Chapter Twenty-Three
Malory
My hand rests in Tysons’s much larger one, our fingers intwined as heavy drops of rain beat against the windshield.
I’ve never loved rainy days.
I mean I get the appeal of staying on the couch all day, huddled up in blankets by a roaring fire. But I crave the sunshine, the warmth.
Yet something about having Tyson by my side, crammed in the heated, dry car is making this experience incredibly cozy.
That just sounds wrong.
I’m probably the only person on this earth that feels comforted by his presence. And I’d be lying if it didn’t make me possessive of him as well.
With every passing day, I understand the man more. Understand what drove him to stalking me, taking me for himself. Because feeling the way I do now, given the chance, I’d do the very same.
Either way, I can’t wait until we get back to the cabin, make the new vanilla tea that Ty insisted I try and curl up in front of the fireplace.
Despite the weather, our little grocery trip has been a welcome change of scenery.
I never thought I’d say this, but I’m starting to feel like leaving the house more. Just going out and exploring.
With Tyson by my side, the outside world doesn’t intimidate me as much. With him I can do anything.
Only I have to die first. Figuratively.
To gain my freedom, my parents must mourn my death, give up on me for good.
My heart clenches at the thought of never seeing them again despite all they did to me. But it is a small price to pay for finally being able to start a new life with Tyson.
My Tyson.
Since the night we spend making love under stars, everything has been perfect. Too perfect.
Yesterday, we made vegan chocolate chip cookies and some home-made dog treats for Nero. Needless to say, all of them were gone in an instant.
That’s why we had to go out and get more ingredients for baking tonight.
It’s the little things about him that are the most wholesome.
Like the way Tyson insists on taking the tray out of the oven so I don’t burn myself. Or how he hugs me from behind while I decorate.
Smiling to myself, I feel him squeeze my hand like he can read my every thought.
This is what true happiness feels like.
His thumb continues drawing soothing circles over the back of my hand as we pass the sign announcing that we’re now in Sierra National Forest .
Almost home.
That’s until the shrill sound of Tyson’s ringtone breaks the peaceful ambiance.
The dashboard lighting up with Raffaele’s name before Tyson picks up the call.
“We’ve got another Russian,” A deep, rough voice comes through the speaker without a greeting, getting directly to the point. “He was a tough one to crack, but I’ve had my fun with him.”
A shiver runs down my spine. Though I’m not as concerned as I probably should be.
I know what Tyson and his brothers are involved in. And genuinely who am I to judge their actions when they clearly have their reasons for it.
I’ve made my peace with this side of his life. As long as he returns to me in one piece at the end of the night.
And if we’re being totally honest, there’s something about his cold brutality that makes me weak in the knees.
“What did you get?” Tyson asks, his tone detached.
Utterly empty yet again.
“John is getting desperate and it hasn’t been winning him any points with the Bratva. They’ll throw him under the bus soon enough.”
My father’s name makes me sit upright, but I quickly slump back into the seat. I shouldn’t dwell on it.
Soon any relationship we might have had will belong to the past.
It’s kind of sad how easily I’m able to distance myself. Leave my parents behind after I found someone who truly cares about me. It proves how little they did.
Only I couldn’t see it.
“Good. I want him to suffer before I’ll finally crush him.”
Tyson still hasn’t told me what my father did to him. But there must be a damn good reason for him to go to these lengths.
“When?” Raffaele asks carefully.
There’s a pregnant pause and I glance at the white-knuckled grip Tyson has on the steering wheel, fearing it’ll break under his crushing hold.
“I’ll fucking figure it out.” He grits out through clenched teeth, making the vein on his forehead throb.
On the other side of the line, I can hear his half-brother let out an exasperated sigh.
“Don’t go all mountain man on me, brother. All that nature can’t be good for you.”
I have to press my lips together to stop myself from laughing.
He might have a point.
“Says the guy who owns a fucking ranch.” Tyson fires back without missing a beat.
“Once this is all over, you should drop by.” Raffaele offers, unaffected by his brother’s hostility. “Both of you.”
The man next to me doesn’t respond, earning himself another frustrated groan from the other end.
