“There is a lot I want to say to him too, but I don’t want to piss him off.” Jenny looked down at the floor. “He said I wasn’t allowed to leave and while I’m sure you really could keep things tied up in court until I turn eighteen, I don’t want to risk it. With any luck, he’ll be so distracted by his new wife that he won’t even notice I’m gone…”
“So we just let him get away with all of this shit?” I scoffed. “I don’t think so.”
“It’s not like he’s going to have a change of heart because you call him out on it.” Jenny shrugged. “That’s never worked—we’ve both tried it over the years. I’d rather lose my trust fund than spend the next year of my life worried that I might have to spend what’s left of it with him.”
“Maybe you’re right…” I exhaled sharply.
Jenny did have a point. Our father never listened to reason—he seemed to enjoy making other people miserable. A legal battle would be messy, and our mother wasn’t in any condition to convince a judge that she could take care of Jenny better than our father. She wasn’t much of a fighter, to begin with, and I didn’t want to put her through that unless it was absolutely necessary. My old man had Jenny’s trust fund—there was no reason for him to demand that she live at Sinn Manor until she turned eighteen. A clean break might be better for everyone involved. I could take care of my family. I didn’t need a damn thing from Edgar Sinn, and I could see to it that they didn’t either—even if they deserved to have what was rightfully theirs.
I was stewing in my own anger when my phone lit up, and I saw a message from Leigh—it brought a smile to my face—until I saw what it said.
Leigh: We need to talk.
Damien: Is something wrong?
Leigh: Can I come by your place?
Damien: Aren’t you at work right now?
Leigh: No, I didn’t go to work today. Please, it’s important.
I stared at my phone for a moment as I tried to make sense of Leigh’s message. If she needed to talk and it was important, I wasn’t sure that my house was the right place for that conversation. Jenny would give me some privacy if I asked for it, but I couldn’t ask my mother to do that if she left her room. It was obviously a big deal if Leigh didn’t even go to work, but I had no idea what could be bothering her. We had an amazing night together, and we had talked since then—there was no indication that she regretted what we did. As much as I hated it, there was one place that I knew was empty.
Damien: My family has finished moving into my house. Can you meet me at Sinn Manor?
Leigh: Okay. Shoot me the address…I’m heading out now.
“Hey, I’ve got to leave for a little bit.” I looked up at Jenny after sending Leigh the address to Sinn Manor.
“I figured—your phone was blowing up.” Jenny nodded in understanding.
“Yeah…” I sighed and started to stand.
“When do I get to meet her?” Jenny raised an eyebrow. “She must be pretty special if you’re spending this much time with her.”
“I’m not sure yet.” I shrugged and pushed my phone into my pocket.
I really hope I get a chance to introduce her to you soon—but her messages are worrying me.
There was a nervousness in my stomach when I left my house and headed to Sinn Manor. My mind was trying to come up with every worst-case scenario there was—even if they didn’t make any sense. The night I spent with Leigh meant everything to me, and I was almost certain she felt the same way. I couldn’t make sense of the situation without talking to her, so I tried to quell my thoughts as I drove. The radio didn’t offer enough of a distraction, even when I turned the volume up and found a song that I liked.
I was the first to arrive at Sinn Manor. It was as empty as it was when I left earlier that day. If my father had someone watching it, then he must not have decided to move in immediately. That was a relief. I was coming to terms with biting my tongue for Jenny’s sake, even if the thought of it was eating me up inside. It wasn’t fair for our father to bring devastation to our lives and have it completely ignored, but I could be the bigger man. I couldn’t focus on that anyway—there was too much worry over whatever it was Leigh needed to talk to me about. I couldn’t lose her. I had suffered enough loss for several lifetimes.
She’s here. Hopefully, I’m not about to live out one of those worst-case scenarios.
