m the one who decided his fate. That it’s because of me he’s rotting in that cell.
When I’m done, I’m going to walk out of that room and never look back. My father will be dead to me. And all the lies he told, all the painful words will be locked in that cell with him, never allowed to touch me again.
“I don’t want you to get hurt, baby.” His words are so full of pain. I know Vale means well. I can feel how much he loves me. Every day he shows me how special I am to him. But he doesn’t understand. This isn’t about me getting hurt. It’s about me getting better.
“Then let me go and face this.”
He wraps his arms around me, pulling me in close, and I feel his worry shaking in his bones. “I can only do that if you let me stand by your side. You’re no longer alone in this, Wyn. You have me now, and I will do whatever it takes to protect you and your sweetness. If you want to do this, I won’t stop you. But I’m going to be there holding your hand. You’re mine for safekeeping, babe. From now on, we’re in this together.”
A tear slips down my cheek. My entire life I’ve felt alone. Lost in the past. Stuck in the pain. But I don’t have to shroud myself in the hatred anymore. It’s safe to let go because I know Vale will always be here to catch me.
I reach up, sliding my hands across his scruff, pulling him closer. “Thank you for giving this to me. Thank you for giving me your heart.”
“God, baby.” His hands slide to the back of my neck, holding on tight, trying to get even closer. “It could never belong to anyone else. I love you so fucking much.”
