Chapter 18
18
AVA
B ram and I barely speak the entire way back to the hotel. If I hadn’t left my computer there, I wouldn’t bother going inside. He’s been grumpy ever since Jamie randomly appeared at the bakery. As if it’s my fault. And why is he the one who’s angry? Jamie is my cheating ex. Bram doesn’t even know him.
Bram follows me up the lobby stairs and into his office. I pack up my bag without a word and turn to leave when Bram steps in front of me.
“Why are you being all pissy?” His brow is furrowed.
“Excuse me? I’m not the one who’s been acting like a princess since the bakery.”
Bram takes a step forward, pulling the strap of my bag off my shoulder and tossing it onto the couch. “A princess? Because I don’t want to stand around and let some limp-dicked fuck say mean shit to your face. And directly afterward, watch him attempt to flirt with you? Are you going to fall back into that asshole’s arms as soon as he crooks a finger?”
“Do you think so little of me?” I snap, but I’m not sure where my anger is really directed. I’m mad at Jamie for showing up when Bram and I were having fun. I’m pissed that part of me thinks I should give him another chance, because who else would want me. Sure, Bram and I kissed, but he said it was a mistake and we’ve been pretending it didn’t happen ever since. I’m not an idiot; I can read the writing loud and clear. Bram doesn’t want to be with me. So what if things have gotten a little physical? That was some kind of mental blip that doesn’t make sense. Someone like me with someone like Jamie that makes way more sense.
Bram’s face is pinched and sour. “He remembers you. Maybe he’s your fated bond.”
I rear back, horrified by the idea. “No. Impossible. I hate him.”
“You were with him for a while. Love and hate are a thin line.” Bram’s face is full of disgust.
“He disrespected me. I deserve better.”
The back of my knees bump against the coffee table. I don’t even remember stepping back. Bram watches my mouth, his gray eyes intense. A pulse of need throbs through the air and my breath comes out on a shaky exhale. What the hell was that?
Bram lifts his hand, his fingers hover in the air by my cheek.
The door to the office slams open. Bram jumps away from me and I almost fall backward. Bram snatches my arm and pulls me back up. We really need to stop finding ourselves in this situation. My father is standing in the doorway with Vincent Blackthorn.
“Father,” Bram grunts out and I look between all three of them. Why are our dad’s here?
“Abraham.” Vincent Blackthorn is a distinguished gentleman in his early sixties. It’s easy to see where Roman and Bram get their good looks.
My dad hasn’t acknowledged me yet. I stand awkwardly to the side, wishing I would have just left my computer here for the night. Did I really think someone would steal it from Bram’s office?
“We’re here to check on the details of the party. Make sure you aren’t screwing things up.”
We were literally with them a few nights ago. They couldn’t have asked any party questions then? Why bother showing up now?
Bram turns to look at my dad, his shadows snapping like fire in his aura. I feel like I’m dropping some social protocol ball and stumble over my words. “Bram, you remember my father, Ivan Vandenberg. I’m not sure if you had much of a chance to talk the other night.”
“Don’t be silly, Ava. We may have been from different covens, but anyone worth their mettle knows of the other power players in Mystic Hollows.” My father puffs out his chest and adjusts his belt. He’s tall, but not as tall as Bram.
I slump and wish the floor would open up and suck me down. Even hell would be preferable to the way my father looks at me. With so much distaste. Bram’s fists clench and his aura darkens.
“What was it exactly that you needed?” Bram’s voice is even, but he’s practically vibrating. The dark swirls in his aura are twisting so fast it’s like a storm brewing. I place a hand on his arm, wishing I knew how to help, because he’s struggling to keep it together. All because our asshole fathers are here. I don’t know what his relationship is with his dad, but I’ve gathered enough information to figure out it’s not great.
“Both of you have been given a very important task. The success of this event is critical for the future of the coven. We need to ensure you’re taking this seriously.” Vincent Blackthorn smooths down his tie.
“Seeing as we’re both grownups who are fully capable of following through with a job, I’d say we’re fine.” Bram’s voice is still level, but the longer our guests are in the room the more agitated his shadows grow.
“We just finalized the menu today,” I offer up, hoping Bram and his father will stop death staring at each other.
“Just make sure you don’t fuck everything up.” Vincent’s harsh words make me as uncomfortable as my father’s disdain. He looks at me like I’m something stuck to the bottom of his shoe. And my father is just as bad. Why are they like this?
“Of course. The staff are also aware of how important this event is.” Bram glares at his father. The father who threatened his employees. His shadows are stretching from his body. They pull away from him and it reminds me of someone trying to escape from quicksand. The room darkens slightly, and both of our fathers visibly shift. Wariness replaces the superiority in their eyes.
“Well…” Vincent clears his throat.
From what Josephine has told me, Roman and Bram have very similar magic. They can control shadows, completely dimming all light in a room if they desire. Roman has the ability to suck the soul right out of a person. He can rip it out like snatching a sheet off a clothesline. I don’t know if Bram’s magic works the same way. Maybe his father’s magic is the same. Bram sure looks like he’s about to pluck the souls out of the two men standing in front of us.
“We will be sending someone to the hotel before the party to make sure everything is in order,” my dad interjects, cutting through some of the tension.
“We’ll have everything ready to go.” It’s difficult to keep the irritation out of my voice. Why ask us to plan this party, if they have no faith we can pull it off?
