Mathew smiled. “Do you really think a judge is not going to side with me on taking care of your mother? It is your responsibility to take care of her. I can’t be expected to do it all.”
“I’m sure the judge will understand everyone once he learns why I’ve turned my back on her.”
“I know you, Darius. You won’t tell anyone what happened.”
“Makayla knows.” One of Matthew’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “I’m done hiding her and his secrets, Mathew. It stops now.” He took another drink. “I could give a fuck who knows what happened.”
Darius gave his back to his uncle once more. He watched Makayla talk to her sister and Dane, laugh and smile big. Just watching her seemed to do what his uncle said couldn’t be done; she cleansed him of all the stain he carried with him.
He felt more than saw his uncle leave his side. It disgusted him how the man could take the side of his sister, Darius’s mother, so easily after all she did. She’d turned her back on her daughter when her own husband molested her, and then did nothing once Sara killed herself. Instead, she tried to put all the blame on Darius, not his father, and in turn tried to kill him. Having the woman committed was the one and only decent thing his father ever did, and that move caused even more tension in the family, tension that Darius was sure had nothing to do with him.
He knew at an early age how is grandfather hadn’t wanted the marriage between his parents. He didn’t want to give Elliot Alistair a damn thing, including his only daughter. And Mathew supported it all. Darius wasn’t stupid. He knew his father had played dirty when it came to getting his hands on Mary Verver and her money. He’d seduced her, and when she fought even that, he’d forced himself on her with the hopes that she would get pregnant. It worked.
The Ververs were religious people and had no choice but to allow their only daughter to marry, but Darius didn’t believe he knew even half of the story; he had a gut feeling that there was a family secret, and the sick side of him wondered if his uncle had loved his sister just a bit too much. As sickening as the thought was, it wouldn’t surprise him, especially after seeing all that he’d seen growing up in his family.
Finishing his drink, Darius handed the glass to one of the passing waiters and made his way over to the small group surrounding his wife. His heart pounded with each step he took, knowing that this meeting with Dane was long overdue.
With caution, he walked up and waited for the shit to hit the fan. Dane lowered his drink and both eyebrows went up.
“You promised, Dane,” Makayla said.
Dane narrowed his eyes on Darius then, finally, grudgingly nodded and held out his hand to Darius. “This doesn’t mean I won’t kick your ass at some later time.”
Darius held back the smile and took the hand. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.”
Makayla almost squealed with her smile before moving to his side and wrapping both arms around Darius. “I saw you talking to your uncle.”
“Yeah, the piece of shit.” Darius glanced behind him to make the sure the man wasn’t going to join them. “Wish he’d just leave me the hell alone.”
Dane frowned. “I didn’t know you had an uncle. We all thought all of your family was dead.”
“Might as well be,” Darius sighed. “They’re worthless and greedy. When my father took over the family company, it was close to bankruptcy. My grandfather didn’t like the idea of a stranger taking over, or for that matter my father, in general, marrying into the family. Once he got the company on its feet, he paid my grandfather and uncle a very nice chunk of change, and if they would’ve taken that money and invested it right they could have lived a good life. Instead, they blew everything thinking that my father would still give them more money. He didn’t. Instead, my father cut them out of the company and acquired it by way of a hostile takeover. He built it back up and beyond what it ever had been after that. After my birth, my father sold it and made billons from the deal. The stock he held on to has interest coming out of our asses, and it just pissed the rest of the family off.”
“You never told us this before,” Dane said.
“There’s a lot about my family I’ve never told you about,” Darius stated. “And I think it’s past time you all knew about it.”
“Well, I say we all head over to Blaine’s,” Samara said. “Shyla is very depressed and he could use us girls to help him out.”
“Yeah, good idea,” Dane agreed. “Give us all a chance to clear the air and talk.”
“Then why don’t we all go home and change and meet at Blaine’s in about an hour. We’ll pick up some food,” Samara said.
“Sounds like a great plan,” Darius agreed.
Makayla smiled and beamed the whole way home. She even hummed as they entered the house, skipped up the stairs in her excitement. Darius followed slowly behind a grin on his face at her happiness. When he entered the bedroom, she kissed him deeply. Darius couldn’t stop smiling at her pleasure. She’d really had a good time at the party, even though his uncle showed up and tried to taint it.
