Treachery

Luca

The maelstrom struck again.

Harder this time.

More violently.

Utter chaos gripping at my feet as I was dragged beneath waters I never willingly entered.

And while my mouth opened to drag in a breath that would never come, and my eyes opened to see the surface of the water rush away until I was ensnared in a pitch-black abyss, I couldn’t move my arms this time to rise above, to swim parallel to shore, to do much of anything because my hands had been tied long before ever knew I needed to fight.

Ta

On one hand, I’m almost happy to learn what he’s done. It’s cleared up a lot of questions that had been ru

But on the other hand, I’m pretty sure what he’s done is so far beyond the pale that I can never forgive him.

Sadly, had it just been what happened at Yale, if it had just been what he’d done to me with everything that has happened with Clayton, maybe - maybe - I could see past the fucked up games he’s played and give him the chance to explain. But the one part he’ll never be able to make up for is not telling me my father was in danger.

You can replace a lot in life. Material objects are a dime a dozen. Maybe not rare artifacts and pictures from your youth, but everything else carries very little value when compared to what truly has meaning. Most items can be replaced, repurchased, recreated in some factory somewhere by people who care little for the crafting.

What you can’t replace are the people you love. There is no value that can be placed on my father’s life, no amount of money, no good deed, no person who can step in to make me forget what I’ve lost.

My parents were everything to me.

Ta

But my father? He could have warned me about that. Could have sent some kind of message that gave me time to warn my dad. He could have made a choice to look beyond whatever the fuck it is he wants and given me the chance to change how my life has been permanently altered.

The crap with Clayton is bad. What Ta

Ta

The first year, we didn’t spend that much time together at all. After the wedding, we went on a honeymoon that was awkward as hell and short-lived. I blamed myself for most of it. I was too worried about my mom, hated being so far away from her while she was sick. I wasn’t focused on my new husband because I was too panicked about her.

Clayton seemed to understand. But then he got sick during the honeymoon, and it was a relief to have a reason to return home early.

After that, Clayton left to start his business while I remained in Georgia to be with my parents. We lived apart for a long time. So it made sense that when my mom finally passed and I moved to live with him that things would be awkward.

He was cheating on me by then. He didn’t try to hide it, and I blamed myself for it because I was distraught over my mother’s death and worried for my dad. Truthfully - and it took me a long time to realize this - I didn’t care that he was cheating. But then, I never really loved him.

Still, I tried to fix it. I clung onto him because there was nothing else for me. My dad was struggling with the loss of my mom and his failed business. I didn’t want to put more pressure on him by needing help myself. So I tried to make my marriage work. Tried to seduce my husband into wanting me again. Tried everything...and failed.

I won’t lie and claim it wasn’t a bruise to the ego to be unwanted by the man I was married to. It hurt. Knocked me down a peg. Made me question myself in more ways than I’d like to admit. But I was weak back then, already battered and bruised by what happened to my family.

A smarter woman would have left. I should have left. But I didn’t. And that’s entirely my fault.

I allowed weakness to make my decisions for me.

I allowed pain to lock me in place.

Worst of all, I allowed an assault on my pride by accepting a husband that didn’t want me.

If that wasn’t bad enough, then my father died, and I clung to Clayton even harder because he was all I had left, only to be tossed aside because he had fallen in love with his secretary.

It almost feels good to know the woman he left me for doesn’t actually love him back. That she was paid to seduce him and that she has every intention of testifying against him so that I can walk away with enough to survive on.

It almost feels good.

But that doesn’t mean I should forgive Ta

If anything, he’s as much to blame as me.

Beyond all that, however, is the fact he didn’t warn me about my dad. When all is said and done, that alone is unforgiveable.

A knock at my door causes my head to turn its direction. “Fuck off, Ta

I don’t want to see him right now. Can’t stand the thought of hearing his voice or listening to whatever else it is he has to say. Knowing him, he’ll give me some ridiculous reason for what he’s done that will only piss me off more.

The door pops open regardless of what I yelled, Gabriel’s green eyes peeking around the side of it as if expecting me to throw something at his head.

I narrow my stare on him and clench my teeth.

“Good cop won’t work this time. You can fuck off with whatever it is you’re here to say to me.”

His eyes widen as he steps in. As usual, he looks perfectly put together in a pair of slate grey slacks and a dark green button up shirt that only highlights the emerald color of his gaze.

Without a tie and jacket, Gabriel almost looks casual, the top few buttons of his shirt open to reveal tan skin beneath.

Stepping into the room, he shuts the door and leans against it, his arms crossing over his chest as he crosses one ankle over the other.

“I’m not here to play good cop. I’m genuinely concerned for how you’re doing.”

“How I’m doing?”

I laugh at that, the sound anything but fu

“How do you think I’m doing? I just found out that the last three years of my life have been a sham. I just discovered that my life is in danger because of your families. I just found out that my father is dead when Ta

I shake my head and look away from him. “I’m doing great, Gabriel. Thanks for asking.”

The room dives into silence for a few minutes, my pulse so thready that it feels like my heart is deflating in my chest.

“Your father already knew, Luca.”

My head snaps back to him. “Don’t lie to me. That’s not even close to fu

Pushing away from the door, he takes hesitant steps toward me, his hands tucked in his pockets when he stops in the center of the room and holds my stare.

“I’m not lying. I sent a message to your father. It’s the reason he called you home immediately that night at Yale.”