Someone pretty fucking tall had been in my car.
Someone who liked fruity candy, apparently.
I approached Jace and asked him if he had driven my car. He looked at me like I was nuts, asking why he would do that? “I’d just get you a new one. That thing is a vintage piece of junk.”
I couldn’t figure it out. Who the hell had done it? And how the hell had they gotten in? The door was undamaged. The windows were intact. And that’s when I noticed my gas tank was full and the crack in my windshield was also fixed. But the weirdest part was that when I started the engine, it didn’t make the gurgling, rumbling sound like it usually did.
Someonehad fixed my car.A stranger who had gained unauthorized access to my car had fixed it.
What were the odds? I debated going to the police, but with what? I couldn’t exactly walk into the precinct with, “So I think my car was broken into, but nothing was stolen. I think the person ate candy and smoked some sort of cigar.” Yeah, that would give the police a lot to go on.
Of course, when I thought about it, I had to admit that the break-in helped. Right?
The sound of a cane thumping on the tile floor drags my focus away from my helpful criminal. My father approaches, pulling his IV pole with one hand and using a wooden cane with his other. The old rolling casters sound eerie in the cavernous hall. He looks older than his 65 years, pale with tired eyes. His body is stooped, frail. A dark beanie covers his balding head, and a thick sweater hangs off his lean frame. Dark pants and a pair of shiny loafers cover his feet.
He stops and looks at all three of us. His eyes scan, searching for what I don’t know, probably some flaw he finds distasteful. His eyes settle on me, pausing and then focusing on the two of his children he finds less offensive, and I wilt a little at the dismissal, but then straighten my spine, not letting him see how it bothers me.
“You’re late.”
“Nice to see you too, Father. If we are too late for brunch, we can leave.” Jace ignores the statement, raising a brow. I hide my grin. Sophia is rubbing off on him more and more.
Jefferey interrupts and heads to my father. “You were supposed to stay and not move the IV.” He checks the bag, and I wonder if it’s medication or hydration. My medical school skills come back.
Tae Park frowns at Randy, “I didn’t know I had to sit like a lap dog and wait.”
Randy laughs, not taking offense. He’s probably used to my father’s caustic disdain. His skin would have to be thick. “Let’s go. The food is waiting and you need to eat.”
My father doesn’t say a word, walking away as Randy follows, rolling the IV alongside him.
“Remind me again why I’m here?” Adam grumbles, the tendon in his jaw pulsing.
Jace looks at both of us, crossing his arms, in full COO mode. “You’re here because as much as we know he’s an asshole, you are CEO of Park Industries now. Him and his cronies are still on the board. So you are going to have to put aside the recluse energy and deal. I’m here because my wife-to-be wants me to play nice with daddy dearest. She thinks he has some past trauma he hasn’t healed from or some shit.” Jace turns to me. “You’re here to talk about your gallery. It’s going to be amazing. Let’s eat and pretend we don’t want to stab him in the eye.”
With that, he and Adam headed to the dining room, leaving me alone. Jace’s words remind me of the conversation I had with my father on my 18th birthday. I never told either of my brothers. They don’t know why he treats me with even more disdain than either of them. The way he kept Adam and Jace around, never sending them away, but me? I was placed out of sight, out of mind. Even now, as angry as he is toward Adam and Jace, there is an underlying respect and approval.
He is not as gracious with me because Tae Park blames me for my mother’s death.
“I didn’t want to have you. She had health problems with Jace, but she got pregnant anyway, lying to me, refusing to take the precautions the doctor told her. You were a mistake as far as I’m concerned and she paid for it with her life.”
It was at that moment that I realized my father cared for my mother. I’m not sure if he loved her, but there was pain in his eyes. It was why he hated any form of rebellion or resistance. My birth was an act of rebellion; one he has never forgiven me for.
“Why doyou have Stone’s jacket?”
I look up from my phone and stare at my brother across the console between us. He doesn’t glance at me, but the muscle in his jaw saws back and forth. He’s pissed. Fuck, I knew he wouldn’t miss it.
“It’s not his jacket,” I insist, desperate to not discuss why I have the jacket of his friend and wear it often. His ring feels hot against my skin, scorching me for the deception.
“Don’t fuck with me, Camryn. I know it’s his.” He glances at me. “I can smell his cigarette smoke.”
Me too. That’swhy I like it. I turn away and look out the window, snuggling into the very jacket that is now the topic of conversation. He has no idea about the nights I wrap it around my naked body and fuck myself while wearing Stone’s ring. I can’t describe the way the metal feels pressed against my clit or when I slide it on my middle finger and push it deep inside, pretending it’s him. I can only hope Kingsley hasn’t heard me screaming his name while I’m staying in her guest room.
“You’re not involved with him are you?”
Jace’s question makes me jackknife in the seat. “What? No! He let me borrow it the night you beat up Keith and you and Sophia got into that fight.”
He frowns. “Why did you need to borrow it?”
“It was cold, okay!” The expression on his face tells me he doesn’t believe me.
