Rising Sun (Fate's Intent Book 9) (23 page)

“He says he can feel when she’s in pain.”

“That maybe what calls him here but he never stays and she never sees him. I’ve always made sure of it and I’m glad you did too.”

“I truly thought about not doing it. I just wanted her better but I still stick to my decision. It would have only made it worse.”

“That it would have. She’s always been very attached to him. He was one of the very few people he would let her get close to and as you know, she’s bound to familiar things. He was her greatest hero.”

I’d like to think that I was her greatest hero. She has no use for him as I’ve said. He needed to just let her live her life and not interfere. He needs to trust that I can take care of her but I don’t think that he does—that’s why he’s here.

“It’s been just as hard for him to let go.” Trever said. He must have been listening to my thoughts. “He did die for her after all as foolish as it may have been. He’s always going to feel like she needs him.”

“Well, she doesn’t.”

“It’s just a father’s way and as long as she never sees him, I don’t see the harm in letting him care about her.”

“Accept now I have to deal with him.”

“It’s still better than her.”

I admit he was right—he always seemed to be right. I shouldn’t care so much that Bryce just wants to make sure his daughter is well. That’s all I could ever want for my son but now it wasn’t just Jaylyn that worried me. Bryce continuously coming here was a problem. I never want my son to remember it. He’s seen him. I had to get Bryce to be satisfied with me being Jaylyn’s new hero so he’d stop showing up whenever he felt she was troubled. I had to make him believe that I can take care of her.

The recent reason for him being here wasn’t because of me. It was because of him and that stupid journal that’s been kept from her until now. I still had a secret but it wasn’t one she ever needed to hear. It wouldn’t change anything just by her knowing. We were both kids when it happened. I didn’t help my father plan his death. I would have known from the beginning if I had and I would have told her then before we really got involved.

“Whatever you decide, I’m sure it will be worthy. You’ll have to stand up to him again, only this time, better. Remind him that he’s dead and you’re her sole caretaker now. He won’t have a choice because he’ll know you’re right but I’m sure he will protest. Just don’t budge on your decision for a second. One slightest eye twitch and he’ll know he’s getting to you and he won’t ever stop. Be firm and confident.”

“Thank you. It’s probably where I went wrong earlier.”

“He saw your fear and used it against you. Don’t let him have that advantage again and I guarantee you won’t see him for some years or maybe never again until—well, you know, the inevitable happens.”

“I die. Right. I’ll try when I see him again. Darius said he’d probably be around here a lot until I started seeing how great of a man he is.”

“Really? Darius said that?”

“He seemed pretty happy about it. He actually likes your father.”

“It shouldn’t surprise me. My father doesn’t like me most of the time. He still tries to steer me in his direction.”

“I think it had something to do with that.”

“What’s going on in here?”

I turned and Ryon walked in holding Seth.

“Nothing.” Trever said. “We’re done.”

“Oh, well, it’s eating time apparently. I forget that you people do that.”

“Good. We should all have some and then you can send me back.”

“You’re leaving?” I asked.

“I think everything is well under control now. I don’t want to be the one keeping Red locked away upstairs forever. I should be getting back.”

“Yeah and guess who else wants him back?” Ryon joked. “Bianca is probably creating ruts in the floor from pacing since you were first brought here.”

“She misses you that much?”

Trever laughed. “No. She’s afraid for me. She’s not comfortable with me being around Darius, especially if I’m alone.”

“She doesn’t have to be now that you’re taking a break from seeing each other.”

“Wrong.” I watched Trever’s eyes shift first to who came into the kitchen next. It was Darius with that voice that easily made everyone know he wasn’t pleased.

Chapter 37

Darius

“He’s taking a break from seeing Ruby, not me.”

“Yes and at a severe inconvenience, I know.” Trever replied.

“My choice. I’m not going to hide from you. This just ensures you don’t get anywhere near her while she’s trying to forget you.”

“She’s trying to forget me?”

“Isn’t that what you’re doing?”

“Come on, Darius. You know it wouldn’t have been that easy. I’m just—trying not to think she needs me so much. Old habits are hard to break. I’m sure you know all about that.”

“It was easy because I knew what I wanted but you, what you want is out of your reach and can never be touched. You’ll never break that habit if you keep coming here.”