After they changed clothes, she took hold of his hand and practically dragged him out of the room and down the stairs. Back in the car
,
she talked about how pretty everyone looked, and mentioned a small run in with Beth White. He shook his head at that. The woman couldn’t get over the fact that once in the Compound everyone became equal.
They arrived around the same time as Dane and Samara. With a nod from Darius to Dane, the girls went in first and began talking quickly about the party. Devon and Kera were already inside. A quick kiss on Darius’s cheek and Makayla was off with the girls up the stairs to Shyla’s room. Darius followed Dane into a dining room that had a whole new look to it.
All the darkness of the room was gone. Light oak furniture replaced the dark cherry. To take more of the gloom away from the room, scenic paintings hung on the walls, and a large flower arrangement sat in the middle of the table. Even the heavy drapes had been replaced with lace curtains to let in the light.
“Damn, Blaine, Shyla sure is doing a number here,” Dane said.
Both Devon and Blaine stopped what they were doing to stare at Dane and Darius with open mouths. Darius knew why they were staring.
“What?” Dane demanded.
“I think they’re in shock that we’re in the same room together.”
“Oh that,” Dane chuckled. “Yeah, I do owe you one.” He turned so fast and threw a punch Darius didn’t even have the time to prepare for the blow. It landed on his jaw, knocking him down on his ass. Dane nodded in satisfaction. “Now I’m good.”
“Feel better?” Darius mumbled, holding his now throbbing face.
“Much better.” Dane smiled. He bent over with his hand out, helping Darius to his feet.
“Well, now that we’re all back together, how about a drink?” Devon asked. “Know Blaine can use another.”
Devon handed out drinks and they all sat down at the table. They drank in silence, and Darius could feel the tension in the room and for once, it didn’t have to do with him.
“So how is she?” Darius asked, breaking the quiet.
“Crying a lot,” Blaine answered with a tired sigh. “She thinks she’s failing me by losing the baby. Has this crazy idea that I need to have a child. I told her that I was more than happy with what I have now, but she still thinks I want one.”
“What about Nicolai?” Dane asked.
“I told her we already have a family and I don’t give a shit if he isn’t my blood or not. Hell, I think it’s better he’s not. Least he has a chance of turning out good.”
“Considering who his real father was, I’d say you’re doing a damn good job,” Darius said.
“Considering who
all
our fathers were,” Blaine said. “We
all
turned out pretty damn good.” Darius smiled and nodded. “So what’s your story? Dane said you had some heavy shit to get off your shoulders.”
Blaine reached into his shirt and brought out one of his thin cigars. He settled it in his mouth, lit it, then blew out a cloud of smoke.
“I thought Shyla got rid of those things,” Devon stated.
Blaine smiled. “So did she.”
“He’s got an uncle,” Dane said.
“Who?” Blaine asked. Dane thumbed toward Darius. “No shit! You got family?”
“Don’t think you can call him family,” Darius remarked dryly. “The bastard hasn’t had anything to do with me since I was born.”
“What’s he want?” Blaine asked.
“What does all long lost family want?” Darius smarted back. “Money.” He stood up, moved to one of the floor to ceiling windows and stared out at the night. “My father pretty much stole the family company right after he married my mother. That marriage was forced since he’d raped her and she got pregnant with me.”
“You lost me here,” Blaine said. “You said your uncle wants money.”
“He does. When my father took over the family business, he turned it into a billion dollar enterprise. He gave them all a very large sum of money, bought stocks with some of the money and sold the rest. If my grandfather and uncle would’ve done the same thing and invested they would’ve also been set for life. They didn’t.”
“So he’s broke and wants to sue you,” Blaine snickered.
“Yup, I’ve already been served.” Darius turned around took a deep breath and faced his three best friends. “He’s suing me for the fees and upkeep for my mother.”
“Whoa!” Dane cut in. “You’re mother? She’s still alive?”
“Regrettably, yes,” Darius answered.
“Okay, I think you need to tell us everything, from the beginning,” Blaine said.
“Okay, here it goes—”
* * * *
“Oh honey, it’s not your fault,” Kera said to Shyla who lay on the bed crying softly into the covers. Kera brushed her hand slowly through her blonde hair.
