Broken Wings (A Romantic Suspense)(44)

“He didn’t really say anything about her at all.”

My mother nods as the bacon starts to sizzle.

“Your father is not a killer.”

“But—”

She cuts me off sharply. “I know. He works with bad people, or bad people work for him. He’s not a killer, though. It’s part of how he does business.”

I stare at her, aghast.

“Are you defending him?”

She looks up at me, hard. “You were in that car, too. I know it’s hard to believe, but your father loves you…in his way. It’s a sick, hurtful, hateful way, because that’s who he is. But he’d never try to kill you. You mean too much to him. Maybe not as a person. You’re his legacy.”

My knuckles go white as I grip the countertop. “No, I’m not. I’m nothing like him. This is the end of it.”

She glances toward the kitchen. “You and her. Then what?”

“I don’t know, I’ll figure something out. I’m not staying with the company. I don’t want to be his legacy. Ellie’s got some money she inherited, that will start us off. We’ll be better off than most people. I have skills, I can find work.”

“Can you? With your father pulling strings against you?”

“He can’t reach everywhere.”

“He won’t let you go.”

“He let you go.”

She sighs. “He got what he wanted out of me.”

She pokes my chest.

Mom watches the bacon and prods it with her tongs.

“He was so charming. I thought I was in a fairy tale. I was Cinderella. The billionaire heir wanted me, of all the girls at our school. I was like a project for him. He did something to win my heart every day. Until you were born, and then I was nothing. Then the other women started, younger, more pliant girls that never wanted anything but dates and gifts. I don’t blame them, I blame myself for not realizing I was in the same position, he just wanted a little more out of me.”

“I’m sorry, Mom.”

I take her in my arms and she hugs me back.

“Don’t be like him. Don’t hurt that little girl out there, Jack. If you’re going to get bored with her or find somebody else, don’t do this to her. I can see it in her, she can’t take a blow like that. She’s like a glass that already has a big crack in it. One hit and she’ll shatter. Don’t be like him.”

I choke down a bit of anger. “I’m not like him at all. I’m starting to get sick of people warning me not to be.”

She sighs. “I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want to be Richard Marshall’s son. I just want to be Jack.”

Mom smiles a little and turns the bacon.

“Ellie likes it crispy.”

Mom glances at me. “You don’t, though.”

“Yeah, but I want her to have it the way she wants it.”

Mom nods. She’s quiet until the bacon finishes cooking and she layers up some club sandwiches. I walk them out while she carries the drinks. I lay one in front of Ellie. The girls get regular sandwiches and eat hungrily, even if it’s a little early.

They’re kids. They can probably eat all day.

Ellie looks like a bird staring down a cat. I sit next to her and take her gloved hand in mine. She doesn’t react when I touch her fingers, she can’t really feel it, but when I rub the back of her hand she notices and smiles at me.

Sara, my older half sister, looks at us. “Are you going to start kissing?”

“Sara!” Mom barks, “don’t say things like that.”

“Well look at them,” she protests. “They’re all staring at each other and stuff.”

Ellie looks down. I lean over and peck her scarred cheek. I know she can barely feel it but she looks at me, shocked, anyway.

It works. She turns my way so I can plant a full kiss on her lips.

My mother and my sisters stare at us. Ellie turns beet red and awkwardly tries to stuff sandwich in her mouth. She takes dainty little bites the way she does and nudges closer to me, until her shoulder touches mine.

“Are you okay?” Melissa asks. “You look a little sick.”

Ellie takes a deep breath. “It’s hard for me to be around people. You don’t have to eat with me if you want. I know it can’t be pleasant to look at me while you’re eating.”

Mom touches her arm. “Oh, honey, whoever told you that? We don’t mind. Right girls?”

They both nod.

“I keep telling her how beautiful she is, but she doesn’t want to hear it.”

“I know you’re all pretending,” she blurts out. “I must make you sick. I’m sorry.”

“No,” my mother says, rubbing her arm. “Honey, that’s not true.”

“I can’t—”

“Let’s—” I start.

“Come with me,” Mom says, taking her arm.





Ellie





Jack’s mother takes my arm and leads me into the kitchen then closes the door. I slump against the refrigerator and almost fall down, my chest heaving. She half pulls me up and gives me a tight hug, patting my back with her hands.

“I’m sorry about the girls. I’m sure they’re just confused by the way you look. Don’t mind Melissa, she can be really bratty. She’s probably jealous of you.”