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“Either say you care about what happens to me or leave me alone to prep.”
The silence stretches between us before I finally settle on, “Please just be careful.”
A muscle near his jawbone twitches. His gaze travels down my body, longing flashing in his eyes, but neither of us acknowledge it. I think he’s about to say something, but then his face hardens, and he goes, shutting the door behind him with a loudthud.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Wes
I let myself into my parents’ house a little after eleven. It’s dark and empty, and I make my way to John’s office carefully. Knowing him, he’ll come in here to drop off his laptop before he heads to bed with my mom.
Lowering myself into his chair, I lean back and close my eyes.
You’re just like your father.
Even a week later, Athelia’s words still sting. I can’t deny the similarities between me and Kammes, but saying I’m just like him? It has to be too far.
Is it, though?
I grit my teeth as I think over the past few years. I’ve changed a lot, and I’ve been telling myself it’s been for the better, but… what if I’m wrong?
There are some changes that have been good. I’m stronger, I’m smarter, and I’ve learned who I can trust. But as Athelia forced me to remember last week, I lost track of the man my father made me want to be. I’ll forever be grateful to her, even if I didn’t want to admit it.
Athelia is stubborn as hell, I’ll give her that. For the past week, she’s had me twisted up. But it made me realize something.
Even though there’s nothing I love more than having power over her—having her submission, willful or not—I’m willing to give it up. Maybe not all of it, but at least some of it. I proved that to her and to myself when I let her have a room to herself and haven’t made her sleep with me.
And when I got on my knees and begged her for forgiveness, I knew she wouldn’t give it me.
Kammes would never do that. Even without knowing all the details of his relationship with Athelia, I knowhim.I know how he’s treated me for the past few years. He saw a boy struggling to learn how to be a man—saw weakness—and exploited it for his own benefit.
I wouldn’t be surprised if, somehow, he did the same thing to my mother. Neither of them talk about their marriage much, but I see the way his eyes light up when he wins arguments or gets his way.
Jaw clenched, I stare at John’s desk. It’s dark, but the streetlights illuminate just enough for me to see a framed photo of him and my mother.
To this day, I don’t know what she sees in him. He’s a selfish bastard and always has been. Took our money, took my own agency, and refused to give any of it back.
See? I’m nothing like him.
I’d never do that to Athelia, and I know I wouldn’t have to. She’s already adjusting to her new life with us. Enjoying it, even. It’s different than what Kammes has been doing to her.
Is it?
I swallow, trying to shove away the thought, but it keeps buzzing around in my head like a pesky fly.
If Athelia never warms up to you, will you let her go?
My first instinct is a hard and fastno.She’s mine, dammit, and she belongs with me, too. But the more I sit with the question, the more I’m unsure.
Do I want to keep her caged forever? She’d only resent me—hate me. While I love seeing her riled up, I don’t want those feelings to simmer forever.
I want her to want me.
Of course I do. It’s why I’ve been so pissed for the past week. She’s willingly given herself to Kellan and Cal whenever they want, but she’s barely even looked at me.
My thoughts are interrupted by the sound of the garage door opening. I don’t move—I’m already exactly where I need to be.
Maybe after I do this, Athelia will let me sleep with her.