“I didn’t come here for her at all.”

“Maybe not but you know she’s here and have already thought about seeing her maybe just by accident. That’s enough for you to never stop. So, why don’t you run back home to your scared little wife before I send you to her in pieces.”

“Killing me wouldn’t solve anything.”

“I didn’t say I would kill you. You’d just be in pieces. You can live without a few of those limbs, isn’t that right, Ryon?”

It was the first time someone else was involved in the conversation but Ryon didn’t seem happy that it had to be him. “Please. Darius, as much as I’ve grown to like you, don’t drag me into whatever this thing is you two have because I can’t choose your side. It’ll always be his and I don’t want to have to step in to stop you. I’m not here for any kind of confrontation. I’m here for Seth, that’s it.”

“It was really only a yes or no response I was looking for. You’d know best if someone could live without their limbs.”

“Possibly if they don’t bleed out but they wouldn’t be happy about it.”

“I wouldn’t do it to make him happy. That was kind of the point.”

“You don’t have to at all.” Troy said. “Trever was just getting ready to have Ryon send him back.”

“Good. Get on with it then. I can get Seth something to eat while you do. I just came here to get Dirk something.”

I heard a loud cracking sound and looked at the wall that separated the kitchen and dining room. Dirk was standing on the other side of a large hole he just made by pushing on the bricks.

Troy laughed. “I think he’s impatient.”

I didn’t laugh. I turned fully with a growing sigh. “Dirk! Couldn’t use a door?”

“Hungry.”

“I know! What do you think I’m doing? Sit over there and do nothing until I get it.”

Dirk pouted but listened and sat on the floor where I had pointed.

“Shit. I can’t leave that kid alone for a second before he destroys something only Adele can fix.”

“Not quite.” Ryon looked at the wall and the bricks reformed back to its solid state.

“Thank you.”

“No need. I know what it’s like to have Adele angry. It’s better this way.”

“At least until we can get him to control it. Ruby’s been working with him but he just has this unusual want to destroy things.”

Trever laughed. “Gets that from you.”

“Weren’t you leaving?”

“I suppose. Ryon, if you don’t mind?”

“You’re not going to stay and eat first?” Troy asked.

“I think it would be better if I didn’t.”

“For once you’re right.” I said.

Ryon grabbed Trever’s wrist and they were both gone out the kitchen door before he could have said anything back. I didn’t care. I was just glad that he was gone.

“Good. So, what should we eat?”

“How should I know? I kind of have my own problems.”

“Eating is important.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Hungry.”

My head slowly turned and Dirk was looking at me with his mother’s eyes. They were soft and gentle yet still getting the point across.

“I know. I said I’m getting it. Sorry, Troy. Your so-called problem will have to wait.”

“Don’t joke. It is a problem.”

“I’m sure you’ll fix it and everything will be fine.”

“Is he still here?”

I shrugged while I tried focusing more on getting the boys something to eat. “I don’t know. Zayden was still with him when Ruby asked me to feed Dirk. Someone should probably tell her she can come down now.”

“I will.”

Jaylyn was at the door out of nowhere and Troy instantly looked worried like he wondered how long.

“That would be great.” I said. “She’ll be happy. It’s been hours.”

“How did you know Trever left?” Troy asked.

“Ryon just got back. He’s out there so he doesn’t do the appearing out of nowhere thing in front of the boys. I’ll go tell her. She’ll probably want to eat too.”

Troy became more worried and stepped towards her as if to stop her. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

I figured it had to of been because of her father possibly still being here. I doubt she would have run into him though. He was smarter than that not to walk the halls here.

“Why not?”

Ryon stepped through the door behind her, shaking his head like he was trying to say Bryce left.

“Nothing. I just thought you shouldn’t be the one to do it but more time had passed than I really realized.”

“Yes, it has and I told you I’m fine.”

“I’ll keep reminding myself. Go ahead and get her.”

Jaylyn still seemed a little curious about his behavior, it would have made anyone curious but she left anyway.

“She didn’t hear all of that, I hope."

“Well, she didn’t say anything about it.” Troy said. “And you know she would have.”

“Yes, I do but it’s okay. He’s gone for now but he’s still going to want to talk to you.”

