35. Cain #2
Her mother sobs and holds a hand over her mouth.
“You sent me away, Father, to a place where I was held over a bed as a man tried to rape me. You did that.”
Her father blinks again, as if he is trying to process what she’s saying.
“Let him go.” She demands of the guards, who are still holding Roman up. “And lower your weapons.” She glares at the guards covering me and Mal.
The men don’t move, but her father nods once. “Stand down.”
The instant the men let go of Roman, he drops heavily to the ground. Ophelia falls to her knees beside him, brushing damp, bloodied hair back from his face.
“How could you?” She glances up at her father.
He bristles. “Ophelia. These men took you, literally kidnapped you. They aren’t the heroes you think they are.
Now, it seems we might have been somewhat hasty when it came to punishing you, young man,” he addresses Roman.
“But the facts don’t change. I don’t trust any of you with my daughter.
I’ll try to ensure charges aren’t pressed and the death is covered up.
It’s the best I can do, but you need to leave.
Your presence in our daughter’s life has been nothing but trouble. ”
“I have men,” I say, urgently. “My father has sent me men. Nataniele, the college dean, has agreed to let us have them guarding a property we’ve converted within the grounds of the college.
” I force myself to show him respect even though I feel none.
“Sir, it’s the safest place for her. She will have the college security, which is already excellent, and we will have our own guards.
Never mind that she’ll have our protection, too. ”
He looks from me to her, and then at Roman and Malachi. “Just what the hell is going on between all of you?” His mouth twists and he shakes his head. “She stays here.”
“Daddy.” Ophelia crumples, her whole body collapsing in on itself as she huddles in closer to Roman. “No. You can’t make me.”
“Ophelia, while you’re under our roof you will?—”
“No.” The word is soft but resolute.
I glance beside me to see Ophelia’s mother shaking her head.
“No. Enough . Vince, stop this now. They saved her. You sent her away to a place where she almost got … I can’t even say the word.
” Tears fall down her face, but she stands tall and straight as she faces her husband.
“You have been a good father, and a good husband, but right now you’re not thinking straight.
Ever since we got Ophelia back, you’ve been controlling.
I get it.” She walks to him and puts her hands on either side of his face, holding him gently, as if he might break.
“It’s scary to let go and see her back out in the world that hurt her once before, but you are the one hurting her now. ”
He opens his mouth as if to speak, but snaps it shut again.
“Let her go with them,” she insists. “If that’s what she wants.”
He shakes his head, but I can see the confusion in his gaze, the way he isn’t sure if he’s right in this.
Ophelia’s mother hasn’t finished. “If you don’t, I am leaving you, and I will take her with me. If you try to stop me, I’ll go to the courts and tell them that you and your private, off-the-records doctor, sent her to an institution where she was almost raped.”
“It wasn’t just me, Father.” Ophelia glares at the doctor. “That man was attacking other patients, too, and I bet he wasn’t the only one.”
Her father is focused purely on her mother, staring at her as his jaw works. “Wife, you dare threaten me with this?”
She holds her ground, staring at him with a cool expression. “It’s not a threat, it’s a promise. Let her go with Cain. He loves her, and he can protect her. Or lose us both. Forever.”
He presses his lips into a thin line. “Is this what you want?” he asks Ophelia.
She nods. “I need to have my own life, Daddy. I choose to be back at Verona Falls.”
He lets out a slow breath. “It looks like I have no choice.”
Victory surges inside me, and I rush to Roman and Ophelia. Malachi joins us. Together, we help get Roman to his feet. He sways a little. The attack was short, but damn, it was brutal. He’s probably going to need his face x-rayed.
“And you?” Ophelia says to the doctor. “You will make sure all charges are dropped?”
He pinches the bridge of his nose. “Ophelia, I’ll try my best. Powerful people run that place. And there is footage, and I don’t know where that has gone, or who has it. But yes, I will do all I can to make sure it doesn’t go any further.”
She glares at him. “You’d better, because if it goes to court, everything happening in that place is going to come to light.”
“Nip it in the bud,” her father orders the doctor. “Get the whole place shut down, if you need to.”
His face pales. “I will try my best. I can’t promise anything yet. Like I say, this has gone beyond me, but I can see how it is in everyone’s best interests for this to not go any further. I simply hope I can make them see that.”
“Do whatever it takes,” Ophelia hisses.
I wish she could see herself right now. How strong she’s being. How fucking powerful.
If she did, I’m sure she’d be able to get the Prophet’s voice out of her head.
“Come on. Let’s go.” Mal has one of Roman’s arms slung over his shoulder, and he edges with him toward the door.
Ophelia and I follow, but Ophelia breaks off to hug her mom. “I love you, Mom. Thank you, for everything.”
I notice she doesn’t tell her father she loves him or even say goodbye.
We get to the car, and Malachi carefully places Roman in the back seat.
Ophelia slides next to him. “I’m so sorry, Roman,” she whispers.
“Not … your… fault,” he manages to grind out.
“We need to get him checked out urgently.” Mal shakes his head. “Where the fuck can we take him?”
“Ophelia?” Her mom comes running out of the house toward us.
She holds out a piece of paper, and Ophelia steps back out of the car.
“Before you go back to Verona Falls, take your friend here. I’ve written the address down for you.
It’s a small local hospital, but they have excellent facilities.
They often work for your father, and in the past the family has donated to them.
They owe us, and I have just called. They’re expecting you. ”
Ophelia takes the piece of paper. “I love you so much, Mom.”
“I love you, too, darling. I’m so sorry I ever let them take you to that place.”
They hug for a long time then Ophelia steps away.
“Please keep in touch,” her mom says. “I couldn’t bear to lose you again.”
“I will, I promise.”
Ophelia climbs in the back beside Roman. I take the passenger seat, and Mal slides behind the wheel this time. Ophelia reads out the address of the hospital, and I put it in my phone to get directions.
As we drive away, I glance behind me to see her mom still standing there, watching us leave, right until we disappear around a corner.
“We’ll get you fixed up, Roman,” Ophelia tells him, lightly brushing his hair out of his face, away from the blood.
His only response is a groan.
“Get us there fast.” I keep my voice low so only Mal hears me.
Malachi nods and puts his foot on the accelerator.