Page 60 of Tainted Essence
“Explain what?” I snap, not caring that everyone in here is listening to my one sided conversation, with how loud I am yelling I have no doubt Anya and Destiny would be able to hear me. “He is going to fucking suffer and I don’t give a shit if he is Lila’s father. That cunt is on borrowed time for what he did!”
“I’m not doing this for me!” she defends.
“Your kid is better off without him!” I snarl. “Do you really want a rapist to be part of your kid’s life, Kimber?”
“No, but?—”
“No, buts! I swear on my brotherhood with Knox and Xander, if you try to rise against the Murdochs to free him it won’t be the Re Della Strada coming for you, it will be me!”
“Lila loves him!” she screams into the phone.
I drop my voice low so she can hear every word clearly as I speak. “I helped you get your kid back,” I say my tone dripping with malice. “You try anything, Kimber, and I will take her from you, she won’t just be fatherless, she will be motherless as well.”
“You don’t mean that.” Her tone is watery.
“My love for Wave won’t keep you safe from me. Xander loves Waverly but make no fucking mistake, he won’t help you hide and will lead me straight to you. Fuck around and find out, Kimber, I dare you!”
“Fuck you. I never wanted him to live but my daughter does. I’m sorry he hurt Destiny but he hurt me too and I am prepared to let that shit go for the sake of my child. I don’t want him to be free, all I am asking is for him to rot in a cell so when she wants to see him he isn’t beaten and bloody which will scare her.”
“I thought you were different, Kimmy, I really did, but you are just the same as my mother. You keep making excuses for the cunt that hurt you and I promise you that you will lose the respect of everyone you love, even your daughter won’t forgive you. Tell the kid the fucking truth, that her father is a rapist and see how much she misses him then!” I snarl before ending the call. I take a minute to try to calm myself before slowly lifting my gaze back to the guys who all stand there staring at me. I run my gaze over each of them before settling on Gage. “You have my word that I will put a bullet between her eyes before she can even think about freeing that cunt.”
“She tries to come anywhere near my family again and I will slit her fucking throat in front of her daughter, mark my words on that,” he answers. I nod in agreement.
“How did you find out what she was planning?” I ask the group.
“Knox Bronson got a tip from his sister's man,” Bishop says.
“Xander,” I mutter.
“Your boys are loyal to you and I respect that, but he betrayed his Don, Waverly could have him killed,” King adds.
I shake my head. “Wave would have been the one to tell Xan to give Knox the heads up, knowing he would tell you,” I admit.
“Why wouldn’t he just call you?” Knight pushes.
I smile. “He knew something like this would happen and what my reaction would have been. He was giving me a chance to prove myself loyal to Destiny in front of all of you.” I’m going to beat the shit out of Knox for this but I am also grateful for him for doing this. The looks on all their faces show a tiny amount of respect for what I just did. “He may not be going to Ireland but I want him to suffer just the same, but not here.”
“You don’t make the call, we do!” Gage snaps.
I shake my head at the idiot. “And how is your daughter supposed to feel fucking safe here when the guy who fucking hurt her is right fucking there?” I roar.
Destiny
I take a shuddering breath, expecting to feel shame at Taylan’s declaration but it doesn’t come. Mom and I are standing at the top of the stairs eavesdropping. She clutches my hand in hers and gives it a reassuring squeeze. I can already tell Taylan is winning her over but my dad clearly hates him.
“She isn’t your concern! She is my daughter and I decide what is right for her.” I flinch, Dad is being an overprotective asshole and I hate that he is talking about me like I am a child.
“She may be your child but she isn’t a child! She is a grown fucking woman and can make her own choices, stop treating her like she is made of fucking glass!” My heart swells hearing Taylan defend me. I know this is a hard position for him to be in since Kimber was one of his close friends and I hate to admit it, but I can understand why she wants him alive. I hate that I can empathize with her, but her child is innocent and only knows the good side of her father, not the monster he truly is.
“Get the fuck out of my house!” Dad roars. I snap my gaze to my mother with wide eyes, pleading for her to stop him.
“He needs to fight for you, baby, let him,” she whispers. I frown but remain silent, needing to hear Taylan’s answer. If he walks out, I won’t let him back in again, he promised me he would stay and I need him to prove to me that he meant it.
“Not without her.” I close my eyes and smile, he’s fighting for me.
“You are alone here, boy, my brother has told you to leave and unless you want to be thrown out, do as he says,” Uncle B adds. Before they can push him out, I tear away from my mom and race down the stairs, all their heads turning toward me when I rush into the living room. I don’t stop until I’m standing in front of Taylan. He tries to grab my waist and shift me out of the way, but I elbow him in the ribs earning a grunt and a growl from him.
“No one is going to touch him.” I force strength into my tone as I look at each of my uncles and then settle on my father. “If he’s leaving, then so am I.”