I walked to the door and opened it when Leigh parked her car. I could sense a difference in her demeanor as soon as she stepped out of the car. There was no confidence in her walk—like she didn’t want to take a single one of the steps she took as she approached. Her posture was one of defeat, and when she raised her head, I saw turmoil in her eyes—and she only made eye contact with me for a second before she looked away. I tried to remain calm. I didn’t want to say something wrong when it was clear that there was a problem.
“Come on in…” I took a step back from the door so she could enter.
Leigh walked into the foyer and stared at the floor when she finally turned to face me. She was fidgeting. Her skin looked paler than normal, like the color had been drained from it. I felt my protective nature begin to overwhelm me. Seeing her like that intensified my nervousness, but all I wanted to do was hug her. It didn’t matter what she had to say. No problem was too big for us to overcome if we cared about each other. I ignored her body language and closed the distance between us, so I could wrap my arms around her. She practically melted into my embrace. That told me the problem wasn’t us—she didn’t try to pull away.
“Whatever it is, we can work through it.” I lifted my hand and put it on the back of her head. “You can tell me when you’re ready.”
“It’s bad.” Leigh grabbed my shirt and twisted the fabric around her fists as she buried her face against my chest. “Really bad…”
“I’ve had my fair share of really bad.” I exhaled sharply. “I’m practically an expert in it.”
“I had no idea this was going to happen.” Her voice was almost raspy. “It wasn’t even something I could have imagined in my worst nightmares…”
“Whatever it is…” I moved my hands to hers and leaned back. “We will figure it out together—just tell me what happened.”
If someone hurt you, we may be working it out while I’m standing trial, but I need to know regardless…
“Our worlds were always destined to collide.” Leigh squeezed her eyes shut. “I just had no idea that they were already on a collision course when I met you.”
“I don’t understand what that means.” I tilted my head inquisitively.
“I know who your father left your mother for.” She slowly opened her eyes, and I saw tears in the corner of each one. “He married—mine.”
“What?” I let go of her hands and took a step back. “What are you saying?”
“My mother finally came home last night.” Leigh’s lips trembled. “She had a wedding band on her finger—and then she introduced me to her new husband.”
“My—my father?” It felt like all of the wind was sucked out of my body as soon as the words left my lips.
“Yes.” Leigh nodded and looked down at the floor. “Edgar Sinn…”
I was shocked into stunned silence. I didn’t know how to respond. Leigh had told me a little bit about her mother and said that she was away on a trip with her new boyfriend—it seemed to be a rather common occurrence. I wasn’t one to judge, even if I did think it was strange that Leigh’s mother randomly disappeared on a regular basis without keeping contact with her daughter. The pieces began to fall into place in my head, but none of it made sense. My father didn’t strike me as the kind of man who could love anyone, much less have a whirlwind romance with someone that turned into an abrupt marriage.
“There has to be more to it.” I shook my head back and forth. “Does your mother have anything he could be after? Money maybe?”
Surely, he has enough of it after raiding Jenny’s trust fund…
“No.” Leigh sighed. “My mother liter
ally has nothing—she never has. My grandparents paid for the house we live in. She’s always wanted to find a rich husband…”
“There’s no way my father would have married someone without a prenup.” I felt my jaw tensing up. “Something else is going on here.”
“I don’t know what it could be. I’m sorry, Damien.” Leigh lifted her head, and our eyes met. “Your mother is suffering right now because mine is chasing a fantasy.”
“It’s not your fault.” I extended my arms and pulled Leigh back in for another hug. “If I was responsible for everything my father did, I wouldn’t be able to look at myself in the mirror anymore. She made her own choices—I just don’t think she has any idea what the hell she’s gotten herself into.”
All I could do was comfort Leigh. I was used to my father’s asinine decisions and the damage they caused to everyone around him. Leigh’s mother would soon realize that her fairy tale wasn’t real. Edgar Sinn was no knight in shining armor with money to burn. He always had an agenda, and it was never an honorable one. If Leigh’s mother had fallen for his charm and become a victim of his charisma, then she wouldn’t even know to look past it. My mother never could, or maybe the years of being treated like shit made her feel like that was all she deserved. There was no way that I was going to stand by and let my father ruin someone else—no way in hell I was going to let Leigh get caught up in that. Her mother would have to live with her own decisions, but Leigh didn’t deserve to be a part of it.
