by Lynda Aicher
Her father took a sip of his scotch before continuing. “So when will you be returning to Eric? We did our best to pacify him when you left, but I’m not sure if he’s still willing to take you back. I could throw in a promotion and raise if you need the help.”
He couldn’t have shocked her more if he’d slapped her. She knew her mouth was hanging open, but there was no way she could close it. They didn’t get it at all. The pain of their latest betrayal hurt deep in her chest, making her suck in a breath in an attempt to ease the ache that seemed to grow with each shallow inhale she was able to take.
“Kendra,” her mother snapped. “Your father is trying to help you. You could at least thank him after the way you muddled up the best thing you had going in your life.”
Kendra snapped back, her focus returning with the biting words of her mother. “Really? That’s what you believe?” The cool, hard tone of her voice and rigid set of her shoulders must have alerted her parents that they’d said something wrong. She didn’t even try to hide her disgust, knowing her face showed everything she was feeling. “I had no idea you really thought that low of me.”
Her father sighed, one of those deep-chest ones that suggested he was searching for patience. “You know that’s not what your mother meant.”
“No? Then tell me, what did you mean, Mother?” Kendra cocked her head, nailing the woman with a glare that challenged her parents in a way she’d never done before.
Eleanor ran her hand over her perfectly coiled hair, superficially smoothing the blond strands back to the sleek French twist that looked as perfect now as it had when she’d left the house all those months ago. “Of course I don’t think poorly of you, dear. I just want the best for you, and you and Eric look fabulous together. Plus, he was very generous after you quit that awful school counselor job to lounge around his penthouse all day. You wouldn’t even help me with any of my charity events when I asked.”
“That’s because he wouldn’t let me!” Kendra shot out of her seat, her anger venting at her mother’s blindness. But then, she was the one who helped to hone that blindness. It was past time they saw the truth. “Eric made me quit my job that I loved. He held me prisoner in his penthouse, taking away everything that was mine until I had to depend on him. He beat me until I was afraid for my life. That’s why I ran.”
Her final words hung in the stunned silence, her parents staring wide-eyed and ashen at her. She choked back a sob and sank back to her chair, the outburst having sucked the strength from her legs. Her hands shook in her lap, her stomach cramping as the tension in the room rose until the air practically crackled with suppressed energy.
Her father cleared his throat, the ice cubes clinking in his glass as he shifted on the ill-fitting sofa. His brows lowered, pairing with the disgruntled line of his lips. “I don’t understand why you need to make up these lies. We raised you better than that.”
Just when she thought her parents couldn’t disappoint her further, they did. She slumped back in her chair, not even bothered by her mother’s frown of disapproval at her poor posture. “They’re not lies,” she said, resting her head in her hand, the defeat morphing her voice. “For the first time in years I’m telling you the truth and you still don’t believe me.” She brushed at the errant tear that slipped from her eye, annoyed at its untimely appearance.
“B-but,” Eleanor stammered, showing the first hint that the conversation unsettled her. Only Kendra didn’t know in what way. “I don’t understand. If Eric was really abusing—” her lip curled in disgust at the word, “—you, why didn’t you say something before?”
Kendra bolted up, her arm swiping toward her parents. “This is why. I didn’t think you’d believe me. In your eyes, Eric is perfect and I, your daughter, am nothing without him. The only time I have ever had your approval was when I was with Eric—and then, it was because of him, not me.” She thrust to her feet, too agitated to sit.
“That’s not true, dear,” her mother said, but there was a trace of doubt in her voice. “We love you. Now sit down.”
Ignoring the command, Kendra paced to the window to get some distance. She couldn’t breathe being that close to them. She hugged her arms across her chest and leaned against the window frame, the defeat sinking her low. “Then why don’t you believe me?” She spoke to the lacy sheer curtain, unable to stand the disappointment that was plastered across her parents’ faces. The slight waft of cool air coming off the window was refreshing as she absorbed the chill into her numb bones.
