The devil's advocate

Chapter 41 Damien

“So, my mom… Karen, was Kristy’s—my biological mother’s—cousin?”

Her eyes search my face, looking for a kernel of something tangible to untie all the knots she’s in.

Eden wants answers, and she’s entitled to them. Unfortunately, I only have the bare minimum…because the pieces of the puzzle were stolen by a psychopath.

And he’s the only one who can put it back together for her…which is the sole reason he’s still breathing.

“Yeah. That’s what Kristy said.” I already told her everything I know. I wish I had more to tell her. Something to make this a little easier to process.

She sits back down in the chair and draws in a few deep breaths. Her anxiety must be at an all-time high right now. Her universe has just been permanently altered.

And yet, she’s staying strong…when she has every reason to break.

I’d be proud of her…but I no longer have that right. Not after Cain’s confirmation.

There was a small glimmer of hope when Eden told me she believed Kristy’s husband still would have killed her despite what I did. As fucked up as it is, I was hoping she was right…but that ship has sailed.

Because nothing will ever take away from the fact that I introduced Cain to Mrs. Miller. I was the one who presented the forbidden fruit on a platter and told him to take a bite.

I told him how satisfying it was.

And then I protected him when he swallowed it whole.

It’s easy to absolve someone for having a hand in the death of a woman you’ve never met. It’s a different ballgame entirely when that woman is your own mother…and a mother’s love is all you’ve ever wanted.  

There’s no forgiveness for me, and I’d never expect it or manipulate her into giving me any.

I’ve earned my throne in Hell, and I will gladly burn in the flames...I just want to make sure Cain’s roasting in them first.

“How long have you known?”

I assume Eden’s question is directed at me because she hasn’t looked at Cain since I told her the truth.

“I was seventeen when she told me—”

“No.” She glares at Cain. “How long have you known I was her daughter?”

He doesn’t answer. Bad fucking move.

When I start pushing him forward, he shouts, “Wait. I’m going to tell her the truth, goddammit.”

“You better,” I seethe. “Or I’ll make sure your death is even more brutal than the one you deserve.”

He inhales sharply. “I’ve known about you the whole time.”

“The whole time,” she repeats, her tone flat. Void of any emotion. “Okay, well, I already know you don’t feel bad—so I guess that just leaves me with one more question.”

“I do feel bad, E—”

“Piranha,” I hiss in his ear. “Just give her facts, not another load of your bullshit. Fuck knows she’s had more than enough of it already.”

“Why did you marry Karen?” Her lips purse. “If you knew she adopted me and was Kristy’s cousin…” Her eyes widen. “That’s why you killed her, isn’t it? Because she found out you murd—”

“No,” Cain says sharply. “Karen already knew what I did. She was working as one of the assistant prosecutors for the district attorney when Kristy was in jail.” He shakes his head. “Hold on, let me start from the begi

He shrugs. “I didn’t think anything of it until I received a list of employees from the prosecutor’s office and saw Karen’s name.” His jaw tics. “I got scared, I figured her working for the prosecutor meant she had enough pull to throw the case for her cousin. I decided to approach her in a parking lot one night when she was working late and ask her point blank if she knew Kristy. When she refused to answer, I threatened to turn her in for working on a case with an obvious conflict of interest.”

A smile stretches across his lips. “She called me a punk kid and said she would report me if I didn’t leave her alone. Then I asked her how her daughter would feel if she knew her mommy was helping to put her real mommy in jail.” He rolls his eyes. “We went tit for tat for a while until she finally admitted she wanted Kristy gone for good. She’d only recently found out Kristy lived in Black Hallows and didn’t want her making any waves. She had plans to become District Attorney in the next ten years. Last thing she needed was a family member dragging her to court, claiming she was a baby stealer.”

Eden’s brows knit together. “I guess after that, you two started dating secret—”

Cain chuckles. “We never dated. Never even so much as kissed apart from the wedding day. We both liked pussy. In fact, it was the only thing we ever agreed on.”

She worries her lower lip between her teeth. “Then why did you two get married?”

“Because she did me a favor, one I promised to repay one day. And I did, years later when she ran for district attorney.”

“What kind of favor?”

Dread punches my gut. Favors for Cain are never the good kind.

Cain falters. “Damien? A word please.”

“Sure, step into my office. Oh, look. We’re already here, shitbag.”

“Listen, I don’t think telling Eden this part will help matters,” he whispers harshly. “In fact, I’m positive it will only make things worse.”

For him or Eden?

“Don’t you dare,” Eden says, slamming her hand on the desk. “Don’t either of you treat me like I’m a child. Not when you—” She points to Cain. “Killed my family. And you—” She points to me. “Lied to the police to protect him, and then kept the truth about my birth mother from me.” Her nostrils flare. “Tell me what happened, Cain. All of it. It’s the least you can fucking do, you murderous, manipulating, piece of shit.”

I jut my chin toward Eden. “You heard her. Start talking.”

His expression hardens. “Perhaps I should take my chances with the piranha.”

“Fine by me—”

“No,” Eden yells. “Tell me the truth.” Desperation shades her eyes. “Please, Cain.”

Frustration skitters up my back. Even now he’s somehow found a way to control her.

Give him an inch, and he’ll wrap a mile’s worth of vile around your throat.

“Of course, sweetheart. Whatever you need.” The groove in his forehead deepens. “I asked Karen to talk to Kristy’s husband.” He looks sheepish. “I wanted her to persuade him to bail Kristy out of jail. I had her tell him that if he did, I’d write him a check to cover the bail, plus another forty-thousand after I received my father’s life insurance policy. It was no surprise he agreed. After he found out his wife was cheating on him with not one, but two teenage boys, his ego was bruised. He wanted her gone more than I did. He thought I was doing him a favor.”

The muscles in my chest tighten when Eden makes a painful sound deep in her throat. “And so her abusive husband became your perfect fall guy.”

Cain nods. “Not that it matters in the grand scheme of things, but I killed him, too.”

Considering Kristy was beaten to death, and all her scumbag husband got was a shotgun to the head, I’d say he got off way easier.

“Before or after you killed her?”

I’m not sure what difference the order makes, but Eden lurches up from her chair. “Did you kill him before or after you killed her, Cain?”