Page 29 of Redemption (Favorite Malady Duet #2)

DANE

I t’s past noon when Abigail finally stirs in my arms. She turns toward me, and her stunning, aquamarine eyes open. She offers me a lazy smile and stretches like a contented cat.

I marvel at her. I can hardly believe she’s given herself to me after all of my crimes against her.

I was incapable of understanding how I’d wronged her until she showed me her powerful, disturbing self-portrait.

She makes me see the world in ways I never thought possible.

She is my world now. I’m no longer limited to my mundane, tedious existence when I experienced nothing but idle amusement in manipulating others.

For the first time in my adult life, I care about someone other than myself.

Abigail is mine to covet, mine to shelter and protect. I’ll do anything to keep her happy in my arms like she is right now.

Last night, she placed her full trust in me. I’ll never betray that trust.

I press a kiss to her forehead. She hums happily and wraps her arms around me.

This might be the most perfect moment of my life.

“You need to eat,” I murmur into her hair.

She cuddles closer. “Let’s stay in bed for a while longer.”

I can’t deny her anything.

I’m not sure how long we hold each other in contented, companionable silence. This is how it’s meant to be between us. This is how it will be. Every day for the rest of our lives.

“Daniel!”

Panic spikes through me, and I jolt upright.

That’s my mother’s shrill voice, echoing down the corridor.

No. She can’t be here. James said he wouldn’t tell our parents that I’m home.

But there are several sets of footsteps approaching my bedroom. Mum isn’t alone.

I surge out of bed and quickly find my sweatpants, tugging them on to cover my nakedness.

“Who is that?” Abigail asks, her voice touched with alarm.

“Stay in here,” I command.

I don’t have time to explain.

I dart out of the bedroom and shut the door behind me, shielding Abigail from my family.

Dread is a lead weight in my stomach when I see both of my parents, flanked by my traitorous brother. I glower at him, and my fists clench at my sides.

“What the fuck, James? You said you wouldn’t tell them I’m here.”

His mouth is set in a grim line when he comes to a stop a few feet away from me. Just out of punching distance.

“That was before I knew you’d kidnapped Abigail.”

“What?” The question is a touch breathless.

How can he know?

He sneers at me. “Do you think you have the monopoly on depravity in this family? And did you really think that mask was enough to conceal your identity last night?”

I rake a hand through my hair. This can’t be happening.

“I heard her say that you kidnapped her. I heard her scream.”

“Everyone else there knew it was just a game,” I growl.

“They didn’t see her after she wrecked my Jeep,” he informs me coldly. “She was clearly desperate to get away from you that day. I thought you must’ve had a bad argument, but when I saw her last night, I finally got the full picture.”

I fix him with the full force of my loathing. “Why couldn’t you just ask us about this last night? Why didn’t you talk to me about it like a man instead of tattling on me to our parents?”

James scoffs. “You had clearly coerced her into being at that party. I couldn’t trust a word you said. And you carried her off somewhere before I could approach you. You left me with no choice.”

I bare my teeth at him. “You didn’t have to call them. You still could’ve come here on your own to ask me about it.”

He shakes his head. “I am not Lord of this house yet. Dad is the one with the power to kick you out.”

“What have you done this time, Daniel?” My mother demands shrilly.

“And what on earth was that party you went to?” She rounds on James, including him in her censure.

“Am I right in understanding that both of my sons attended some sort of sordid function last night? That you put the family name at risk of public scandal?”

James waves in dismissal, even though his cheeks flush. “Everyone was wearing masks,” he says quickly. “We don’t need to go into the details.”

She narrows her pale blue eyes at him. “We will return to this conversation later.” Her sharp gaze pins me again. “Explain yourself. Where is the woman you’ve supposedly kidnapped? Will she go quietly if we pay her? How much will your latest depravity cost this family?”

“I don’t want your money,” I bark. “I never have.”

My father speaks up for the first time, his words slurring slightly from his chronic alcoholism. “We’ll bail you out if we must,” he asserts. “Just like all the other times. This will not get into the news cycle. You’re still a Graham.”

The prospect of accepting anything from them raises my ire. Especially when my father is the one talking about bailing me out. Just like all the times he’s been bailed out of sticky situations to escape punishment for his crimes.

“I am not part of this family,” I seethe. “I gave up the title.”

“And yet, here you are,” Mum accuses. “Making yourself at home like the manor belongs to you. You’re either in or you’re out, Daniel. You’ve chosen to come back in. That means your actions reflect badly on the family. You will accept our money to pay off this woman. Make her go away.”

