Being in front of the crowd was more daunting than she had expected. She searched the crowd for something to calm her and was not surprised when that something ended up being a very attractive detective who looked beautiful and supportive standing off in the shadows. It’s now or never, she told herself.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, my name is Kara Vanderbilt…” She paused when she heard the gasps and whispers start, and taking a deep breath, she continued, “…and I would like to thank you for coming tonight to share in my dream to have an avenue for victims of abuse—whatever kind it may be—to seek help. Not just rape victims, but all victims can come to A Place to Hope for help and guidance, a place that is completely free and designed to protect those who cannot protect themselves. This dream was a long time coming, and I would be lying if I said it wasn’t a dream built on a nightmare. Ten years ago, a terrible thing happened to me. Something I’ve never spoken about in public until today.”
The crowd became deafeningly silent. One more deep breath, and then she continued.
“I was abducted and held captive for four days, and in those four days, I was repeatedly raped by a man who fortunately is dead today and not able to do it to anyone else. He did heinous and deplorable things to me that no person should ever have to endure. I was only eighteen at the time, a virgin, and I had never even been kissed. I had dreamed of my first kiss, and I had dreamed of the first time someone made love to me. All those dreams were crushed by Devon Bristol.” She paused, sucking in a labored breath. Her chest tightened, and she knew she was beginning to have an anxiety attack. Finding Caleb in the crowd again, she forced herself to continue. Keep going.
“Not only did he steal my innocence, but he did it in the most despicable ways imaginable. I was not only raped, I was sodomized and tortured. I opened this center so that other scared women or men can come somewhere to talk when it seems there is nothing good left in life. I had many resources that I could have used, unlike many victims. And I am ashamed to say that with all the wealth I grew up in, I chose to not seek any help. As a result, my life has been lived in fear…” With a slight nod from Caleb, she continued. “At times, the darkness threatened to swallow me up, and there were many days that I considered killing myself.” She searched the crowd for Ethan and smiled sadly at him; he swiped at a cheek, and Kara knew he was crying.
"A few months back when I was told that the center was almost ready, I told myself it was time for a change. I’m here today to prove to everyone that there can be a life after being violated. Once again, I would like to thank all of you for coming. Please tell anyone who you think needs help that our doors are always open for whatever reason they made need it. Even tonight.” Thunderous applause enveloped her like a warm hug, and Kara felt a piece of her heart heal.
Ethan was confused when he saw Caleb come out of a doorway to the left and was moving toward him when Kara walked to a podium on risers. Seeing Kara standing there had Ethan pause mid-stride. Ethan had a hard time fighting the tears that formed and eventually gave up the fight to stem them. He quietly approached Caleb and stood beside him as Kara spoke. When she was done, he heard Caleb start to clap and followed suit. He was in shock from finding out that Kara was the founder of A Place to Hope.
Obviously, equally moved by her speech, Caleb stood stoically beside him. Which ultimately scared Ethan; he had always been protective and didn’t want anyone to hurt Kara. He wanted her to be able to date, but at the same time, he was terrified of her dating. Ethan could not ask for a better person to be interested in his sister. He just hoped that it worked out and neither one got hurt. And above all, he hoped that Kara would take a chance on Caleb because he knew that Caleb could make all the difference, and even though he worried, he felt in his heart that Caleb was just what Kara needed.
“I think I underestimated her for the last time,” Ethan said, breaking the silence. “She definitely is stronger than I gave her credit for. And I could not be prouder of her.” Ethan turned to scan the crowd, looking for Kara, and then froze. “Shit!”
“What?” Caleb asked and then followed his eyes. "Son of a bitch," he exclaimed when his eyes locked on what Ethan was looking at. Stanley Vanderbilt was there, and he was making a beeline for Kara.
“Well, you never cease to amaze me, Kara.”
Kara stopped abruptly; she had been on her way to find Ethan and Caleb when she heard his voice boom over the crowd. Slowly, she turned to find her father standing tall and regal in the middle of the room, commanding the attention of all around him. Which pissed Kara off beyond words; this center was not about him. Damn him for trying to make it about him.
“How the hell did you get in here? This was by invitation only, and you were not invited,” she spat between clenched teeth. Ethan and Caleb showed up just in time to hear her.
“It amazes me how easily you forget who I am and what I can do,” Stanley Vanderbilt said.
“Forget? Hardly. I don’t forget, and I won’t forgive. I just choose not to acknowledge who and what you are.”
“This isn’t the time or the place,” Ethan said. Kara didn’t even bother looking his way. Her father was not about to ruin this night for her.
Stanley looked around the room at the nosey eyes peering at them and grabbed her by the upper arm, but he even made that seem regal as he pulled her out of the main room where all the guests were and lead her to the same corridor she had been standing in terrified only moments before. Except, this time, she was no longer terrified—quite the opposite. She was furious and no longer the eighteen-year-old girl who was scared to stand up to her parents. She was barely aware that Ethan and Caleb had followed and even less aware of the concern in their eyes.