“I—I thought this one wouldn’t happen,” Shyla sniffed, sitting up. “I was farther along than the last one.”
“But it wasn’t meant to be yet,” Kera said. “Your time will come.”
Shyla shook her head. “I can’t do this again,” she whispered. “He needs to find someone that can give him children.”
Kera snorted. “I doubt Blaine is going to want anyone else. Honey, he loves you.”
“And no one else can put up with him,” Samara added.
Shyla sat up and wiped her eyes with her hands. Kera brushed her hair from her face and kissed her on the cheek.
Makayla remembered her sister telling her that Shyla had a very shaky past. That someone from her past, Nicolai’s father, tried at one time to get his hands on her when she was very young. He tried again years later only to have Blaine step in and stop him. Blaine never imagined that the little girl he saved so long ago would be the one woman he needed more than anything in his life. She completed him and brought a light to his darkness. Something that Makayla hoped to do for Darius.
“So are you happy?” Shyla asked Makayla.
“You know, I am,” Makayla said and smiled. “I always thought that going to the Compound would be the worst thing ever, but for me I think it turned out to be the best.” Kera snorted at that. “Hey, I’m happy to finally be able to stay home with my family. Always being gone and in hiding sort of made me feel like the days when our father was home. He never let us do anything.”
“Told you so,” Kera said to Samara.
“Kera told me you had a small run in with Beth White,” Shyla went on. Makayla nodded. “You all know she has a little sister Nicolai’s age.”
“You think she’s going to let the girl go up to the Compound?” Samara asked.
“Hell no!” Kera said. “You see how she feels about the Compound now. Everyone’s equals there and she’s all about putting the lower class in their place. Man I would love to kick her ass again.”
“Again?” Makayla laughed. “When did you do it the first one?”
“Right after me and Dane got married,” Samara said. “We were shopping and Beth opened her big mouth. She almost caused a bunch of trouble then.”
“Nic told me her daughter is pretty wild,” Shyla added “And his friend Zander is thinking about showing her just how much trouble she can get into.”
“Why do you let him around Zander,” Kera sighed. “That kid is going to get Nic in a lot of trouble.”
“Zander needs someone,” Shyla went on. “His father leaves him alone all the time. The staff is raising the boy. Blaine has been spending more time with him also.”
“Someone needs to. His damn father should do more,” Kera added.
“Hey, you hungry?” Samara asked Shyla. “Blaine mentioned you haven’t eaten much.”
Shyla rolled her eyes and fell backwards on the bed. “Has he been telling everyone?”
“Honey, he’s worried about you,” Kera said. “We know the loss of the baby is hard on you, but you can’t get sick over it. And please don’t shut Blaine out this time. He’s driving me nuts.”
Shyla smiled.
“Why don’t you take a hot shower? Kera will stay with you and I’ll go down with Makayla and fix you something to eat,” Samara said.
“I’m not hungry,” Shyla replied.
“Too bad,” Kera said. “You need to eat, and we ain’t leaving until you do.”
“Besides, I think we all could use something to eat. The food tonight wasn’t much and not very good.”
“Well, let’s go see what you’ve got,” Makayla said, tugging on Samara’s arm.
Together they left the bedroom. Makayla hadn’t been in the Cedric manor before, but she’d heard Shyla had redone just about everything in the house. She opened up rooms that Blaine never had opened before. The walls had been freshly painted, new floors, installed and curtains hung. She’d brightened up the inside then the outside, turning the place into the fairy tale palace she always dreamed about, and Blaine let her.
“You think she’s going to be alright?” Makayla asked.
“Kera will snap her back, she did last time.”
“So what caused her to lose the baby?”
“My guess is stress and worry. She worried herself sick that something might go wrong like the last time, and it did. The doctor told her she needed to relax, rest a lot and not stress. I think Blaine also said her womb isn’t strong, so if she made it to the fifth month she would have to be put on bed rest.”
They found the kitchen and began hunting in cabinets and the fridge for something to fix to eat. Nothing too fancy and quick, Samara went to work to make a fresh chicken pasta salad by grilling chicken breasts and putting pasta on to boil while Makayla took some bread and grilled it with cheese.