18
Rukaiya
I recognize the Lancaster mansion as soon as the car pulls up the driveway. It doesn’t take long for the man who has been sitting in the passenger seat silently to exit the stopped vehicle and open the back door.
He tugs me from the seat, along with my small rucksack and nothing more. I have the documents Thane gave me regarding my father, well, him, but I still don’t believe it’s true. Even though it’s there in black and white, I’ve not allowed the truth to seep into my mind, let alone my heart.
He didn’t want to tell me about my mother, or why he hinted that she’s still alive, and everything happened so quickly from his admission in the office to us leaving. The main door of the house swings open, and Dahlia races toward me.
“Oh my god,” she squeals, tugging me into her arms, and all the emotion I’ve been holding back finally breaks free, and I cry. I hear the door of the car shut and the vehicle pull away, but nothing else matters because I’m finally here.
I’m not entirely sure what the deal is, what they had to give Thane in exchange for me, but I’m thankful for whatever it was. The sweet fragrance of Dahlia’s perfume is so familiar, yet I feel like I’m dreaming, and it’s all in my imagination.
She steps backward, taking me in, her hands still holding onto me as if I could disappear if she lets me go.
“Welcome back,” Ares joins us. He has a smile plastered on his face, and before I can respond, he pulls me into a fierce hold. I’ve only ever had Dahlia as a friend. I never had a group of people who cared for me like this, and the relief that they’re here washes over me.
With all the tears and hugs, someone clears their throat, and my attention is brought to the person standing on the steps behind Ares. The man who tried to fight for me. He’s still got some bruising on his face, but most of it has healed.
His dark eyes are watchful, as if he’s unsure if he can come closer. I nod, giving him a silent response, and he moves closer, his hands cup my face, and he holds me steady. Everything else disappears then.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t get to you,” he whispers to me painfully. “I fucking failed you.”
“No,” I tell him, shaking my head.
Etienne’s gaze lingers on mine, searching for the truth. And he’ll find it because he wasn’t meant to save me. I told him once, and I’ll tell him again, I don’t need a knight in shining armor; I just want someone to walk beside me.
“You’re here, where you needed to be. I had to go through that on my own because it made me realize something, I didn’t know I felt.”
His brows furrow in confusion. “And what is that?”
“That I want this… As dangerous as it is. Us. We’re always going to have people trying to break us apart—”
“Isn’t this sweet,” Hilary Durand mutters from behind me, and I notice her exiting the Lancaster home. I didn’t realize she was here, and if I’d known, I would’ve told Etienne about his mother’s hand in all this. The honesty that I need to give him has to come from me, though, he needs to know who I really am.
“What are you doing here?”
“I was visiting with my son,” she smirks, and I know it’s a lie. I overheard her telling Yasmine how they don’t get on. “Even after the truth has been revealed, he seems to be rather caught up with you.” Her remark both angers me and makes my stupid heart flutter. “Give us a moment, will you, little girl.”
She waves her hand toward me, as if she’s attempting to shoo me away. I should fight back, refuse to leave, but I want to talk to Dahlia, without Etienne around, so I cast a glance his way before I shoulder my bag and make my way into the house, ignoring his whisper of I’m sorry.
I’m not at all angry with Etienne; it’s not his fault. But I know the moment all the twisted plans fall into place that it’s either going to break us apart, or it’s going to make us stronger. Whatever happens, I just hope I make it out alive.
I find Dahlia in the kitchen; she’s at the stove stirring something in a pot, and the scent coming from it is delicious, making my stomach growl in response. She glances up to smile at me, and my heart aches. I’ve missed her so much. Best friends for so long, and I was stolen from her without so much as a letter.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” she tells me, setting the spoon down and making her way toward me. She takes my hands, holding them as she watches me. “I was worried. I thought I had done something wrong.”