“I’ll be the judge of that,” my father snaps.
“We just need to finalize the setup.” Vincent smooths the front of his suit.
“Everything will be ready to go.” Bram doesn’t hide the hostility in his voice as well as me.
“We have some protective runes we’ll be adding for the party.”
I frown. “What kind of runes?”
“That is none of your business,” my father’s voice is angry, but he’s not even looking at me.
“Well, it’s my business since this is my hotel. What kind of runes are you planning on setting up?” Bram’s shadows are still leaching out of him.
“They’re charms to enhance coven unity. All very simple and straightforward.” Vincent Blackthorn nods and pulls on my father’s arm. They shuffle back towards the door. “We’ll let you get back to your planning.”
They leave without another word. I sink down to the couch, my shoulders slumping with defeat. Being around my father is always exhausting. Bram flops down on the couch next to me, his aura already clearer than it was just moments before.
“Our fathers are really something special.”
“Yes, they are.” I laugh, but there’s no humor in it.
“What’s the deal between you two?”
What is the issue between me and my father? “How much time do you have?”
Bram looks at his watch. “Three minutes. Maybe a little more for you.”
I try not to let his words warm me, but damn if a swoony little fire is crackling away in my belly.
“There’s always been a barrier between us. He never really wanted me around. He would take Stellan to baseball games, the movies, and when I asked why I couldn’t come, he’d tell me I wasn’t worth his time. Stellan stopped going places with him as soon as he was old enough to dig his heels in. When I started dating the dickhead, my father told me I had a choice. I could keep dating someone with pathetic, low-level magic, or I could remain part of the family.” I rub at my temple, a headache blooming behind my eyes. “I want to say the idiot ex wasn’t worth it, but honestly, fuck my dad. I didn’t see why it mattered back then, and I still don’t. What it did teach me is that I wasn’t worth the effort.”
Bram makes a low displeased sound. His arm is pressed against mine and I reach out and squeeze it.
“I mean, I wasn’t worth it to him. Yes, Jamie was a waste of time and ultimately a horrible boyfriend, but in a way, I’m glad it happened how it did.” I lean my head back on the couch and stare up at the ceiling. “My mom is a puppet. She parrots whatever my dad says. She stands behind him and hides.” I turn to look at Bram, unable to keep the burning emotion out of my eyes. “I would never do that to my kids, you know? There are all kinds of monsters in this world. Some use weapons to cut people down, and some use words. That was my father. But I would never allow someone to demean my children like that. To make them feel less than worthless. Kids deserve to be loved unconditionally. Unreservedly.” Bram’s eyes are intense as he stares back at me. I turn away and shrug, not so discreetly wiping at my eyes. “My dad does not love like that.”
There’s silence for a moment until I blurt out, “My hypothetical kids. I don’t have secret kids stashed away somewhere.” As if that required clarification.
“I figured,” Bram says softly.
“Whew, that was some word vomit. What about you? You and ol’ Vincent sure seem tight.” I roll my head against the back of the couch to look at Bram.
“If by tight, you mean I want to squeeze the bullshit out of him, then sure.”
“He wasn’t the best growing up?”
Bram sinks back into the couch, laying his head on the back and angling it to look at me. “How much do you know about the illustrious Blackthorn family’s secrets?”
“Um, I know you and Roman are the same age, but not twins.” I give him a cringe smile.
“Actually, Roman’s a year older than me. At least for the next week.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“He’s six months older than me. So for half the year, he’s a year older.” Bram smiles. It’s not big enough to see his dimple, but it’s relaxed.
It takes a second for my brain to catch up. “Does that mean you have a birthday coming up?”
“I don't know what you’re talking about.”
I shake my head and Bram grins. “Anyway. I didn’t know my dad for the first six years of my life. It was just me and my mom. When she died, Vincent showed up and hauled me off to his mansion. I’m pretty sure Diana, my stepmother, didn’t know I existed until the day my father dragged me into their foyer. She hated me from the first moment her eyes landed on me. My father was about as involved with my life after my mom died as he had been before I knew about him. Which is to say, hardly at all. Thankfully, I had Roman. He was my brother from the beginning. There was never a question about it for either of us.”
Bram sighs, and the air around us feels heavy. As if all the damage we just poured out is sitting in the atmosphere, ready to choke us. My phone chirps and I grit my teeth. There’s a ninety percent chance I know what the message is. I swipe to open the phone and am blessed with wiry chest hairs, and a very close view of a man’s nipple.
“You seriously suck.” I glare at Bram.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Bram pushes off the couch, probably to avoid having me shove the picture in his face. He grins over his shoulder as he walks to his desk.
Oh shit. I need to get out of here before he finds it.
Bram hums in amusement and picks up an envelope sitting on top of his desk, frowning down at it. There’s no stamp or actual address; it just says Bram on the front.
I scramble to my feet and grab my bag. “I’ve got to go. See you tomorrow.”
I’m almost to the door when there’s a slight pop. Bram curses and I can’t help turning around. Glitter is everywhere. Covering Bram’s desk, his face, all up in his hair and on his hands. Laughter bubbles up, which I didn’t think was possible after seeing my dad. But I guess a glitter bomb will do that.
Just as I step out into the hallway, I hear Bram shout, “Are these dicks?”