“What’s the problem, Governor? You don’t want anyone to hear what I have to say? I bet you would prefer they not hear about what I know. About who you really are and what you did that was so, so bad ten years ago that your only daughter would scream to not come near her ever again in front of a crowd of cameras. I’m sure there are enough reporters in there that would love the exclusive rights to our story. Shall we go talk to them?”
She turned to go back into the main room to talk to the reporters. Fuck the consequences of taking on her father; he had no right being there. She had no sooner turned when he had grabbed her arm again—much rougher this time. She nearly winced in pain but made herself focus on something else. Kara had gotten good at hiding pain, but she knew that she would have a horrible bruise from him and that made her even angrier.
“Kara, keep your voice down,” he said angrily.
“What are you saying? You would prefer I not tell them what you did? I wonder what your constituents would say if they heard about what I know and the evidence from my case? Or should I say, the lack thereof?” Crack! Before she could blink, her father had slapped her. Actually slapped her! Both men took a step closer until she held her hand up. She was not going to back down, and she didn’t need their help. "You son of a bitch. You think you can do anything and there are no repercussions?"
"Kara, I’m warning you..." Her father’s voice roared in her ears, even though he was speaking quietly.
"Warning me?" She laughed coldly. "I'm not that scared little eighteen-year-old anymore. How dare you think you have the right to come here? This place is a good place. It’s a place of healing and should not have to be tarnished by your presence. I am warning you; get out of my center and out of my life, while you still have a chance. Because I wasn’t bluffing about the reporters. If you ever step foot in here again, you will be sorrier than you have ever been in your life."
How had she become such an angry and vengeful person? The answer was ten years in the making. Ten years of brooding over what her parents had done to her. Before Ethan could intervene, Caleb’s hand stopped him, and she heard him whisper something that calmed her ever so slightly. He told Ethan that she had to do this to move on and that they were there for her if she needed them.
"My presence is instrumental in ever
ything you do, darling. You are who you are because of me."
"You’re right about that. I am who I am because of you. Care to tell them what I mean?" she asked, looking her father dead in the eye. "You see, you can't pay me off like Jenkins and Byrnes."
“Don’t listen to your sister. She’s been crazy since she emerged from the woods all those years ago. She thinks she overheard me paying off someone regarding her case. What she heard was me trying to pay off some reporters," Stanley said.
Oh, he was good, she thought. He could lie with the best of them, but she knew he was lying, and he was lying through his teeth. After all these years, he could not muster the balls to fess up to what he had done. And that angered her even more. The blood in her veins pumped through her body like liquid fire, and she had to hold herself back from physically attacking him.
“You know damn well that is not what I heard. Come on, Dad, we’re the only ones here, admit it, just once. You forget that I have an impeccable memory, and somewhere in the back of your head you were hoping over the years I would forget. But you just keep underestimating me. Because while I don’t know why you did what you did, I do know that you did it. And I will never forget, just like I will not forget the events of those four days."
"Why can't you just let it rest? Devon Bristol died ten years ago. I don't know why you insist on blaming me for what happened."
"I insist on blaming you because you are as much to blame. And I cannot let it rest. Funny you should mention how Devon Bristol died ten years ago, because you may as well have died with him for all the good you did to find me. I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Are you listening? I am taking you down, Daddy, so it’s time to start doing damage control. Because there is a storm of whoop ass about to come down on you, and you are too dumb to know it. The way I see it, this can go down two ways—you resigning as governor and moving far away, never to contact me again, which you should be able to handle quite well—or, you in prison. Either way, I’m fine with the outcome.”
“Surely, you must be kidding. You moved here; you can move back to the rock you were hiding under.” She heard Ethan suck in air and saw him tense in her periphery. Kara laughed. It was a bitter laugh, and she hated the sound of it.
“Plan your next move carefully, and do not underestimate your opponent. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need some air.”
She turned on her heel and headed outside, outside where there was freedom. Ethan and Caleb were hot on her heels. She didn’t stop until she was outside dragging in big gulps of fresh air, her hands on her knees, bent over. The confrontation was so intense, she thought she would explode. But she had survived, and another piece of her heart healed. She had confronted the great Stanley Vanderbilt and had lived. Sure, she had threatened him, tightened the noose around his neck. But that was all part of her plan. After a couple deeper breaths, she turned to face Ethan and Caleb.
16
Caleb was worried about Kara when he followed her and her brother outside. He knew she was hiding things, and after the altercation inside, it was even more evident that she hadn’t moved on from whatever had happened between her and her parents. Caleb was also certain that she had PTSD. With the anger and frustration that emanated from her, he was concerned that she might attack her father.
Of course, if she had attacked him, Caleb would have done nothing to stop her. The bastard was lucky that Caleb didn't drop his ass when he slapped Kara. He wasn't sure who—out of the two of them—was itching to drop him most. He knew if Kara wouldn't have stopped them, either he or Ethan would have taken him down.
Once outside, both men gave Kara a little space to regroup. When she finally stood and turned to face them, her eyes were more in control, but still brimmed with hatred. There was no doubt in Caleb's mind that Kara hated her father, and he knew it centered on her abduction. It was just a matter of her disclosing why. Once again, he found himself hoping that would be sooner rather than later.
"I need to go back inside."
"The hell you do. You need to explain what the hell just happened!" Ethan shouted.
