Page 77 of Hold 'Em Tight

“Donny, please, you're scaring me. What happened?” she shouts as I climb into the driver's side.

I start the engine and roll down the windows. “Get in, Cherry. I just need to get away from here.”

She nods and opens the door, giving me a worried look. Once she's buckled, I take off, heading to the place I never thought I would return to.

Home.

When we pullup the long, three-mile driveway, Rylee looks at me with concern, and I know I need to tell her something.

She's been patient on the drive, letting me get my thoughts in order. I have told her some things before, but I'm scared how she will react to my deepest secrets.

“Donny, who's house is this?” she asks when I park in front of the huge manor. It has twenty bedrooms, including a media and game area, where he would try and bribe me to remain silent.

I take a deep breath and look out the windshield, avoiding her eyes.

“It's mine.”

“I don't understand, baby,” she whispers, reaching for my clammy hand. I smack the wheel hard, and yell, and she gasps, jumping closer to her door, away from me.

“Please, Donny. I have tried to give you time, but what the fuck happened? You just stormed out of therapy like the devil was chasing you. I'm seriously starting to get freaked out.”

I laugh and shake my head, then sniffle as the emotions hit me again. Why the fuck am I upset?

I turn to her and she wipes my eyes before cupping my cheek.

“I love you, please,” she begs, her green eyes full of worry.

“My grandfather died. He left me everything… Why would someone who assaulted me, made me feel worthless and broken, leave me everything?” I look up at Rylee and she has tears in her eyes. She shakes her head.

“I don't know, Donny. Maybe in his last days he wanted to make amends with you.”

I scoff and wipe my eyes. “He was a rapist. A predator. He didn't have a soul, let alone a conscience.”

She gasps, then takes a moment. I can tell she's thinking hard about what to say next. I don't blame her. This shit isn't easy to hear.

I expect her to freak out, but she surprises me.

“Okay,” she mutters. “What do you want to do, baby? You know I'm here, and we can call the guys too. Or we can go back and talk with Robin?”

Shit! Now that my panic is lessening, I feel bad for freaking out on her, then storming off. She didn't deserve it.

Robin is one of the best therapists I have ever had.

“Honestly, I want to burn this fucking house to the ground,” I mutter and she nods, unbuckles, then claps her hands together.

“Okay, let's do it then.”

“Wait, really?” My eyes widen.

“Yes, Donny. If this is the way for you to heal and move on, then let's burn it down. You said you owned it, right?”

I nod. I'm at a loss for words. Is she serious?

“Then we will call it renovations.”

I toss my head back, laughing, then reach over and pull her closer to me. I rest my forehead against hers. “I fucking love you, Rylee Moore.”

She gives me a smile, then grabs the back of my neck and kisses me. When she pulls away, I'm smiling and feel lighter.