“Not at first. But after a few years the prison he was at went over capacity. David was one of the ones transferred.” I swallow back the fury, focus on getting the words out. “I visited him at the first prison. He barely wanted to talk to me. But once he was sent to New Field, he vanished. My letters were returned, my calls went unanswered, and they wouldn’t let me in to see him.
“Six months later, I got a call that David was at a hospital. When I walked in, I couldn’t even tell it was him. He looked like a skeleton.”
Seraphina tightens her grip on me, offers me a physical lifeline I grab on to with both hands as I relive one of the worst moments of my life.
“He’d been caught in a prison riot. Broke his leg and was thrown into solitary for standing up to one of the guards who was beating prisoners. They left him in there for three days without food or water. Didn’t even set his leg.”
“My God, Aiden.”
The horror in Seraphina’s voice matches mine when I saw the extent of my little brother’s injuries.
“He made a mistake. A horrible mistake, and one he had to pay for. But not like that.”
“No,” she echoes softly. “Not like that.”
“They released him on parole earlier. Tried to cover up their mistakes. I paid for his medical bills and physical therapy.” I scoff. “Throwing money at problems.”
“Stop.” Seraphina pulls back slightly. “Do you have any idea how many people wouldn’t have even done that? Where is David now?”
“South Carolina. He works at a horse farm.”
“And I bet you offered him a penthouse in New York.”
I did, but I’m not about to admit to it. “He wanted to start over. He wanted a quiet life away from the city. I did what I could to make it possible.”
“Do you still see him?”
“About once a month. We’re both reserved. I think it’s hard for us to see each other more than that and be reminded of our pasts.”
Not to mention the overwhelming guilt I feel whenever I hear his voice.
“What about New Field?”
“I filed complaints, spoke with lawmakers, offered Hale triple what the prison cost. But the sadist likes what he does, and his ties are deep. He has friends in the highest levels of government. He threatened to feed David to the wolves if I went to the media, advertise his record so he’d never have a chance at a normal life while spinning it that I was trying to make money off a prison.”
“That’s why you went to Randolph,” Seraphina says.
“Yes. Hale backed me into a corner.” I look down at her, anger sharpening my voice. “But he’s not going to win.”
She meets my gaze, an answering anger in her green eyes. “No, he won’t.”
I stare down at her, at this woman who’s now heard the worst of me. Who’s still sitting next to me and looking at me like she trusts me. Like she believes in me.
And God, I want everything she’s offering.
The gondola pulls into the dock outside the Aman Venice. I get out, then help Seraphina, picking up the voluminous folds of her gown so they don’t dip into the canal. After tipping the gondolier and the concierge on the dock, I lean down and swoop Seraphina into my arms.
“Aiden!” She laughs as she loops her arms around my neck. “What are you doing?”
“Carrying you to our room.”
I walk across the tiled entryway and up the stone stairs, passing underneath painted ceilings and grand chandeliers as I make my way to the elevator. Our ride up is thankfully uninterrupted. As soon as we get to our suite, I kick the door shut behind me, set her on her feet and press her against the door.
“You look incredible.”
Her eyes soften just before I kiss her. I growl as she kisses me back with a fervor I’ve never experienced before, her hands sliding into my hair.
I lift my head. “The dress.”
