Chapter 39
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Hennessy: Love is messy, but beautiful.
My mind was spinning. “That’s so silly. If they loved each other, they should’ve been able to be together. My father was a legacy family. Why couldn’t she just marry into that instead?”
“I opposed,” Mr. Devereaux chimed in. “I was so young… so full of myself… I didn’t want the shame of another man winning the love of my life.
I couldn’t allow her to humiliate me like that, choosing to marry another man over me.
My dignity couldn’t stand for it.” He shook his head in disappointment.
“I wouldn’t have survived the embarrassment. Everyone knew she was promised to me.”
“Wow,” I rasped. “So your ego won out over their lives?”
He locked eyes with me. “Yes, it did, and I’ve lived with the regret. I thought I could look the other way. As long as she didn’t leave me, I’d let her live a double life until I found out Deja wasn’t mine… then I turned into a man out for vengeance, and the council does love their blood.”
There was no denying it. “You had them killed.”
He didn’t reply, but he didn’t have to. The truth was written clear across his face in bright, bold lettering.
“I’m sorry, Hennessy. That’s all I can offer you now. But please know, I’m in debt to you for saving my life, and I know there’ll come a time when you collect. I look forward to it.”
I thought about what he offered. What could I possibly need from this man? He’d taken my father from me. I wanted to hate him, and I’d be lying if I said, had I known this prior to pledging my oath to the Brotherhood, I still would’ve sacrificed myself for him, but what was done was done.
There was no use in crying over spilled blood now.
The doctor had wrapped my hand, and I squeezed it tight, trying to be strong and not hold grudges or seek revenge. It was what started all of this to begin with. I refused to be like them. I wouldn’t let them change who I was.
I did what felt right. “I forgive you.”
He slightly nodded. “I appreciate that more than you’ll ever know.”
With that, he gestured to Onyx to follow him out on the balcony. Once Onyx shut the double glass doors behind him, my uncle handed me his cell phone.
At first, I was confused. Glancing at the screen, I saw my mother’s name.
Feeling wary, I greeted, “Hola, Mamá.”
She replied, “I’m sorry you had to find out this way.”
“How could you keep this from me?”
“I was scared. We all were. Please don’t be mad at your tío. He was trying his best to keep his distance from you. It’s why he’s been so absent and cold to you. He was trying to keep you away from him.”
“This would be the way of things until I graduated, had I not known the truth? Does the town know? Everyone at Graves treats me like I’m a leper.”
“Hennessy, you know more than anyone knows about legends and myths and the power of whispers through generations.”
“This is a mess.”
“It won’t be anymore.”
“How can you say that? Look what I’ve had to do—”
“You’re still a woman in a man’s society. They’re not going to treat you as such. They want your secrecy, not your future. It’ll open a lot of doors for you.”
“I don’t want any of them.”
“That’s your choice to make, and I couldn’t continue to make it for you. Do you understand that?”
“Yeah,” I said.
“I need you to know something.”
“More secrets?”
“Last one.”
“Alright.”
“The protection bracelet your grandmother gave you. It was your father's.”
I glanced at my uncle as he reached into the pocket of his slacks, handing it over to me.
I grabbed it, looking at it. “She said she made it.”
“She did. She made it for him the first week he was at the lodge. She told him that he looked like a man who needed it. He never took it off until he gave it to me to give to you. I returned it to your grandmother, and you know the rest.”
I inhaled. “I’m exhausted, Mamá. I don’t know what to say to you to make this alright between us.”
“One day when you’re a mother, you’ll understand. Your father adored you, Hennessy. Our relationship had nothing to do with how much he loved you. He loved both of you.”
“Then you know about Deja too?”
“Having a sibling is the strongest connection you can share with anyone in the world.”
“She doesn’t know the truth, and I hate that things have to be this way.”
“It’s why I made sure you attended the Graves. It’s the way things should be. Your ancestors started that Academy, and it’s your right to be there.”
“My ancestors also started our lodge, Mamá.”
“Yes, and your childhood will always be here. This is your home. It doesn’t change just because you live somewhere else.”
“If my father is a legacy family, why didn’t he have an arranged marriage?”
“He didn’t want one. Your father was a wild man, and they get to choose if they want to marry or not.”
“What do you know about the Brotherhood? Was he happy?”
“He was a rebel like you. He wanted to find his own identity. Every day you remind me more of him.”
“You sure that’s not why you sent me away?”
“No, mi amor, and I know you don’t believe that.”
She was right. I didn’t.
“Anything else I need to know?”
She chuckled. “I don’t think so, but if you have any more questions, you can always call me.”
I inhaled another deep breath.
“I do have a question for you.”
“Okay.”
I could see her smiling. “Tell me all about the boy.”
It was my turn to chuckle as I looked out the window, trying to find Onyx, only to see his intense stare was already on me.
Onyx
“Onyx,” my father interrupted. Are you listening to me?”
“Mm-hmm…” Hennessy’s gaze connected with mine before I brought my attention back to him.
“Are you alright?”
“Depends on your definition.”
He nodded in understanding. “I’d like to apologize to you too. I was wrong about the girl… Hennessy.”
“Yeah.” I slid my hands into the pockets of my jeans. “You’re wrong about a lot of things.”
“Careful, Son. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
“Don’t I know it.”
“Do you think Deja suspects anything?”
I shook my head.
“And Caspian? He is trustworthy?”
“He took a beating for Hennessy and me. I’m sure of it.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
“You know, for a father who obviously loves her, you should try to show it to her sometime.”
“She doesn’t need my love. She has you.”
“She doesn’t need to be married off to a stranger either.”
He shrugged. “That’s not how things work.”
“I’m well aware. Just stating facts.”
“You got what you wanted, Onyx. You should be content with that.”
“Yeah, well, you got what you wanted too, and I don’t see you content with shit.”
He smiled, gripping my shoulder. “Again, Son, the apple does not fall far from the tree.”
With that, he squeezed my shoulder, but at the last second, he threw his arms around me. At first, I didn’t know if this was actually happening or if I was hallucinating. I couldn’t tell you a time when my father ever hugged me.
I stood there for a few seconds completely frozen, unsure of how to react to his blatant display of affection until he tucked his face into my neck, whispering, “Your mother made me understand what love was, and to this day, it still feels like a prison sentence. Every day I look at the two of you, and I’m reminded of her demons.
I’ve spent years trying to work through that, but I am who I am. ”
Slowly, I embraced him, wrapping my arms around his waist.
I swear I felt a tear drop onto my skin as he wholeheartedly expressed, “Deja may not be my blood, but I’d take a bullet for her too.
You’re both my children, and that will never change.
I love you, Onyx Devereaux, and I’m proud as fuck of the man you’ve become.
I need you to understand, the Brotherhood isn’t my damnation for you. ”
In one breath, he added…
“It’s my salvation.”