“I know and I’m going to tell him where to go.”

Ryon looked at me and laughed slightly. “Good luck with that.”

“I don’t need luck.”

“All right.” I turned, juggling three plates. “Boys, come on. Table.”

They started to file out the actual door this time and Ruby was finally making an appearance after spending all day upstairs.

“Hey.” She said, taking a plate from me. “Hungry, baby?”

I laughed. “Of course he is. He broke through the wall to get it.”

“Dirk. What did we talk about? No breaking stuff.”

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” I said. “Ryon was able to fix it before Adele would have seen.”

“Phew. Good thing. I guess there are benefits to having him around.”

“I guess.”

We sat with the boys and stayed with them while they ate.

“So?” I looked over and Ruby was clearly hinting towards starting some kind of conversation.

“What?”

“Did he say anything about me?”

Trever. Of course. It’s not what I wanted to talk about but even after all this time she was still trying to cope with his decision.

“Not really.” I lied. “He was more or less talking to Troy about Bryce when I saw him.”

Ruby looked around and leaned into me with a quiet voice through her teeth. “Big one or little?”

“Big.”

“What happened?”

“Nothing. Troy’s plan is to just tell him to stay out of our lives but without a flinch this time.”

She shivered. “I can’t even think about it without flinching.”

It was amusing. “Why are you so scared of him?”

“I’m not. I mean, he’s Bryce. He’s capable of anything. He’s not just going to leave because Troy tells him so. He’ll only leave when he’s satisfied and he never is when it comes to Jaylyn’s safety.”

“Where is she?”

“She went back into the study when I was coming down. She’s still dealing with the news. I know she is no matter what she says. Having Arianna as a mother is kind of a big deal.”

“Yeah. I know I was shocked. How does something like that stay hidden?”

“You don’t remember? Trever told the story of their mother and how Bryce had Madam Carla shield them from her mind. He just left out the part of who she was.”

“Oh yeah. I do remember that actually. My manor. That was a while ago.”

Ruby heightened her voice with a laugh. “It was. Long before these three.”

The boys were still eating and making a nice mess with it all over themselves.

“Time is a funny thing.”

“Why do you say that?”

Both our heads turned when Jaylyn entered.

“We were just talking about the boys.” Ruby said. “They’re getting big so fast.”

“I guess. It’s good though.” She sat with us and that’s when I noticed she had the journal with her. I looked over at Ruby and we were both unsure about why. “But we should still savor it.”

“Why do you have that?” Ruby asked when Jaylyn actually opened it and started looking through it.

“I’m honestly surprised that I still do. Trever said he was going to take it back.”

“Why?”

“There’s still some things in it he needs, he says. I’m not sure exactly what. It might be these pages.” She flipped the book around like she was reading it upside-down. “They’re mostly ancient stories and stuff, things for some reason Trever would care about, not me. I just wanted to read my father’s pages.” She turned the book back as if to look at those pages again and an envelope fell out of it. “What’s this?”

She picked it up and turned it over. Her eyes locked on it but she said nothing.

“Jaylyn?” Ruby asked. “What is it?”

“That’s strange. It’s from—my father.”

Ruby turned her wide eyes to me like she wanted me to do something.

“Maybe you shouldn’t read it.” I said.

“Why?”

“Haven’t you been through enough?”

“What more could there possibly be?” She ripped it open and started reading it to herself but the longer she sat still, the more I could see it was upsetting her.

Ruby nudged me and I knew there was really only one thing I could do. I had to find Troy.

I left the dining room and he was still in the kitchen with Ryon.

“Troy, you better come quick.”

“Why?”

“Jaylyn just found a letter in that journal addressed specifically to her.”

“From who?”

“Who do you think and I don’t think it was written before he died.”

His eyes widened but more in a fierce way and he followed me back.

“Jaylyn?”

She was still sitting at the table but she wasn’t exactly crying like I would have guessed. The letter was folded in her hand and she was just staring in front of her. “He’s been here, hasn’t he?”

Troy and I looked at each other.

“Who?” I asked.

Troy slowly took the letter from her and she let him only because that’s how unresponsive she was being.

He opened it in front of me and surprisingly, it was readable.