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Whatever afflicted me, she had traces of it in her system and that was too beautiful to walk away from. It could have been a one-time thing. I knew her well enough to see the truth.
Some might blame it on the fact that she came from a family that built a legacy with a viciousness that rivaled the Barrons, but this was an obsolete claim when considering she didn’t know that yet. Darkness was simply a natural part of her. Right now, she was a delicate flower that had yet to grow thorns or bloom but when she blossomed, fuck she’d be breathtaking.
Rhia was special for far more than what made her tainted soul align with mine. This connection between us made me feel like I’d know her in a hundred different lifetimes. Whatever I had of a heart, it was hers. I would do everything in my power now and later to make her forever mine.
I wanted to protect her from everything and everyone but myself.
Knowing after what was coming, she could very well come to hate me legitimately, I still didn’t question what I had to do. Her tears, anger, happiness, and pleasure belonged to me as she was mine and they were a part of her.
I needed to fuck her as if our lives depended on it and ensure she remained at my side long after she became the fierce woman she was destined to be. She didn’t need to like me to do either, but this wasn’t much of a concern. Her hatred would always be tainted by the way I made her love me.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
At first, I was relieved he’d left.
Sitting alone with my thoughts seemed like a good idea until I attempted to do it. I hadn’t gotten anywhere, digging myself deeper into a pit of turmoil with all the variables and unknowns.
Two hours into Judas being gone I didn’t know what to do with myself.
I’d eaten.
Bathed and dressed in one of the outfits Judas had placed in a dresser drawer for me. Kudos to him for getting some cute sweats I didn’t have to jump around to fit into.
There was a paper I could do for British Literature to accumulate extra credit. After bombing the quiz, I desperately needed those points. I wasn’t feeling the assignment, though. Ironically, I needed to write a five-page paper on where I saw my face after graduation. I was partially convinced Judas paid the teacher to come up with this bullshit.
I didn’t know where I’d be after high school. Dead. On my way to pursue law so that I could stand on the right side of justice.
I snickered at the thought, wandering through the dining room. I hadn’t had a chance to look around too much before but now I could see the whole place was off.
The mansion was gorgeous and so was everything in it, but why did it feel more like a staged model home than a house? Even the giant Barron monogram I’d seen the first time I stepped foot inside here was nothing more than a fancy decal.
That didn’t fit with the wealth or level of luxury placed throughout the rest of the house. It was a cheap way to do something that could have easily been afforded to be done properly. The discovery left behind an ominous feeling.
Once again, I was faced with the question of why Judas came to Crudele in the first place. His sister wasn’t here, was she? He surely would have found her by now. I decided then to text my dad again, asking him what was going on.
Not wanting to stare at my phone until he may or may not reply, I called Audrey. She picked up on the second ring.
“Hey.”
“Are you busy?” I asked, peeking out a back window.
“I’ve got time for you. What’s up?”
“Judas left me alone at his place, so…”
“Woah. You guys are taking some big steps,” she joked.
We’re doing something alright.
Needing someone to talk to, I was careful with my words as I told her some of what was going on with my mom and dad. Audrey listened respectively without once interrupting.
“Rhia! Your mom is a bitch, I’m sorry but not sorry. And your dad needs to grow some damn balls.”
I laughed softly, kicking my feet up onto the lounge. “You know…they aren’t my real parents?”
“Rhia, sweetie, a blind man would know,” she replied playfully. “You’ve never said anything about it, so I wasn’t going to be the one to bring that up. Only an asshole would do that. Do you not see them as mom and dad now?” she didn’t sound judgmental, but curious.
“No…they’re still dad and Evie is the only woman I’ve ever known as mom. I see things differently now, though.”
“That’s completely understandable.”
I traced the elevated ceiling with my eyes, lying flat on my back on the sectional. “I wonder why they never sat me down and talked about it.”