“I just got a text message from my mother.” Leigh stared at her phone. “I’m terrified to even read it…”
“Maybe they got an annulment.” I tried to force a smile.
“We can dream…” She sighed and slid her finger across the screen, and her eyes clouded over.
“I’m guessing it isn’t good news.” I tilted my head inquisitively.
“She wants me to meet her tomorrow—for dinner before she takes me to see our new house.” Leigh exhaled sharply and looked around the room. “I think I’m already there…”
“You shouldn’t even think about moving in here.” I quickly shook my head back and forth. “Your mother made the decision to marry him—I don’t want you anywhere near that asshole. The only reason I even asked you to meet me here was because I knew it would be empty and provide us with some privacy.”
“I can’t afford to move out on my own right now.” Leigh’s eyebrows furrowed. “But maybe my mom will let me stay at our old house. It’s not like she’s going to be living there anymore…”
“That sounds like a much better option.” I nodded.
I couldn’t shake the worry. I knew my father had some sort of agenda, and although Leigh’s mother had chosen her fate, she didn’t deserve it. Leigh certainly didn’t need to get tangled up in my father’s cruel game, whatever it was—she needed to be as far away from him as possible. More importantly, my father couldn’t find out that we were together. I had managed to close every door that allowed him access to my life except for Jenny and my mother. I wasn’t going to open another one for him—Leigh was not going to become a pawn for him to try to manipulate just so he could fuck with me.
I didn’t claw my way to freedom outside of my father’s sphere of control for nothing. I control my own destiny now.
Chapter Thirteen
Leigh
I was scared that I would be guilty by association when Damien found out that my mother was the woman who caused his family so much pain. Maybe he didn’t care for his father, but his mother was mourning the loss of the man she thought she was going to spend the rest of her life with. There had to be some collateral damage—even if Damien thought his father was the devil himself. Damien was shouldering the burden of it, all because my mother wanted to be swept off her feet by some rich guy who could give her the life she always wanted. She got her wish—but I didn’t think it was going to be the happily ever after she always wanted.
Not with a man like Edgar Sinn…
“Would you like a drink?” Damien walked into the living room and opened the liquor cabinet. “You look like you need one.”
“Yeah.” I sighed and nodded. “I don’t even care if it’s wine at this point.”
“There are a couple of bottles in here—expensive ones that my father was probably saving for a special occasion.” Damien pulled one out and popped the cork. “Fuck him.”
“I’m sure my mother will enjoy shopping for a replacement.” I took the glass that Damien offered.
“She’ll have plenty of shopping to do.” Damien took a sip of his wine. “We took everything that meant something to my mother when we moved her out.”
Damien wasn’t lying. It was obvious as I walked around Sinn Manor that it had been pillaged. If I walked in without knowing what happened, I would have assumed someone had robbed the place. They even took most of the photographs from the walls, except for the ones that featured my mother’s new husband. There was a picture in the living room that was obviously a family portrait at one point. The rest of the family had been torn out, and the picture of Edgar Sinn was haphazardly shoved back into the frame. Damien and his sister had purged the house of every last piece of evidence of them ever living there, and I couldn’t blame them. Their mother deserved so much more than a broken heart and that was all she got for all of the years she spent bending over backwards for a man Damien thought was the devil himself.
Damien and I sat in the living room and talked while we drank our wine. I didn’t feel any better about the situation our parents had put us in, but the agony that had been consuming me since I found out began to fade. I couldn’t change what happened, but I had always been strong enough to withstand my mother’s antics. It would be the most difficult one I had ever been forced to overcome, but I would have someone by my side. Damien truly was an amazing man. He made the situation feel like it wasn’t the end of the world, even though it changed everything in an instant. He was the calm I needed and being with him felt right, no matter what kind of emotional tornado was spinning around us.
