Marek (Cold Fury Hockey #11)(46)
A few moments roll by, and Marek doesn’t move. His eyes are locked on Owen and his jaw is clenched so tight I’m afraid his teeth might crack.
“Think of the season starting,” I continue in a soft voice. “You don’t want to get in trouble.”
I get nothing from him, muscles still coiled taut and hatred in his eyes as he glares at Owen.
“Marek,” I implore, but he won’t look at me. “Think of Lilly. I don’t want to have to explain to her why her daddy is in jail.”
And just like that, Marek’s body loosens and he drops his eyes to me. I can still see the heat bubbling deep within, now tempered a bit with frustration that he can’t beat the shit out of Owen.
He takes in a breath and nods. I let my hands drop away from him, and turn to face Owen.
But it’s Marek who does the talking. His voice is surprisingly cool and collected when he says, “Get off my property. And if I catch you anywhere near Gracen or Lilly again, trust me when I say you’ll regret it.”
Owen doesn’t say a word, but turns his smirk my way. He points is finger right at me, which can be taken in no way other than a threat. “You’re a bad daughter, Gracen. Tell Mommy and Daddy I said hello.”
“Go fuck yourself, Owen,” I snarl back at him, letting my anger finally win out over the pressing guilt weighing down on me.
I should have left well enough alone, because Owen gives a delighted laugh, lowering his hand. He shakes his head, amused over the little bit of fight he sees within me. “Can’t believe you’re letting your parents down like that, Gracen. No loyalty whatsoever.”
“What the fuck is he talking about?” Marek asks in a low voice.
I ignore Marek.
I ignore Owen.
I turn my back on both of them and march into the house. I’m filled with anger and disgust and downright helplessness. It makes me want to throw up, so I hightail it up the stairs to my bathroom.
Leaning over my sink, I splash cold water on my face, taking deep breaths. Not only was that about the most unpleasant confrontation I’ve ever had in my life, but now I’ve got to figure some things out where my parents are concerned. I know about the only thing left to do is to call them and tell them that I couldn’t save their house.
Not that they really knew I was trying to save it, but maybe we can discuss it and come up with another solution. Maybe they can go to the bank and work out a monthly payment that’s acceptable and I could afford. I make decent money as a nurse, and I’ve got no real expenses while living here at Marek’s.
I bend over, cup another handful of water, and dunk my face into it. As the water dribbles away, I straighten up, only to find Marek standing behind me. His reflection in the mirror puts me on edge.
“What was Owen talking about?” His voice is hard, giving me some inkling that he’s not going to accept a bullshit story.
“It’s nothing,” I say as I grab the towel to wipe my face off. When I turn to face Marek, I add, “Just some personal financial stuff you don’t have to worry about.”
A muscle ticks in Marek’s jaw and he crosses his arms over his chest.
God, what a chest, I think, and my face goes warm remembering how I slept on top of it last night.
“Try again,” Marek says through gritted teeth. “That guy has something over you and your parents, and he’s clearly batshit crazy coming all the way down here to taunt you with it. Now, you may not think it’s any of my business, but Lilly lives in this house and I want to know what’s going on.”
His proclamation that he’s now Lilly’s chief protector is both warming and humiliating to me. I love how much he innately loves her, but it’s also a clear reminder that I’m lacking in my abilities to provide and protect as well as he can.
“It’s nothing I can’t handle—”
“Gracen,” Marek says in a low voice. “The truth.”
My mouth opens and closes as if it wants to let the words pour out, but they just don’t come. I’m too humiliated to admit to him how stupid I was to agree to marry someone essentially for money. It wouldn’t be my money, but Owen would handle my parents’ debt.
“Last chance,” Marek says ominously.
I swallow hard, but I can’t bring myself to admit what a dumbass I am.
“Stubborn as ever,” Marek mutters softly, and spins away from me. As he heads out of my bedroom, I hear him say, “I’m sure your parents can tell me what’s going on.”
It takes several seconds for his words to penetrate, but then I’m flying down the stairs to catch up with him. I find him in his bedroom, flipping through his contacts. It doesn’t surprise me at all he’d still have my parents’ cell phone numbers.
“Marek, don’t,” I hiss at him as I make a grab for his phone. He turns away from me, stabbing his finger on the screen.
He puts the phone to his ear, dodges a second attempt by me to get the phone, and then I’m frozen when he says, “Sheryl, hey, it’s Marek.”
I imagine my mom has to be shocked as hell to be getting a call from him. Whatever my mom is saying on the other line causes a fond smile to tip the corners of Marek’s mouth up.
His voice is tender when he says, “Yeah, it’s good to hear your voice too.”
My chest squeezes hard, and then I feel a warm, gooey sensation flood through me. Marek loved my parents as I loved his. He still cares for them, and that touches me deeply.