“Tone it down a little, E.”
"So, the gloves are off, no longer treating me like I will break, are you, big brother?" Kara's voice was laced with venom.
Caleb knew her anger was not intentionally directed at Ethan and that it was just a matter of proximity and she was projecting her hate on him. Kara was still coming down off the high she was riding when she confronted her father. The adrenaline coursing through her system would take a little bit to wear off before she crashed. And crash she would, Caleb knew. He had been there dozens of times himself.
"Kara, I just want to help. I’m not a fool; I know you’re incredibly intelligent. I know your intelligence far surpasses mine. But for such a smart person, you are being a jackass. You know you need our help, but you’re so damn stubborn, you’re set on doing it all yourself. Let us help you."
"Help me what? Trust me, you don't want to be a part of this when it hits the fan. You should get as far away as possible."
"Not happening, so just spill it."
"Yes sir, master, sir." Kara was nearly shouting at that point.
Caleb knew he had to do something to diffuse the situation. He didn't want Kara and Ethan damaging their relationship because of their father, and he certainly didn't want them coming to blows. And at that moment, it looked as if Kara was ready to attack. Once again, anger that was badly misplaced.
"All right, you two, round’s over. Go to your separate corners of the ring. I think you both need to charge down a little and regroup. We all want to figure out what’s going on. So, let's just take a step back and reevaluate things in the morning."
Brother and sister both looked his way and simultaneously nodded their agreement. If Caleb didn't know better, he would have thought they were twins. Their mannerisms were the same, and they were both bullheaded. Hopefully, both would be willing to give a little so they could be useful to each other.
"Right. Fine. I need to go back in and mingle for at least a little while. The people in there are the backbone to this center succeeding, and I need to reel in a couple of big donations so the doors can stay open for years to come."
"Kara..."
"Caleb's right, Ethan. We all need to recharge. I’ll talk to you in the morning. Give me the night to figure some things out. I need to go inside to make sure Stanley isn’t causing any issues that’ll shut us down before we even get started."
“You don’t really think he would do that, do you?” Ethan asked, clearly skeptical.
“Oh, there isn’t much I would put past him.”
Before Ethan could respond, Kara walked inside without looking back. Caleb's heart broke for both. Ethan just wanted to help his sister get back to herself, and he couldn't do that if she wouldn't let him. And Kara just wanted to keep Ethan out of the line of fire. She had tried the same tactic with him and had finally given in to the fact that it wasn't going to happen.
"Just give her some time, Ethan. She's coming around; it’s just hard to give up the demons and secrets after a decade of keeping them to herself."
"I know. I just...I just want to kill the son of a bitch who did this to her. You know? She used to be so happy. No, you know what, that’s a lie. She used to be happier. Our father and mother have always treated her terribly, so she was never carefree and happy."
"I want her to be happy, too; at least the consolation prize is that the bastard is dead. But, Ethan, I think you need to be prepared for something big. We both know she’s holding something back."
“I know. I just hope she tells me soon.”
“Me too. Before something else happens to her.”
"You really like her, huh?"
"I really do. Are you okay with that?"
"Yeah. She needs someone like you in her life. I just hope she realizes that before it’s too late. Something needs to change and fast."
He couldn’t agree more. Kara was on a precipice, and there was
a big fork in the road. One that if she didn't navigate it correctly, she would be lost to all of them. Caleb watched him walk away and was about to go inside when Ethan called out to him.
"Montgomery? Watch both your backs. I think Kara’s right—our father is capable of anything, and the shit is about to hit the fan on this whole thing."
Ethan was still reeling from the exchange between Kara and their father. He had known that something bad had gone down all those years ago, and he was starting to think that maybe he didn’t want to know the reason Kara had left and tried to never look back. It was obvious that it was something extremely bad because he had never seen anger in Kara like he’d witnessed tonight. Clearly, ten years was a long time to let that anger fester, and it was becoming clear to Ethan that, even though Kara had left, she had not left behind what had happened to her.
The anger and resentment was so profound that he had a hard time focusing on what she had said to their father. Ethan knew that their parents kind of sucked, especially when it came to her. He could never figure out the indifference they had toward her, especially their mother. While their father pretty much equally ignored them, their mother doted on him and completely ignored Kara unless she was in the mood to belittle her. When he was young, he was too self-centered to really pay attention. The older he got, the more he noticed it. He loved his mother, but he hated her for the way she treated Kara, and he became his sister’s lifeline.
As Ethan walked to his car, the words she had spat at their father as the exchange between father and daughter had ensued slowly began to sink in. Kara had given a small hint that might help him figure out what had happened to cause the huge rift. She had mentioned a couple of names that he had discarded as familiar and nothing else until it clicked why he knew the names.
You can't pay me off like Jenkins and Byrnes.
The statement repeated over and over in his head. He knew the two names, but he didn’t know why. Ethan decided to go to the station and see if he could find anybody connected to his father, mother, or Kara with the name Jenkins or Byrnes. He was grateful that Caleb would take Kara home; he was beginning to worry about her for a far different reason than he was used to.
In the Night (Darkness Falls Book 1) Page 13
