AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“He stole from my father. Bought his company right from under his nose, with his own fucking money!” I bellow.
Her face falls, and she searches my eyes, then pulls back and looks at Perry, who gives her a sympathetic smile. “This is deeper than you realise, Kat,” Perry says softly.
“No.” Her head shakes. “He wouldn’t.”
“He did.” I huff a short, disgusted laugh. “My father trusted him, and he stole from him like it was nothing. He tore my family apart, moved into this place, and inserted himself into our lives.” My father was already established, respected, and he let Royce in on that too, and the bastard bit the hand that fed him. Hard.
“They fell in love.” She wipes her cheek dry.
“Olivia loves the money,” I say scathingly. Our mother was accustomed to a life she was not about to leave because of her husband's inability to see that his friend was a thief. “As soon as my father lost the businesses, she lost interest, and your father made his next move. Hell, it wouldn’t surprise me if she was in on it from the start.”
“Cain, I know they hurt you, but you can’t help who you love. I know they feel guilty.”
“Kat, it's embarrassing that you believe that.” I step away, too angry to listen to the lies they’ve told her.
“They never meant to hurt anyone. They mourned him when he passed away.” She tries to placate, but it only angers me further. Passed away? The fucking audacity. More lies they have rammed down her naïve throat.
I growl, fury rattling me to the core.
“Cain, don’t,” Perry warns, pointing his finger at me. It's like a trigger, like someone finally pulled the firing pin, and the only bullet being shot is the truth. If it kills Kat, then her parents only have themselves to blame.
“He killed himself, Kat. Put a gun in his mouth and killed himself. Your father stole everything that he worked for, everything he adored and prided himself on, and then he took the only thing he had left: me. Their lies alone give me enough reason to ruin them. I love you, but I won’t spare you.” My words come out in a shaken rush. “If you keep defending them, keep believing the lies they spout, you’re no better than them. Wake the fuck up, Kat.”
“They said he had a heart attack,” she chokes, “they said—”
“IT’S ALL FUCKING LIES!” I roar.
“Cain, take a minute. Go and get some fresh air,” Perry mutters.
“Keys,” I demand. Perry throws his keys at me, and I stalk out, the sound of Kat’s sobs coating the blood rushing through my ears.
I’m starting the engine several minutes later when Perry jogs out to meet me. He hops in and buckles up, and I peel off from the kerb and put my foot to the floor. “She’s in shock. I’ll check in with her tomorrow.”
“No need. I will reach out to her.”
“Cain Cancer Carson. It’s got a ring to it,” he jokes.
“Fuck off.” My palms shake against the leather of the wheel.
“Just got to get rid of his name. Ivory isn’t really your colour,” Perry adds.
“Passed away! They fucking sicken me. He stole from me, so I will steal everything from him: his name, his reputation, his home. Anything he touches, I will take and exploit.”
“The Midas touch.”
“Perry, I’m not in the mood for your jokes, and quit playing games with Lauren,” I spit angrily.
“No can do. Maybe you can gift her the house. She needs a better place to stay,” he remarks, smirking. It propels my anger to thrum through the car.
“You didn’t tell me you had taken her home the other night.” My fists clench around the wheel.
“Would you prefer she walk the streets at night?”
“You don’t Uber the rest of my employees home.”
“Yeah, well, you don’t want to fuck them.” I glare at him, but he holds it just as fiercely. “You’re welcome.” He smirks. “I say you sleep with her. At least then you will be in a better mood to deal with all this shit with Royce.”
It’s not a good idea, but it’s the only one I know that will work.
