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“Meaning?” I pulled another photograph into my hand without looking as I twisted my head to see his expression.
“Killing is rare, usually only when one or more of the employees are attacked.”
“How rare?”
He walked closer, eyeing the bar next to the bookshelves. “Most of the time I work at the resort as security. People come and go, enjoying a night out and nothing more. Occasionally, I need to break up a fight or escort a rowdy guest to the parking lot.”
As soon as I glanced at the photograph, I sucked in my breath. The picture was obviously old, taken of two boys standing in front of a horse. Even then, Constantine was adorable, the look on his face mischievous. I knew in my heart that the other young man was his best friend, Nickolas. Seeing the two of them together was both unnerving and very sad.
But it allowed me to deep even deeper inside Constantine’s soul when I hadn’t believed one existed. My hand was shaking as I put it down, tracing Constantine’s face with my finger before backing away.
“Are you okay?” Zane asked.
“Um. Yeah, I’m fine. There are dangerous moments, right?” I followed his gaze and moved toward the bar myself, placing the water on the counter and grabbing two glasses. “I take you for a bourbon man.”
His laugh was different than before. “Gin and tonic.”
“Then I’ll have one with you. That is if you’re allowed.”
He threw a glance toward the open door. “If you insist.”
“I do.” The bar was complete with an ice maker and small refrigerator, stocked with almost everything anyone could possibly want. After making the drinks, I moved to him, offering a kind smile. I wondered if he had many of those in his line of work.
“Thank you, Ms. Rollins. I mean Jade. I take my position seriously. Danger is always all around us, but for the most part people know there are limitations, rules to follow, and they don’t cross them.”
“And when they do?”
“Then every soldier acts accordingly, doing what they need to keep the peace.”
“I applaud your loyalty and the reason why you continue working for Constantine.” I meant what I said, although I could tell he didn’t believe me. “But this life isn’t for me.”
“You said you don’t know much about Mr. Thorn.”
“Almost nothing, except he’s a control freak, a monster.”
He looked down at his drink, taking a deep breath before walking closer. “I mean no disrespect to you or to Mr. Thorn, but I feel compelled to say that things aren’t always as they seem.”
“I know that.”
“Do you? My father was a decent, law-abiding citizen who could do no wrong. You see, he was a man of the cloth, someone who offered hope to people in their times of strife and illness, death and despair, only no one knew him like me and my mother did. Thank God my sister didn’t really understand his moods. No one knew what went on behind closed doors, the violence that occurred almost every day. No one could see past his engaging smile or the fact he’d happily accept taking on a vigil in a hospital, praying for the soul of whoever was confined to the bed. No one knew how he enjoyed beating my mother and me for as long as I could remember. And no one could understand why she wouldn’t leave our house and why I was considered an unruly child with no hope for a future. You see, no one knew because he threatened us almost every day. At least my sister is safe.”
“Oh, Zane. I’m so sorry. I don’t know what to say.”
“I just wanted you to know that you might see a horrible man because of what Mr. Thorn does for a living. What I see is someone who gave me several chances to prove myself after rescuing me from the streets. What I know is that inside he’s a good person, providing for his family and every employee. As I said, looks can be deceiving. You’d be doing yourself and Mr. Thorn a disservice if you didn’t try and look underneath his initial persona to the person underneath. After all, he’s just a man.”
Through his eyes I could see his scars, years of torment at the hands of a ‘good’ man. In those few minutes, I was humbled by his adoration of a man I’d placed inside a box, refusing to believe anything other than what I was told.
And in those few minutes, my heart started to ache, not just for the man who’d awakened the woman inside but for the girl who’d longed to find someone she could spend the rest of her life with.
“What happened to your mother?”
He lifted his glass, staring at the liquid inside. Then he smirked as he looked away. “My father made good on his threat.”
* * *
Constantine
I’d always adored my parents’ estate, the sprawling acres of green that inspired me to purchase the ranch several years ago. Growing up in the house had left me with mostly fond memories. Even if my father had been harsh by some standards, forcing me to be at my best at all times, there’d been laughter inside the house, celebrations the norm.