“Anyway, how’s my little sister doing being trapped with your grumpy ass?”
Little sister.
The blood drains from my face.
No.
No. No. No.
That can’t be true.
Distantly, I register Tyson cursing as he cuts of the call.
I don’t realize that my hands are shaking, that my whole body is shaking, until a rough hand envelops mine. Jerking me out of the impending panic attack.
“Deep breaths, Malory.” His voice sounds far away but I hang onto it.
My lungs expanding with a deep intake of oxygen before I slowly exhale a ragged breath, getting my body gradually back under control.
“I can explain everything.” He rasps.
I can barely hear his words over my hammering heartbeat.
We’re still driving down the wet road, the rain getting stronger by the minute. Yet Tyson’s attention remains firmly fixed on me.
“L-look ahead…” I whisper weakly before he’ll land us in a ditch. All the while, I’m counting the seconds between every inhale to calm myself.
In and out. Ever so slowly.
With one last lingering look, the man complies. Peering through the fast-paced windshield wipers as we barrel down the familiar dirt road, mud splashing from under the tires.
I don’t say anything else. I can’t.
I can’t even look at him, look into his eyes or I’m going to be sick.
My brain can’t grasp what I just learned. Desperately fighting for oblivion, wishing these last few minutes never happened.
How can a person go from perfect happiness to utter terror in a matter of seconds?
Only when we finally stop in front of the cabin and the roaring engine is turned off does the unshakable dread settle over me.
This is over. All of it.
We stay seated, unmoving as I watch the forest blur in front of me. Whether from the rain or the tears in my eyes, I don’t know.
At last, Tyson breaks the silence.
“The man who left my mother with two young boys,” He pauses and my stomach sinks. “Is your father.”
It can’t be.
I shake my head, not wanting to believe him with every fiber in my body.
Yet I can’t shake the feeling that he’s telling the truth. No matter how much I want it to be a lie, I see it in his gaze.
“I’m sorry, little one.”
No.
He can’t mean it.
Not when we had everything, when he let me feel everything.
I- I can’t breathe in here.
Ripping myself away, I slam the car door before breaking into a run through the thick rainfall. Wanting to escape the devastating revelation that’s threatening to break me apart.
In seconds, my hair is plastered to my face, my shirt sticking to my clammy skin.
I don’t feel any of it.
Taking three steps in one, I reach the porch when suddenly a hand wraps around my upper arm and I’m being spun around.
Colliding with Tyson’s broad chest, my hands instinctively fly to his shoulders to steady myself.
How didn’t I hear him right behind me?
Snatching my hands away, I quickly shuffle backwards until my ass bumps against the railing.
This is it.
I close my eyes in defeat.
There’s no escaping the inevitable truth.
“Are we siblings?” I choke out, tears welling in my eyes.
For a heartbeat, confusion passes through Tyson’s eyes, stopping him dead in his tracks. And it’s enough to give me a kernel of hope.
But then again, his moral compass doesn’t exactly coincide with the norm. So there’s really no way of knowing whether us being related would give him a pause.
Cocking his head to the side, Tyson observes the whirlwind of emotions marring my face with sick fascination.
“No.”
All breath leaves me as I sag against the wooden pole that’s holding up the porch.
“My half-brothers are your half-siblings as well. But while you share a father with them, I share a mother.”
“Come again?” I struggle to wrap my head around what just came out of him.
“There’s no blood between us, Malory.”
I’ve never felt a deeper sense of relief than upon hearing those words.
“Would that have stopped you?”
“Probably not,” He admits shamelessly. “I have no brotherly feelings towards you, little one. And I won’t let anything stand between us. Illegal or not, it’s of no consequence to me.” My jaw slackens as he goes on.
“We aren’t bound to laws and morals. So why would I give a fuck about incest when the only truth in life that matters is that you’re mine.”
Why does that sound so romantic and so wrong at the same time?
Tyson has crossed the lines of what’s morally right countless of times and yet I never faulted him for it.
So this doesn’t come as a surprise really.
But what I can’t forgive easily is that he lied to me. Because in my books, omission certainly falls under that category.
