51. Brogan #3
“Yes, I’d used that money to try to flee, but Nash had found out everything about Stanley, my father, and the others, and he switched alliances.
He’s been protecting me ever since. I’ve been kept so disconnected from the world that I hadn’t realized what had been happening back here.
Once I found out you’d actually been arrested, I came back to get you out of jail. ”
“It would’ve been nicer to have come back earlier so I never would’ve had to have been there to begin with.”
“I know, and I'm sorry. You could never imagine the horror your father and those other men put me through since I was fifteen. I’d been forced to have sex with them in many different ways… and sometimes with multiple men at the same time. They’d stolen my innocence and what I’d believed to be any chance I had at happiness.
My father, no matter how many times I’d tried to bail him out of that gambling addiction of his, never helped.
One of these days, it’ll fucking kill him, and not a moment too soon.
I hate him for what he'd done to me. You can't imagine what it's like living with a father who cares so little about your own well-being.”
“I know exactly what that's like. Living with my father was no picnic.”
“Your father actually loves you, whereas my father never loved me.”
I chuckled sarcastically. “Stanley Sinclair loves nothing but power and control. I’ve never been anything to him other than a puppet whose entire life he’d tried to manipulate.
The very fact that he'd known you were alive all this time and could’ve done something about it is confirmation enough.
He allowed me to go to prison and would’ve kept me there forever.
It’s no wonder that he’d told me he could get me out at any time if I’d do his bidding. ”
“The hate I have for that man just grows and grows,” Enslee mused. That was something we could both agree on.
“They’d hurt me so much. Brogan. Your father was maybe even the cruelest.”
“You threatened me that night at the restaurant,” I reminded her.
“I didn't want you to come looking for me. I wanted you to think I’d left. Never did I imagine they’d believe I’d disappeared under suspicious circumstances.
I hadn’t even known they considered me missing until I’d been in Cancun.
Your father reached out to me via Nash and threatened me to keep my mouth shut. ”
“And you trust this guy? I wouldn’t trust anyone my father hired.”
“I've said the same thing,” Enslee cut in.
“I know, but he's not working for him anymore. Let's just say that the forced proximity had an effect on the both of us. I love him, and he loves me. Once done here, we’re going to run off together. I’d already told the authorities that I’m returning to Mexico so this situation won't repeat itself.”
I stood up and was thankful I hadn’t called my father to thank the bastard.
Now, I wanted to strangle him not only for what he did to Layla, but for what he did to me and continued to do to me.
The rage boiling inside was almost to its bubbling point.
I started to pace back and forth as something began crawling beneath my skin.
I could almost hear Declan’s voice as he nagged me about my medication.
“I'll be right back,” I told them as I walked back into my bathroom and grabbed my medication from the medicine cabinet.
I quickly took the pills because I didn't want either Enslee or Layla to see me revert to the state I could already feel myself succumbing to.
My will was strong, but my mind couldn't fully conquer the darkness within me.
And after hearing more sick shit about my father, there were even more demons joining the others already there.
When I returned to the great room, both women were standing up. Enslee was hugging Layla as she sobbed. I stared at her and realized it was the first time I’d ever seen her actually cry, and it looked genuine. She looked at me over Enslee’s shoulder, then pulled away from the other woman.
“I know we haven't always gotten along or have really ever liked one another.”
“That's an understatement, but I’d never wish any abuse on you.”
“And I would’ve never allowed this to happen to you on purpose.
I’d never wanted to hurt you. Please believe me and accept my sincerest apologies.
I came to make this right, but I now must leave the city because it's not safe here.
Once your father finds out you've been freed, he's going to know it's because of me.”
“I understand. Do you need me to take you somewhere?”
“No, Nash is waiting outside for me.”
“And you, Enslee,” I said, and she looked over at me. “I’d like to speak to you privately.”
“Okay,” she responded..
Layla walked over to me, and she almost looked as if she wanted to hug me, but then she reached out her hand instead. Grabbing it, I pulled her hard against my chest as I wrapped one arm around her. Leaning toward her ear, I said two words I never thought I’d say to her. “Thank you.”
From there, she stepped back and flashed a watery smile at me before quickly wiping her eyes. “I hope you have a great life, Brogan. I'm truly sorry for everything I've done to destroy yours to this point.”
“Likewise,” I responded. “Be safe out there.”
“I will,” was the last thing she said before she disappeared out the door.