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Chapter 28 Eden
“Here.”
I look down at the bag of peas Geoffrey’s holding out to me. “I guess it’s more noticeable than I thought.”
“I’ve seen worse.” He shrugs. “Not that it matters. The intent is still the same regardless if it leaves a mark or not.”
“I’m not making excuses for Cain. I was protecting Damien.”
“I understand.”
“Why can’t he?”
The moment we came home, Damien locked himself in his office and he’s been down there ever since. I get that he’s mad about me lying, but his grudge is uncalled for.
I lied for him. I can’t fathom why he considers it such a horrible violation of trust.
Lying to protect someone you care about isn’t wrong.
“Forgive me if I’m out of line, but Damien isn’t a stupid man. I think he understands perfectly well what your purpose was.”
“Then why is he so angry when I was only trying to look out for him?”
He lifts his shoulder in a shrug. “Sometimes what we dislike in others is the very same thing we loathe in ourselves.”
After spending the better part of the evening tossing and turning, I make my way down to Damien’s office.
Geoffrey’s words have been reverberating through my mind all night.
And call it a hunch or really profound intuition…but I’m thinking I know exactly why Damien is the way he is.
During his speech, he mentioned Cain was his best friend and said they were almost inseparable at one point.
I saw the way Damien attacked Cain earlier today after he slapped me. He looked like he wanted to kill him and if the governor wasn’t there to break it up…I think he would have.
Just like he killed Cain’s father and brother.
He killed them because they hurt Cain.
And then Cain turned around and threatened to turn him in for it.
No wonder Damien has such trust issues. He was betrayed by someone he cared about.
It’s dark when I enter his office. The only light comes from the fish tank Damien’s chair is facing.
I find his fascination with them endearing. He’s always watching them, feeding them, and making sure the water’s clean.
I don’t know much about taking care of fish, but it seems like he gives them a great life and they’re happy.
Well, apart from the big fish he keeps behind the divider. That one reminds me of Damien because he always looks so grumpy and miserable.
I prop myself on top of his desk. “Maybe he’s cranky because he doesn’t have any friends.”
He tilts his head in my direction. “Thought you’d be sleeping by now.”
“I can’t sleep.” I play with a loose string on the end of my pajama top. “I’d say I’m sorry for lying, but that would only be another lie.” I wait for him to look at me before I say, “I get why you’re upset. I know why you have trust issues. But I’m not Ca—”
He turns his chair around. “You don’t know a thing about me, Eden.”
“Fair enough, but I know you’re a good person.”
He laughs darkly. “What makes you so sure about that?”
“If you weren’t a good person, you wouldn’t have told me the truth about Cain. You also wouldn’t be teaching me how to be a stronger person. And you definitely wouldn’t have saved Geoffrey, or—”
“Enough.” He stands up. “Everything I do has a purpose, and it’s always self-serving. I told you about Cain so you wouldn’t be in my way when I take him down. I hired Geoffrey because I needed a servant and everyone else on the island was either too injured or dead after the hurricane.” He places his arms on either side of my body. “And I’m teaching you how to fend for yourself because I can’t stand to be around weakness.” His lip curls. “Pathetic people disgust me.”
I swallow hard. I know he’s only trying to push me away because I’m getting too close. “I—”
“Don’t,” he snaps. “Don’t delude yourself into thinking I’m something I’m not, or that this thing between us is more than sex and a common goal, little lamb. Trust me, it’s not. And the second I’m gone, you’ll be grateful for it.”
Geoffrey was right. The size of the bruise doesn’t matter…it’s the intent behind it.
Unlike Cain, Damien didn’t have to hit me to leave a mark.
“Right,” I whisper, trying my hardest to keep it together because the only thing I have left is my pride. “Now that we got that out of the way, you should know that Cain wants to have you arrested on polling day.” I lift up his arm and hop off the desk. “Evidently he’s friends with Chief Trejo and he’s going to meet with him soon. I’m not sure when, all I know is he wants you in jail for killing his family.”
I snap my fingers as I walk toward the door. “Oh. He’s also slipping me a phone tomorrow so I can communicate with him. I kindly ask that you don’t take it away from me, because I’d really like to not get slapped and finger banged against my will so hard it hurts to walk again.”
His eyes narrow. “He—”
“Nope.” I hold up a hand. “Don’t worry about me, pal. I’m good. And now that you’ve made it perfectly clear what this is and isn’t between us. I think it’s best you handle your shit with Cain your way, and I handle mine my way. Our goal might be common, but it doesn’t mean we have to take the same path and update each other on our journeys along the way.”
“Fine.” His expression is so hard it could be carved from stone.
“Great.” I pause when I reach the door. I hate that his rejection stings so much. “It’s a good thing you have your fish. I hope they keep you warm and—” A scream lodges in my throat as I turn around. The big fish he keeps behind the divider is devouring all the other fish. It’s the most savage thing I’ve ever seen.
Damien flashes me a smile. “You were saying?”