I’ve been understanding that he didn’t want to talk about certain things in his life, yet not when it directly affected me.
It all makes sense now.
His hatred for my father, him stalking me in the first place. All those cryptic comments about his brothers.
I was too blinded by his undivided affection I so desperately yearned for to see the hints right in front of me.
Now that I see it all clearly.
Being betrayed by the one person I trusted the most in this world, it hurts so much.
Watching my heart break right in front of him, my anguish mirrors Tyson’s.
Even after all of this, my resolve to hate him shatters the moment I see the deep etched regret in his tortured gaze.
I can be mad and upset all I want, but I can’t hate him.
It’s impossible.
Wrapping my arms around myself, I hug my trembling body, bracing myself to stay upright.
I have siblings.
Two brothers to be exact.
When I was little, I dreamed about having an older brother, someone who would take care of me, take the brunt of my mother’s antics. To not be so alone.
“You had no right to keep this from me!” I glare at the man before me.
“Would you have run straight to them if you knew?” His words hit me straight in the chest.
“You made sure I didn’t have that choice!” I yell over the sound of rain beating down on the roof above.
Again, he doesn’t say anything. But doesn’t offer any empty excuses either.
Fisting the wooden railing at my back, I collect myself enough to ask.
“Would you have told me?” My voice cracks, letting him hear the hurt he caused.
“Yes, eventually.” His features betray nothing.
“When?” I press on.
I’m not letting this go. The least he can do is give me an explanation.
“When I could be certain you wouldn’t leave me.” Something akin to guilt flickers in his expressionless eyes.
“And when was that going to be?” My eyes narrow.
I will have that answer.
“Soon enough.” Tyson steps forward, towering over me. “After you were free to live your life however you wanted. Then you’d be able to make the decision whether you want to meet them.”
I wasn’t expecting that. Meeting them face to face.
I’m not ready for that confrontation.
What would I even say? Sorry our dad chose me over you.
I can’t do this.
They’ll surely hate me. And yet I always wanted a family beyond just my overbearing parents.
“You’ll let me see them?” I probe hesitantly.
“Of course, but I’m coming with. You must understand that they are dangerous men, to say the least. I want you as far away from the Camorra as possible.”
I nod in understanding, staring at Tyson’s chest with my teeth nervously gnawing at my lower lip.
“Malory, look at me.” He crowds me against the side of the porch, taking away any chance of escaping his dominating presence.
“Since I told my… our brothers that I found you, they didn’t stop bothering me about seeing you. They know you’re nothing like your father.”
In the blink of an eye, his arms are around me.
“And the fuckers thought they could protect you better than me.” His jaw is tense, and I can feel his fists flexing at the small of my back.
“R-really?” I stutter wide eyed.
Not only do I have brothers, but they care about me enough to want to protect me.
“No one gets to lay their hands on you if I have any say in it.” Tyson growls, pinning me closer to him.
“No, I mean… they don’t h-hate me?”
“None of what happened to them is your fault, little one.” His voice softens to a gentle caress. “You're a Corso now. They’ll lay their lives down for you.”
Wrapping my arms around his waist, I press my cheek against the damp fabric of his shirt stretched across the man’s muscular chest.
“That's why you hate my father.” All the pieces of Tyson’s need for vengeance finally fall into place.
“He left her to fend for herself. Left her to suffer at the hands of my fucking father.” I can feel the anger, the undiluted rage reverberating from under his ribcage.
He's talking about his mother.
A woman who had two sons with the man I called dad before he discarded them like they meant nothing, moving on without looking back.
That’s how Tyson’s father found her. All alone with young boys, taking advantage of her vulnerability.
And Tyson blames my dad for her cruel fate. Rightfully so.
You’re the greatest gift life ever gave me, my little girl.
The words my father told me over and over since I was a baby, filling me with promises of love that made me bow down to my parent’s will, echo in my mind.
He never cared for my mother either. They barely had a relationship since he only dropped by to check up on me. Only stuck around for me.
An even worse realization starts dawning on me…
What if it was literarily me who’s been his goal this whole time.
