Page 14 of His to Keep
Hands trembling, he pulls open the desk drawer and throws it inside, hiding away all that dark beauty I’d love to see more of. “Don’t do that again,” he orders, running fingers through his hair and breathing out heavily with evident frustration.
“I’m sorry,” I repeat, not knowing what else to say. I have to defuse the tension between us. “Did you draw that?” I know he did, but I want to ask anyway.
He avoids eye contact. “It’s nothing.”
Nothing? I shake my head. “You’re incredibly talented.”
“How?”
“Pardon?”
“How am I talented?” he asks quietly as if what I said is so unbelievable. My cheeks burn from complimenting him in the first place as he waits patiently for my answer. This is the first time we’ve engaged in a conversation, and it’s an altercation.
“I only saw one page.” My heart thumps hard against my ribs. “But it was beautiful.” I mess with the lace of my dress, wanting more than anything to hide from the embarrassment pouring through me, especially after I say, “It spoke to me. That’s how I know. I wanted to be there.”
Although there’s not much space in this room, when he moves away, I know it’s his way of signaling it’s the end of the conversation. Going over to the window, it’s as if he’s uncertain by his next move. He’s either shocked or so angry he doesn’t know what to do. By how he responded, I’m going with the latter. He undeniably hates me, and I wish I knew why.
Chapter Eight
John returns later to get us for dinner. Beckoning me over, I have no choice but to go to him and hate when he grabs my arm to take me downstairs. He’s silent. The whole house is as we enter the dining room of hell. Flashbacks of the girl come unbidden into my thoughts, made worse with Father Aaron sitting at the table already, sipping casually on a wine glass filled with red. As red as the walls. Her blood?
His eyes, void of humanity, observe me. And I want so much to run away as I envision myself covered in blood like she was, screaming to be saved like she probably did. But nobody will save me, just like no one saved her.
I’m forced into the seat next to Father Aaron again, and I wish I didn’t have to be anywhere near him. My skin already crawls being this close, knowing what he’s capable of. As Callum takes his seat next to me, his shoulder touches mine, and a part of me wonders if it were on purpose. Despite Father Aaron’s calm reserve, his brows are lined with agitation. As soon as John joins the table, Penny enters the room carrying a large dish. Staggering toward us, her back is hunched over, and once the candlelight hits her face, I’m unable to contain my shock. Covered in bruises, her eyes are two swollen rings of fire. It’s so awful looking. I’m surprised she can see out of them.
By the air of complacency around Father Aaron, I know he did this to her and it is the reason for his bad mood. After setting the hot dish into the middle of the table, Penny’s hands tremble as she serves dinner onto our plates. After she’s done filling the glasses with wine, she sits and sways in the chair, once again not getting anything for herself.
After a prayer, we sit in uncomfortable silence, all except Callum, who stares at Penny with anger clouding his gaze. It’s then I notice some resemblance between them both—same hair color and nose shape. They must be related, though I can’t be sure.
“I made sure there was no nonsense this time.” Father Aaron’s teeth are clenched as he glares at Penny. “Tonight, we will finally celebrate our new arrival.” He lifts his glass. “Ava, welcome to the family.”
I haven’t eaten in days, but I’m no longer hungry. I don’t want to be in this family. But knowing he’s watching I pick up my glass of water and take a sip.
The food tastes different as I begin eating. Nicer. Before I know it, I’ve cleared my plate. The first time my stomach has been full here, and it makes me sick.
“Why aren’t you eating?” John says, staring directly at Callum, who hasn’t made a move to eat. His eyes harden at John, blatant hate creeping between them. With a vindictive grin, John continues. “You won’t become a strong man if you don’t eat. Then again, you’re not a man, are you?”
Callum looks away, ignoring John’s childish taunts. Even Father Aaron seems impassive to the exchange between them as if this happens all the time. Finally reaching for his fork, Callum stabs the chicken on his plate, but John only laughs.
“Look at you,” he leers. “Look at thestrong maneating his food. Are you only doing it because you’re sitting next to the new girl and don’t want her to see what a fuckingcuntyou truly are?”
Callum’s hand, which rests on his thigh beneath the table, squeezes into a fist. “Stop.”
“Stop?” John chuckles. “My apologies, cousin. I forget you’re different and wouldn’tdreamof spreading a girl’s thighs and fuck—”
Slamming his hand against the table, Callum stands so quickly his chair rocks back and crashes to the floor. The room goes silent, and my heart stops when Father Aaron lifts his gaze from his meal.
“Sit down,” he demands. Callum doesn’t, and a part of me wants to reach out and pull him back into his seat, but I can’t move. John eyes him slyly, and I know he did this on purpose—to get Callum into trouble. It’s worked. Father Aaron’s chair scrapes against the floor as he rises from his seat. Resting both fists on the surface of the table, he leans forward and says with more vigor, “Sitdown.”
My nails dig into my thighs when Callum once again doesn’t listen. What the hell is he doing? I’m terrified of what’s unfolding before me. The rage in the room is boiling hot, about to spew over the edges and sizzle. Straightening his back, Father Aaron smooths a hand down his black shirt. Stalking around the table, he moves behind me, and I find myself counting the heavy footsteps.
One…two…three…
Glancing over my shoulder, he’s next to Callum now and glaring at him. “I’mwarningyou.”
Turning in his direction, defiance sears in Callum’s eyes, and it looks like fire licking ice. Despite no amusement in the sound, Father Aaron chuckles, but then grabs Callum around the throat. Pushing him back with force. Callum’s back slams against the wood. Glasses topple and spill over the tablecloth, some wine splashing on my dress. The candles wobble dangerously, threatening to set the place alight until John grabs them.
As Father Aaron hits Callum in the face with his fist, Penny flees from the room so quickly she’s like a ghost whooshing out of sight. I stumble away from the table as John grabs Callum by his shoulders and pins him down. Tears rush to my eyes as Father Aaron beats Callum, and I hear every violent hit and grunt of exertion and pain. He doesn’t cease the onslaught for a whole minute, and when I catch blood coating his knuckles, he stops.