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Pain shoots across my chest at the realisation. I miss her. I miss her so much it hurts.
“You okay?”
“Yeah.” I give myself a little shake. I can do this. I can sit down to dinner with my enemies in order to protect Kaiden. I can pretend for one night only that the last two years didn’t happen, that all of the heartache and pain and suffering and crippling loneliness didn’t happen, to protect Kaiden from his demons. “Let’s do this.”
Axel and Zie stand as we approach the table and it’s all I can do to keep my jaw from dropping. They look stunning. Axel’s black hair is slicked back and his all-black suit is edged in blood red piping. My stomach flutters. His pocket square and tie match, and silver cross cufflinks glint in the light. He looks devastatingly handsome as he also assesses me. Deadly.
“You look gorgeous, Peony,” Zie says, swallowing hard. Zie’s wearing a navy suit which accentuates his golden looks. He’s so beautiful it makes my heart ache for what we had. For what we were and could have been if things were different.
For once I let the reference of the past slide. Tonight is all about appearances and lies. I smile widely at the boys as Kaiden pulls my seat out for me and sits on my right, putting himself to Axel’s left as usual. There are two empty seats between me and Zie, but I can’t blame Kaiden for wanting a buffer between him and his dad.
“Is your dad here yet?” I whisper to Kaiden.
“I haven’t seen him,” he replies with a frown.
There’s a commotion at the entrance which distracts us all. The Trinity rise to their feet but when I see why, I’m unable to move.
Mr Kelly isn’t joining us for dinner.
The General is.
My stomach lurches and I’m dangerously close to being sick. I haven’t seen him since the day he told me my mum was dead and he took —
“Little flower, still have these boys wrapped around your charming little fingers I see…or do you use other means to keep them in line these days?” My skin feels slick and dirty as The General’s greasy gaze and slimy words slide over me and stick like fly paper.
I swallow audibly and feel the colour drain from my face.
Everyone sits.
I feel Zie’s confused eyes on me, alongside Axel’s assessing gaze and Kaiden’s apologetic stare. I’m the centre of attention and hating every minute.
“I-I thought you couldn’t make it, dad,” Zie stammers out. Thank goodness they all seem as shocked by The General’s presence as I am. I couldn’t handle the thought of being duped by them again.
The fleeting idea that this may have been a trap leaves me deflated and relieved.
“Sorry, son. Plans change. Mr Kelly and Mr Abbot had some urgent business to attend to, and so I was sent instead.”
Is it completely fucking weird that he refers to his supposed best friends, allies and business partners by their titles rather than their first names? Yes. But it’s always been so. I’m not convinced I even know any of the fathers’ real names, besides The General himself. Even then, I only know it from when he was running for office.
“I see. And mum?”
“Your mother has her hands quite full at home. It wouldn’t have been appropriate for her to come tonight.”
My pulse quickens and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Despite wanting to keep my eyes glued to the pristine white linen tablecloth that’s fisted in my hands, I can’t help but raise my trembling gaze to The General.
What is he doing?
His hand slips under the table and finds its way to my thigh. He squeezes, letting his nails sink into my tender flesh and I blanch.
“I don’t understand. Why?” Zie frowns.
I can barely breathe. I feel like his whole world is about to come crashing down…mine too. I’m stone under The General’s wandering hand but inside I’m on fire with loathing, wishing I could burn his touch from my skin and my memories.
“Well if you boys weren’t so busy building empires up here and came home once in a while, you’d know.”
There’s an expectant silence that settles over the table but I can’t move. Can’t look. Can barely even hear over the blood roaring in my ears. The General is enjoying this, the anticipation and suspense. My muscles are coiled so tight I could snap.
“Your mother has her hands full because you have a baby sister, son.”