“What do you expect us to do, Kendra?” her father asked. “He’s never been anything but respectful to all of us, and out of the blue you claim he beat and abused you. This is after you just up and disappeared with barely a word to anyone for the last ten months. Do your actions warrant our belief?”
Ever the logical one, even when it came to family. She shouldn’t have expected more from her father, yet she did. “I thought the fact that I was your daughter would be enough.”
The silence that fell was long and uncomfortable. The clink of ice cubes was the only sound that echoed in the room as they each waited for the other to say something.
She stared through the sheers at the hazy pool of light cast by the lone street lamp until the vague outline of a shape took form. Yanking the curtain aside, she couldn’t believe what she saw. Her breath caught in her chest and she blinked just to ensure she wasn’t imagining it. The tall strong form of Deklan leaned against the light pole, waiting out there for her.
He was there.
She blinked rapidly, her throat aching with suppressed emotions. His head was turned in her direction and he pushed away from the pole before giving her a nod. That was it. His hands were stuffed in the pockets of his leather jacket, his breath appearing in a white cloud to float over his head with each exhale. He made no move to come toward to the house, only stood there all stoic and male, staring back at her.
She didn’t know how he knew she’d be there, but right then it didn’t matter. She hadn’t realized how much she’d needed his support until she’d seen him. Yet he wasn’t charging in to save her; he was simply there. Remembering the buzz of her phone from earlier, she jerked her phone from her pocket and read the text message from Deklan. I’m here for you.
That was it. No admonishments or anger, just support. What she needed. The smile that lit her face must have seemed completely out of place to her parents. She read the needed words one more time then returned her phone to her pocket.
She would finish this.
Kendra addressed her parents with her newfound strength. “I guess being your daughter isn’t enough after all.” She walked back to the sitting area, knowing what she had to do. “I was hoping my words would be enough for you, but I see that they aren’t. You want proof, so here it is.”
She turned then, lifting her clothing to expose her back. The soft inhale from her mother, the muttered curse from her father let her know that they saw the scars Eric had left on her. She lowered her shirt and eased around to face her parents.
“Kendra,” her mother said softly from behind the hand that hovered against her lips. There was a shine in her eyes that made them appear bluer than usual. “We didn’t know. I’m so sorry.”
Her father cleared his throat once again, but this time there was a dryness to it that he chased with the last of his scotch. He looked to Kendra, the level set of his gaze showing the beginnings of a rage that made grown men cower. “Eric did that to you?”
“Yes,” she said, keeping her voice flat. “Those scars are from the last time he whipped me. I left as soon as they were healed enough for me to move.”
The brows over her father’s deep brown eyes dropped into a menacing scowl.
“Why didn’t you come to us?” her mother asked, the confusion and hurt showing.
Kendra’s shoulders sagged, whether from exhaustion or relief she didn’t know. “I was too embarrassed and ashamed,” she told them honestly. “I didn’t want to lose your respect.”<
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Thomas shoved to his feet and stalked back to slam his empty glass on the surface of the bar, making Eleanor jump. “Now it’s my turn to ask you, do you really think that low of us?” He braced his hands on the edge of the bar, his suit jacket pulling tight across his shoulders.
“No,” she answered quietly. “But you didn’t believe me now until I showed you proof.” She sucked in a deep breath for courage. “And there’s more.”
Her father turned around, his face a mask of suppressed fury. “More?” he asked coolly. “What aren’t you telling us, Kendra?”
Here came the hardest part—admitting her own guilt. “Eric will tell you I—” she faltered, swallowing down the nerves that threatened to stop her. “That I asked for it. That I like the pain.” She rushed out the last words, squeezing her eyes closed to block out her parents’ reaction.
“Why would he say that?” her mother asked.
“That’s ridiculous,” her father barked. “Why would we believe something like that?”