“When did he leave them?” I ask quietly, dreading the answer that would confirm my growing suspicion.
“Soon after Raffaele was born.”
My body stiffens, making Tyson pulls back to look at my mortified expression with concern.
“He wanted a daughter.” I croak, sounding numb. Feeling numb at what I discovered.
What kind of person leaves his family because the mother of his children keeps giving him male offspring.
Tyson’s jaw flexes and I see his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows.
“It would make sense. A daughter is the best bargaining chip.” He spits out, making me look up at him with furrowed brows.
“I grew up in those circles, Malory. Even if your father is just a businessman, an outsider essentially, he has built ties to the Bratva.” Tyson cradles my cheek in his large palm. “And arranged marriages close those deals.”
I feel like I’m going to throw up.
“When my mother didn’t give him a daughter to marry into the Camorra and get himself a seat at the table, he switched sides, trying again elsewhere.”
The controlling upbringing, the introductions to my father’s business partners, him being barely around only to stop by and see whether I’m doing well.
I have been groomed.
My whole life has been dictated, meticulously planned to mold me into a perfectly docile wife for offer.
“He’s deserving of your wrath, Tyson.” I lean into his strong, comforting body. Suddenly feeling much better about letting my father believe that the daughter he planned on selling is dead.
Tyson kisses the top of my head, breathing in my scent.
“I fucked with your life enough by bringing you here, Malory.” He shakes his head, the inner conflict tearing at his features. “I didn’t want to wreak you any further.”
Damn him when he says things like this, constantly blurring the line between right and wrong.
Tyson wanted to preserve my perception of my father a little longer despite his own hatred towards the man. How can I fault him for that?
What he did was wrong, but now I understand why he did it.
And here I thought the only reason for his deception was the territorial possessiveness threatening any male who comes close.
This is different though. Those are my brothers.
Our brothers.
That still sounds so wrong.
“Ty…” I take his face in my hands, looking straight into his pained eyes. “You make my life so much better.”
His body goes still under my touch, closing his eyes before he lets out a shuddering exhale.
“Say it again.”
“I didn’t know it then, but my life began the moment I woke up with your masked face hovering over me.” Our lips almost touch as I continue.
“In making me yours, you freed me, Tyson.” Saying it out loud, I know it’s the ultimate truth.
“You deserve so much more, little one.” He rasps, raking his fingers through my hair. “But I’m a selfish bastard and I’ll never let you go.”
I smile, nudging our noses together.
“Good, because there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” Right here, enveloped in his arms. This is my home.
“This. Us. ” I palm his cheek. “It’s everything I could have ever wished for and so much more.”
For one long breath, he presses our foreheads together.
“I’m dead inside, Malory.”
I shake my head against his, looking deeply in his bottomless eyes that hide so much.
“Not entirely.” It might have been the case in the very beginning.
Maybe not even then, and definitely not anymore.
I think I’ve known all along that there’s more to this man.
“I’ve seen it, Ty, the way you look at me. That’s not the look of someone who’s indifferent, unfeeling.”
I keep holding his face tightly between my palms as a lone tear spills over, running down his cheek.
“I don’t know how, but something inside me broke the first time I saw you. And it’s been ripping me apart ever since.” A choked sound tears from his throat.
“Before you, there was nothing, but now…” His eyes close for a breath. “I can't live without you, can't fucking breathe without you. My world is empty, I am empty without you.”
He takes my hand in his, placing it over his heart.
“What I feel for you, little one. That’s all there’ll ever be.”
His breath hitches. “What little humanity I have left, it’s all yours.”
Standing up on my tiptoes, I kiss aways the droplet that has reached his jaw.
“I love you just the way you are.” I breathe.
Tyson’s eyes flare, his arms crushing my body to his in a death grip.
“You love me?” He looks at me in disbelief. Like he didn’t allow himself to even hope these words would ever leave my mouth.
“I love you.”
I love him, irrevocably.
All the darkness and the light.
His voice is rough, full of raw emotion as he speaks.
“Love isn't a word strong enough to describe what I feel for you, little one.” With that, he captures my lips in an endless, searing kiss.