What I hadn’t been expecting was Regan choosing me.
She went far beyond my wildest dreams and protected me, and now I felt like I had a chance. It felt like there might be a chance that Regan would be loyal to me more than to her dad, and I suddenly had a real way out of this mess.
I could get my revenge, and it would only be sweeter when Cameron found out that his only daughter was so in love, she would kill for me.
She held on tighter as I sped down the road to her house. It would all be so easy. I would take her home, we would stay the night together, and I could tell her everything.
My heart raced as I pulled up and parked the bike.
The blinding anger at Cameron Fletcher that ripped through me was unexpected. I knew Regan didn’t know what her dad wasup to at all. I had learned she was naïve to every single thing he did, and he had crafted such a perfect world to keep it that way. Keep her close, naïve, and occupied just enough to not worry about asking about any of it. And when he did, he gave her the perfect excuse as to why she should stay around and not bother him.
Keep your friends close and enemies closer. Regan was his enemy. She was the one flaw in his life, the one person who he knew wouldn’t go along with the terrible things he did and would ruin it for him. He saw her as a burden instead of making her an asset. He was too jealous that she would have it all one day, and he couldn’t stand to give her an ounce of what he had. He made sure to keep her close and on a tight leash.
Well, now she was mine, and my woman would never be put on a leash. She could rage at the entire world, and I would happily be there to stop anyone who tried to intervene.
She didn’t know any of the truth about her own father. Not that I could blame her, a simple Google search wouldn’t bring up all the depraved things he had done or played a part in, but she had to know now. She had to understand before I ruined him or she would never listen to what I had to say.
Part of me hummed at the idea she could believe me, and maybe even be on my side. I helped her off the bike, and she gave me a tight smile.
“What did you have to talk to me about?”
“Up to your room first. I have a surprise there for you.”
“What were you doing in my room?” she asked, looking from me to the house.
“Delivering presents? I thought you liked that.”
“I do, but not after everything that happened, and especially not after you saying,we need to talk.Because if you break up with me after I…shot someone for you, I’m going to be so pissed.”
“You think I want to break up after you saved my life?”
“I think that you’re being weird and I’m already freaked out, so yeah, it’s a concern of mine.”
She didn’t move, but I grabbed for her, sliding my arm over her shoulder and leading her into the house.
“I’m sitting here building our entire lives together in my head, Regan. I have no intentions of being done with you anytime soon.”
“Ever the romantic,” she grumbled as we headed upstairs. I laughed, pulling her in to kiss her neck once.
Regan had shown me over and over that she would be by my side, loyal to me and my secrets. She knew every side of me and still seemed to love all of them.
At least, I hoped.
I never trusted people. It took years before I really let them in, and even then, so many people were kept at arm’s length. But not her.
I spun her, making her face the bed and the piece of canvas I had hung over it.
“What is this?” she asked, looking over the painting. Her eyes were wide, the awe in them settling me.
The painting always reminded me of the starry night one, the swirls of black and blue in the sky circling around a bright moon. The field underneath was filled with blue glowing stars, and a ghost stood at the far end.
Art never made sense to me. People were always looking for deeper meanings in every piece, but to me, it was just art. But this one always got to me. Something about it making me feel too alone. The ghost felt eerie and beautiful all at the same time.
I stepped up next to her as she looked over the painting. “It’s the last thing I have from my home, from my parents.”
“And you brought it here?”
“Yes,” I said, stepping closer to it now. “I have nowhere else that is safe to put it.”