Kendra opened her eyes and forged on. “Because he has copies of my membership to a local BDSM club.” The heat crept up the back of her neck to engulf her face in a warm flush. She never in her whole life wanted to admit that to her parents. There were just things your parents didn’t need to know. Ever.
“A what club?” Baffled, her mother shook her head, her brows raised in question. “I don’t understand.”
Kendra almost smiled at that. Almost. Of course her mother wouldn’t know what that acronym meant. “A sex club, Mother. BDSM stands for Bondage, Dominance, Sadism, Masochism.”
Eleanor’s eyes widened as understanding dawned. “Oh,” she breathed. She licked her lips and attempted to collect herself. “Well...umm, okay. I still don’t get the connection.”
Dropping back into the chair, Kendra kept her eyes on the floor. She couldn’t look at her father. “I’m a submissive. If you ask Eric, he will tell you that I asked him to hit me.”
Her mother gasped. “That can’t be true. Can it?”
God, how did she answer her mother’s plea, especially when the answer wasn’t what her parents wanted to hear? But she had to continue. There was no turning back now.
“Unfortunately, it is.” Kendra dared a glance at her mother to see the disappointment she’d expected. “But I never asked to be abused. What started out as consensual quickly turned into something dark and controlling that I didn’t know how to get out of.” She picked at her cuticles, reverting back to the small flicks of pain for focus.
“Tell me exactly what he did to you, Kendra.” Her father growled from across the room in his “you must obey” voice that brought her instantly back to her childhood. He’d always held an authority that none of them had ever dared to buck when that voice was used. Kendra wasn’t shocked to realize it still worked even now.
“You don’t want to know all of it,” she answered, keeping her head down, her confession told to her hands. “The real abuse didn’t start until after I moved in with him. He took away all of my credit cards, forced me to quit my job by threatening to show the school pictures of me bound and naked.” She sucked in a breath. “He made me his slave. I wasn’t allowed to wear clothes in the house. I couldn’t do anything without his permission and was punished for infractions. If I really made him mad, he would beat me then chain me to the bed until the bruises and marks healed.”
The harsh curse that left Thomas jerked Kendra upright. He father rarely swore. “I’ll kill the bastard,” he growled, storming to the desk.
“Thomas. What are you doing?”
Her mother’s inquiry went unanswered as her father picked up the phone and dialed.
Kendra wiped away the tears that fell at her relief. Her parents believed her. Her father was angry for her. They might not always show it, but this proved that they really did love her. As did her father’s next actions when he ordered Eric barred from the company, his termination effective immediately.
Afterwards, her father walked over to her and bent on one knee beside her chair. “Kendra, my daughter,” he said, his voice thick and gruff. “I am so sorry. I had no idea.”
“Oh, Dad.” Kendra dove into her father’s arms like a child, seeking his comfort and love. “I’m sorry too,” she mumbled into his suit collar. The spicy scent of his aftershave brought back the instant memories of times when the hugs came more freely and she hadn’t doubted his love.
“We would never want that for you,” her mother said from behind Kendra, having left her seat on the couch. “We just didn’t know.”
Kendra eased out of her father’s embrace, using the back of her hand to wipe away her tears. She stood to be engulfed in another hug from her mother. “I know, Mom. I didn’t let anyone see what was happening.”
Her mother pulled back, swiping at her own tears. “Are you okay now? Are you coming home?”
Kendra sniffed, and her father was there with a box of tissues. She gave a low chuckle, thanking him as she cleaned her face. “I’m doing good now,” she answered. “But I’m not coming back. I’m happy in Minneapolis. I’m going to stay there for a while.”
“Are you going to press charges against Eric?”
She looked to her father, his brows still drawn in a stern frown. “No. There’s no point. I just want him out of my life.”
“Why are you telling us this now?” her mother asked. “After all this time, what happened to make you come to us now? Did he hurt you again?” The sharp bite of fury that crossed her face with the question warmed Kendra. Even delicate Eleanor was ready to charge to her defense.
