AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTERTHIRTY-THREE
VANESSA
"Isee you're a backstabbing bitch."
"Luke, Luke," Ethan called out, drawing Luke's attention away from me and back to him. "If you ever call her a bitch again, I'll drive a knife up your throat,” he added with a demonic shine on his eyes.
"I know the truth, Luke," I told him, tears welling up in my eyes.
"Oh, and what truth is that?"
"I know why my uncle wanted to kill you. You murdered my parents."
I expected him to deny, lie, or remain silent. But instead, he burst out laughing.
"They fucking deserved it!" he exclaimed, gesticulating wildly as if everyone should understand. "I should never have gone to prison in the first place. Seven whole fuckingyears! And for what? Some mediocre pussy? I fucked her,big deal. I could have had anyone, but I fucked her and ended up in prison. If there's one thing I regret, it's not blowing out her brains and your mother's that fucking night!"
He has no remorse for the woman he was accused of raping and murdering, nor for my mother.
"They deserved it!" he said, breathing heavily.
"You bastard!" I could hear myself growling.
"And you told my men to kill Fred despite my orders. That is treachery!" Ethan raised his voice.
The louder both men became, the more I became concerned that a fight or worse would erupt. They both wanted to kill each other for different reasons.
Luke burst out laughing. "I've accomplished a great deal more." He looked at me. "So, you must have told him everything."
I shook my head. "I suppose I have."
* * *
A Few Days Before
I had, in fact, told him. I recall walking to Ethan's room after leaving Uncle Fred's. Ethan took a step back instinctively. I understood why he had. I had asked him not to touch me so many times in the last few days. I'd been so consumed by the grief of losing Uncle Fred that I'd forgotten about what all this would be like for him.
Of course, I was furious at him. None of this would have happened if he had arranged for me to see Uncle Fred sooner. However, when I looked at Ethan's face and saw the tortured expression, I realized he believed I blamed him for much more, including Uncle Fred's death. He knew how much hemeant to me, and he wouldn't have been able to forgive himself if he thought I blamed him for his death.
"Ethan…" I stumbled after saying his name. I was at a loss for words.
"You want to talk?" he offered.
"Yes," I said, nodded, and cleared my throat. Feeling nervous, I reached for my back pocket and patted it.
"Sit?"
I nodded again, and we walked and sat side by side in silence. I ran my hand along the bed's smooth fabric, avoiding his gaze for reasons I couldn't explain.
"Can I go first?" he asked, and I quickly nodded. I didn't think I'd be able to speak if I tried. I wanted to tell him I was mad at him, but all I desired was for him to hold me again. And, of course, I wondered if he still wanted me after all the times I had pushed him away.
"I'm sorry, Vanessa. I know these words mean nothing, but please accept my apologies. On my mother's grave, I swear I gave my men orders not to touch him. They were supposed to apprehend him and bring him here. It is my fault that one of my men betrayed me. I don't know who it is yet, but I will, and when I do, his life or death will be at your mercy."
Ethan's eyes were darker than usual, and his words were frosty.
My head shook. "I don't hold you responsible for my uncle's death, Ethan. I've blamed you for a lot of things in the last few days." I sighed and looked up at him, but I couldn't hold his gaze. I looked away. "I held you responsible for kidnapping me—" I ignored Ethan as he winced. "I blamed you for not allowing me to see him sooner and for making mefall in love with you."
"Vanessa? Look me in the eyes and tell me that again," Ethan spoke to me.
