There’s a window over the kitchen sink, but I’m too low to see out of it, so I don’t have a single view of the meeting. Plus, thewindow faces the back of the house. I’m sure the meeting is in the front.
The men are not loud enough for me to hear, either. Dammit. So maddening.
It’s hard to focus on coloring, but I force myself to pick up a pencil and get to work on my masterpiece. I don’t even know what color I’m using, but I’m staying between the lines.
It’s a long time before Daddy comes back inside, and I don’t like the look on his face. His brows are deeply creased, and he’s been running a hand through his hair. It’s a tousled mess falling around his shoulders.
I drop the pencil and sit taller. “What’s wrong?”
He pulls a chair out next to me and sits so close that his knees hug mine. “There’s no easy way to say this, so I’m just going to go for it. Your brothers were found dead in an alley this morning.”
I gasp. “What? How…?”
Daddy reaches for my hand. “They were shot execution style. I’m so sorry, Little love.”
I swallow hard. “They sold me for drug money. They deserved it,” I mutter.
“Yes, but they were still your brothers. I know it hurts to find out they’re gone. I know you have fond memories of your childhood from before they started using drugs.”
I slowly nod and look away. Dead… I feel oddly glad they’re gone, but he’s right, it also burns. I hate that they went down such a disturbing path and ended up killed. “Do they know who shot them?”
“Could have been anyone. They probably owed people money. A lot of it, I suspect, or they wouldn’t have sold their sister.”
I don’t suppose it matters who killed them. It won’t bring them back. At least I don’t have to worry about them hunting me down. I’m free from them forever now. If only I could be freefrom Mitchel, too. I suspect one way or another I will be soon. I just hope Daddy doesn’t get into trouble eliminating him.
Daddy unbuckles me from the seat and stands, lifting me into his arms. He kisses all over my face as he carries me to the couch. He sits me on one of the cushions and squats in front of me.
His expression is serious. His huge hands are on my thighs. They ground me even through the cotton material of my leggings. I’ve never worn anything like the outfit Daddy put on me a while ago. I’ve always been a jeans and T-shirt kind of girl. But now I’m wearing black leggings and a long-sleeved dress. It’s pink with black polka dots. It’s comfortable and also cotton.
At first, I felt strange. Pink? Me? Not my color. But the truth is maybe I need a new style to go with my new life. What’s wrong with pink? I’m pretty sure I pretended to hate the color when I was young because my brothers made fun of me when I was girly.
But they’re not here. In fact, I now know I’ll never see them again. They don’t control me. Navin does. Is he simply guiding me to fit another mold? I’ve pondered that since he dressed me. It’s possible. I can’t remember when I’ve worn a dress.
But I also think I like this outfit. I feel feminine. Daddy makes me feel girly. My body has awakened in ways that call to the woman in me. Not the tomboy. The woman.
I’m starting a new life here in the mountains with a man who obviously adores me. I’m going to embrace it and let myself be girly. He also put pink socks and pink tennis shoes on me. I couldn’t be more feminine.
My hair is once again in a long braid down my back, though I did turn my nose up at the offer of a bow on the end of the braid. Maybe I should have let him put it in. Why not?
I certainly like the way he looks at me, and I like to please him. But none of that is as important as pleasing myself. Maybe pink is not so bad.
“I have to go out for a while, Little love. Orion and Pryce are going to come stay in the cabin with you.”
My breath hitches. “Go out? It’s almost dark. Why?”
He grips my thighs and leans in to kiss me before pulling back.
“You’re not going to town to do something to Mitchel, are you?”
“I don’t have to, Little love. He’s on his way up the mountain as we speak.”
The blood drains from my face. “Why? Did he figure out I was here?”
“No. He has no idea where you are. You’re safe here, Little love. He’s heading to the location where he left you.”
“Why would he do that? Doesn’t he think I’m dead?”
“When Ronan and Quinn returned from town, they sent Sylas to Mitchel’s house. Sylas left Mitchel a little gift on his front porch and watched him discover it.”
