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Chrys burst into tears. “Are we poor now, Scarlett?”
Scarlett tilted her head, searching for a pillow, “We might be.” It didn’t matter much to her either way, though she would miss some of the advantages of being wealthy.
“If you go back to that man, will we be rich again?” Chrys asked, worriedly gnawing at her lip. She was older than Scarlett by a year, but she often turned to her for comfort, as Lecy was not the nurturing type. “I don’t want to be poor,” she wailed.
“Are you suggesting she go back to that monster?” Lecy demanded. “He’s already beaten her once. Is your comfort worth her sacrifice?”
Chrys cried harder. “I didn’t know he’d beaten her.”
“He didn’t beat me,” Scarlett interjected around her sister’s hysterics. “I fell in a stream and twisted my ankle. Carter had nothing to do with that.” Sitting up, she turned her attention to Chrys. “He is not giving Father money for me,” she correct
ed gently. “He’s only allowing Father an extension on their deal, so we won’t be rich again if I go back to him. Only Father can make that happen.”
“Of course you aren’t returning to that man,” Lecy said firmly. “It’s absolutely ridiculous.” She shook her head. “I won’t allow Father to send you back.”
Scarlett allowed their words to wash over her and lull her into sleep. Her last thought was of Carter, marching in to claim his property. His virgin sacrifice...her eyes blinked momentarily, but she was too tired to let that disturbing thought keep her awake.
She awoke to the sound of arguing and her heavy eyes slowly drifted open. “You can’t send her back, Father,” Lecy screeched.
“So you’re finally awake,” Rocco said grimly, leaning over Scarlett. “I hope you know what a precarious position you’ve placed us all in now.”
“I couldn’t stay there.” Her voice was more scratchy from her nap. “He was cruel to me, Father, and he tried to tell me lies about you.”
A peculiar change happened to Rocco at those words. His face paled, great beads of sweat popped out on his forehead, and his eyes bulged. He staggered back. “What’s he been telling you? None of it’s true.” He sounded half-hysterical. “It was all just business.”
Scarlett frowned. “All he said was...” She shot a look at Lecy and Chrys. “Well, never mind what he said. I knew it wasn’t true.”
“Has he harmed you?” Rocco asked after calming down a bit.
Shaking her head, Scarlett admitted, “He’s not laid a finger on me.” She blushed, remembering who had initiated the kiss. “Carter Braxton is not a nice man,” she said rather lamely.
“I realize that,” Rocco said dryly. “But you must go back. Call him and let him know you’re returning tonight.”
“It’s a three-hour drive, Father,” Lecy said. “The party...can’t she please stay tonight?”
Rocco ran a hand through his hair. “I suppose, if Carter will allow it.”
“I don’t want to go back.” Scarlett firmed her shoulders. “I refuse to go back.”
“Stop being so damn selfish,” Rocco snapped. “You do this for the good of your family, and don’t you forget that.”
“Just like you lost the company for the family?” Scarlett tossed out. “Did you do that for us, or was it for Mom?”
Rocco’s hand made a hard smacking sound as it connected with Scarlett’s cheek. Her head fell back, and the pain was intense.
“Never speak to me like that again. I am your father, and you will treat me with respect.”
Scarlett did not reply for a long moment as she clutched her burning cheek with her left hand. Finally she whispered, “Fine, I’ll go back. At least he has never hit me.”
His mouth tight, Rocco stormed from the room, and her sisters surrounded her. “I can’t believe Father did that.” Chrys wrung her hands. “Are you okay?”
“Hell no she’s not okay.” Lecy rolled her eyes. “Run to the kitchen and get her some ice before it swells.” As Chrys hurried from the room, she turned to Scarlett. “Your mask should cover any bruise that might form. You shouldn’t have said that,” she gently reprimanded.
“Leave me alone,” said Scarlett. “He doesn’t care that he’s sending me back into that beast’s home, and he doesn’t care about us at all. If he did, he would have done a better job with the company.”
Lecy clicked her tongue, not refuting her claims. “Still, he is our Father, and you must be respectful. Remember that Mom never raised her voice to him.”
“Isn’t that nice for her,” Scarlett snapped. “She must have been a saint to put up with him. I wonder if he ever hit Mom for disrespecting him?”
