He’s right. I’ve said that ever since my heart was broken all those years ago.
“I’d rather be alone than miserable with him.”
My brother stands and walks around the desk, leaning on it in front of me. “I’m sorry, but it isn’t that simple. Did Dad tell you why he insisted on your marrying Nelson?”
I shake my head. “I asked, but he wouldn’t tell me. He simply said it had to be done for the family.”
And being the dutiful daughter, I did what my father wanted. I always did. Since I had no plans to marry anyway, at least, I thought, perhaps my sacrifice would make my father happy. Although, it didn’t change how he was toward me. Until the day he died, he was cold and indifferent.
And what did this sham marriage get me? A life trapped here. Any request to travel or have fun was denied. Happy hour with my best friend, Sam? Gone. A weekend getaway to San Francisco? Nope. Even going to a movie by myself? Nada.
Every time I tried to leave, my dad would simply say it was all too dangerous. Well, screw that.
“Look, you deserve to know the truth and why you can’t end your marriage.” Duke avoids my gaze. “There was a mix up, and Nelson got it in his head that he had to kill me.”
I jump up. “What? That’s horrible.” As much as I want to know more, I don’t ask. He wouldn’t tell me anyway.
Duke stares past me. “Somehow, Dad worked out a deal with Nelson’s uncle, where Nelson became a part of our family, and we became intertwined with his. Part of the deal meant you two had to get married. Nelson’s uncle made it clear if you leave or divorce him, the deal is off.”
“What are you saying?”
He turns his gaze to mine. “Nelson’s family will come after me and you and take everything we have.”
By “come after,” I know what he means. They will have us killed. Something I’ve learned in the last twelve years, along with many other things I wish I had known from the beginning. Because then I would have run off into the sunset with Logan instead of being trapped here.
I break from my brother’s gaze. Anytime I think of Logan, tears come to my eyes.
Duke stands and walks back behind the desk. “The funeral is at eleven. The three of us will go in one car.”
This is his way of dismissing me after dropping the bombshell he just did. I stand and make my way back up to my bedroom. The shower is running when I walk in. Nelson must have woken while I was gone. I sit on the bed, and my mind goes back to the only time I was in love. Logan stayed here, in the pool house. A place I haven’t gone into since he left. I tried once, but all I could think about was him, and it was too painful.
I close my eyes. Why does my mind keep going back to him today? But I don’t have to think for long. I know why. I truly believed my dad’s death meant I would be able to leave Nelson and this home. And while I have no delusions that Logan is still available or would want anything to do with me, somewhere in my mind, I’ve relied on that fantasy to keep me going. But apparently, I was wrong about my dad being the warden of my prison. It’s Duke, Nelson—all of my family.
Nelson steps out of the bathroom wearing a towel. He’s not a bad-looking man, but he’s cruel. His words cut, and he rarely has anything nice to say.
“Where were you?” he asks.
I stand up and walk toward the bathroom. “I went to talk to my brother.”
Nelson grabs my wrist, wrenching me around toward him.
“Nelson, stop. You’re hurting me.”
He’s been cruel, yes, but never physical.
“Never leave this room again without permission,” he says as he releases me.
I take a step back. “What?”
He smacks me. Hard. I fall to the ground. He’s never struck me. What’s going on?
He bends over me. “Never question me. Do you understand?”
I turn to see the hatred in his eyes. But I do not respond.
He straightens up. “I was kind to you because of your father. But now that he’s gone, there’s no need for that anymore.”
Not hitting me was being kind? “What about Duke?” I ask.