“Abigail isn’t going anywhere!” I thunder.

James is the only one with the good sense to take a step back from my volatility.

My mother and father remain coolly composed, completely unruffled by my uncharacteristic outburst. As though I’m still a child, and I’m incapable of controlling myself.

The awful memories that unlocked when I found Abigail bleeding in the wrecked Jeep rise up to take hold of my mind, my tongue.

“You think you can buy your way out of everything,” I hiss at my father. “Just like you bribed the police not to arrest you for killing Katie. You murdered my sister, and you never paid for it.”

“Daniel!” Mum’s tone is a sharp rebuke. “You know we don’t say that name in this house. It upsets your father.”

“And you.” I narrow my eyes at her. “You thought you could just replace my twin with another spare? With him ?” I gesture sharply at James, and he pales.

“Let’s just take a moment,” he cajoles. “We can all have a cup of tea and talk about this rationally.”

I bark a bitter laugh. “You think tea is going to help fix this? My sister is dead because of them. I watched her die. I was trapped with her dead body for hours, and none of you ever gave a shit.”

“Really, Daniel.” My mother sounds scandalized. “There’s no need to make a scene. That was years ago. You’re not a child anymore.”

“I hate you.” My tone goes cold and flat. “I thought I felt nothing for you at all, but I truly hate you. Stay the fuck away from me.”

“You’re the one who came back,” my father reminds me with a scowl. “We didn’t invite you here.”

“I’m leaving,” I snap. “I never want to see any of you ever again.”

“I don’t think so,” Mum refuses. “You brought this mess to our doorstep. We’re going to clean it up before anyone finds out what you’ve done. Now, where is this woman you’ve kidnapped?”

She says it with irritation, not horror. She’s not remotely surprised or bothered by the fact that I could commit such a crime. It’s simply the optics she’s worried about.

Everything for appearances.

“I’m right here.”

I whirl and find Abigail standing in the open doorway to my bedroom.

“You can’t be out here,” I say, gentling my tone when I address her. “Go back inside. I’ll handle this.”

The last thing I want is to subject her to the cruelty of my relatives. She’s already suffered so much at the hands of her own parents. I’ll shield her from mine.

My brave, stubborn Abigail lifts her chin and steps up beside me. She fixes my family with an imperious stare and takes my hand in hers.

“I’m with Dane willingly,” she asserts.

My heart skips a beat.

Last night, she gave herself to me willingly, but until this moment, I wasn’t sure of her loyalty. I wasn’t certain that she wouldn’t try to leave me again if she had the opportunity to be free of me.

I never intended to give her that choice, but I still didn’t know if she would challenge me over it.

“I’m sorry we came here unannounced.” Her voice is frosty as she continues to address my parents. She’s perfectly poised and icily polite. “We’ll leave now.”

“Wait just a minute!” Mum insists, bristling at the challenge.

“My son isn’t going anywhere.” She looks at me again, eyes glittering with accusation.

“Do you know how difficult it’s been to excuse your absence for all these years?

To conceal our estrangement? You’ve come home, and now you’re staying. ”

“You’re distressed,” Abigail remarks coolly. “I understand. It must be very difficult to have a son who hates you. Maybe you should go have that cup of tea while we pack. I’ve heard it’s good for the nerves.”

My mother’s face has gone beet red, and she splutters, “You… How dare… In my own home?”

“Americans.” My father spits out the word like a curse, a condemnation. “Bloody upstarts.”

“Yes, I’m sure we’ll all be happy to part ways,” Abigail continues smoothly. “Dane and I just need a few minutes to collect our things. Then we’ll be out of your hair.” She pointedly glances at my father’s balding head.

I grin. She’s good at this.

I lost my composure, and my fierce pet has come to my defense.

How could I ever deserve this woman?

“Come on.” James finally speaks up again. “Let’s have that cuppa. Now, mum.”

He gently grasps our mother’s shoulder and turns her away from me.

“Dad,” he calls back over his shoulder as they head for the stairs. “I’m sure there’s a bottle of whisky somewhere in the kitchen.”

The promise of alcohol moves him like nothing else. My father gives me one final contemptuous sneer. Then he turns and walks away, too.

I turn to my woman, my miracle, and trace the curve of her amethyst curl that fascinates me endlessly.

“Thank you,” I say. I don’t have the words to express the depth of my gratitude, my admiration.

She waves off my thanks. “You’re welcome. They deserved it. Now, we need to get the hell out of here. Do you have your own car?”

I nod and trail her into the bedroom to pack. Wherever Abigail goes, I’ll follow.