“No and yes,” Kendra answered, gathering her courage for the last admission. “Eric found me in Minneapolis. It’s okay,” she reassured them when the anger flashed across both of their faces. “I have friends there who stopped him before he could physically hurt me. But he threatened me with something that would hurt our entire family. I couldn’t let him do that.”
“What?” her father demanded. “What else does he have on you?”
Shocked, she stared at him for a moment before asking, “How’d you know that?”
“Because that’s how weasels like him work. They only have courage against the weak or by gaining leverage by some other means. There had to be another reason why you’d stay with him for so long. What is it?”
She paced back to the window, taking strength from the outline of Deklan through the sheers. “Eric has a damaging video of me that he took without my knowledge. It shows me as a submissive bound and begging to be...hit.”
Her father cursed again, and she smiled at the window. The perverse satisfaction at her father’s anger was something she didn’t try to analyze.
“For years he’s threatened to show it to you. Now he’s upped the ante and demanded I return to him or he’s going to sneak it into the video montage Chris is creating for your anniversary party.”
“He wouldn’t,” her mother snapped. “That would be beyond cruel.”
“Eric is not a nice man, Mother. He has everyone fooled by his aristocratic front, but it’s all a show that hides his true character.” A chill shuddered through her at the memory of just how cruel he could be.
“I just never imagined...” Eleanor trailed off.
“No one did.” Kendra turned to her parents, wiping her damp palms on her jeans. “I’m not going back to him.”
“Of course you’re not,” her father growled. “That’s not even an option.”
She nodded, giving her father a smile. “I realized the only chance I had at stopping Eric was to take away the power of his threat. By telling you my shame, he can’t use that anymore.”
“But will that stop him?” Her mother looked as horrified as Kendra felt at the prospect of the video being aired at the party. “How do we get the video back?”
Kendra had thought about that long and hard during her drive to Chicago. She didn’t have the leverage or ability to do it herself or she’d have done it a long time ago. She’d torn the pent
house apart looking for it, knowing Eric would never leave it where she could find it. “I don’t know, but I know someone who might be able to help us with that.”
“What do you mean?” Thomas narrowed his eyes at Kendra.
This was supposed to be the easier part, but Kendra’s pulse raced once again. “I met someone in Minneapolis who has helped me through a lot of things. Most of all he’s helped me accept who I am. He’s ex-military with connections that could help us.”
“I have connections.” Her father looked affronted by her suggestion.
“Not his kind.” She held up her hand at his rising outrage. “Deklan isn’t bad. Don’t worry. He just...” Crap, she wasn’t explaining this well. Taking the last and final plunge, she met her father’s hard stare. “Would you like to meet him?”
“He’s here?” Her mother looked over her shoulder, as if Deklan was going to jump out from behind the couch and knife them all.
“He means something to you, doesn’t he?” Her father analyzed Kendra, leaving her feeling completely exposed.
“Yes. He means a lot to me.”
“Where’d you meet him?”
“He lives in my condo complex.” She smiled at being able to tell the truth about that. There was no way she was going to divulge all of her dirty, dark secrets to her parents. They already knew too much.
“And he’s here?”
“Outside. I’ll go get him.” She left the room before they could object or grill her further. Kendra hurried down the hall, anxious now to see Deklan. She had no idea if he could really help them with the video issue, but that didn’t even matter. After the last hour of soul-bearing exposure with her parents, she needed his arms around her.
She wanted his strength beside her.
Opening the door into the chilly night, she stepped onto the porch. Deklan was already moving toward her, crossing over the lawn with long, sure strides. If she’d doubted before, she knew now with certainty that she loved him more than anything.
He stepped onto the porch and a second later she was embraced in his arms, his warm breath heating her temple as he squeezed the breath from her. She was okay with that. In fact, she reveled in the honesty that one action showed and she held him just as tight.