“Do you want more wine?” I reached for my glass and motioned to the empty one Damien was holding.
“Sure.” He smiled and handed me the glass.
I poured two more glasses of what Damien said was very expensive wine. It hit the spot in more ways than one. I hadn’t eaten anything, so the effects were a little stronger than normal, but I didn’t care. A slight hint of respite was better than tasting the fury of my mother’s carelessness every time I tried to take a breath. I handed Damien his glass once they were poured and walked around the living room—looking at stuff I had already seen as I tried to get the courage to accept the things I couldn’t change. Nothing I could say or do would pull my mother away from the dream she had always wanted—all I could do was try to be there for her when she realized it was a nightmare just like I already did.
“I’m sorry you got dragged into this.” Damien walked up behind me and put his arms around my waist. “But, I’m glad you’re here right now—with me.”
“Me too.” I felt a warm sensation sweep through me—his arms had a way of making me relax, even in the face of turmoil. “Thank you.”
The wine is helping as well…
“Would you like to see the room I grew up in?” He stepped to the side and took my hand. “There isn’t much left in it, but this will probably be the only chance you get…”
“Are you just trying to lure me to the bedroom?” I narrowed my eyes at him and felt a smile trying to form on the edge of my lips—the first one since my mother broke her news to me.
“Maybe…” He took a step back but didn’t let go of my hand. “We have the house to ourselves, and neither of us have any reason to leave right now—you certainly aren’t driving for a while.”
“That’s true.” I looked down at my glass of wine, and the smile finally came.
A smile couldn’t fix everything but dwelling on it wasn’t going to change the world. It was just going to leave us both trapped in the
harsh winds the tornado was sending our way. Damien led me up a huge staircase where I saw more of the damage they caused while they shredded the pieces of their past. The house itself was fine. The things they didn’t want were still intact. Glaringly absent were hints of anyone that lived there before, other than Edgar Sinn. I wondered if he would care or consider their destruction a gift—he could move his new wife in immediately. The callousness of throwing Damien’s mother out on the streets so he could do that was a level of cruelty I couldn’t even begin to understand.
“This is it…” Damien pushed a door open, and we walked inside. “Like, I said—there’s not much left.”
“It’s as bare as the rest of the house.” I raised an eyebrow and nodded as I looked around the room.
“Yeah, but it’s been that way for a while.” Damien shrugged. “I didn’t leave much of my stuff behind the first time I left.”
“There are plenty of rooms in this house.” I walked over and looked at the bookshelf. “I assume your parents weren’t salivating for the opportunity to turn this one into an office or a gym after you left.”
“No, I don’t even think they opened the door.” He chuckled under his breath. “It’s a good thing I didn’t leave a pizza box under the bed or anything…”
“You didn’t want any of your books?” I ran my fingers along the spines. “Some classic reading material here—especially this magazine you’ve got tucked behind the literature.”
“Uh, yeah—you might not want to look at that.” Damien walked over and put his hand on mine.
“I’m sure you just got it for the articles, right?” I nudged him and grinned.
“Of course.” He feigned innocence and slid his hand up my arm as he pressed his lips to my ear. “None of those girls have anything on you, trust me.”
Damien pulled me into a tight embrace and crushed my lips beneath his. I needed that kiss a lot more than I realized—proof that the passion was not going to die out because our situations had changed. He was my first, and what we shared would be special no matter what happened, but I didn’t want to lose him. He meant more to me that I even realized when that reality loomed on the tip of the truth. I was glad that I had been honest with him and didn’t try to hide it. I faced my fears, and my connection with Damien felt stronger because of it. When Damien’s lips finally pulled away from mine, I didn’t feel the weight of the world on my shoulders.
Devious Intentions (Carson Cove Sandals Book 3) Page 11
