Paradise Found: Cain (Paradise #2)(71)

My father glared at me, his nostrils flaring. I’d seen this look before. He was attempting to hide his shock. I’d just admitted the worst of sins to him. I was married and I was honoring her by claiming her as such. His hatred of women in general deemed this the ultimate betrayal.

“Divorce her,” he demanded.

“You already tried that with her,” I balked. “She didn’t fall for it either.”

“That bitch,” he hissed, but my hand was at his throat instantly.

“Don’t you ever talk about her like that. Ever. She’s my wife, and you’ll respect her.”

“Or what?” Atom snarked with a choking sound.

“Or I’ll take back every dime that’s mine. It was my work, not yours. I’m not a minor child any longer. Twenty-four is close enough to twenty-five to take my life back for me. I’ve left you in charge for too long. This is my life,” I said releasing him with a shove. “Mine. Not yours. I will not be my father’s son.” I stood with a huff and my chair fell back with a loud clatter. Not bothering to pick it up, I took a step to walk away. I was finished with my father, but I knew better than to think he was finished with me.

“There’s only one way I’ll let it go,” he called after me. I should have kept walking. I should have blocked out the hint of hope that there was a way to peacefully end this with my father, once and for all.

“You want out? You fight your brother for real. None of that * shit where you told him how to hit, where to throw a punch. A real fight.”

The idea that my father would stop at nothing to prove I was better than Abel was uncanny. There was no stopping him from trying to break Abel. Why? Because my younger brother looked like my mother, because he was more docile like her, or because he viewed Abel as weak like her? I would never have those answers. He was determined that one brother would fight the other, and I would win. It would kill Abel to return to the ring with me. I couldn’t risk it, but I couldn’t risk Sofie. My father had his heel on the throat of the snake, and I was going to be crushed either way.





I was wound tight when I returned to the house but the sight of Sofie barefoot, and in my kitchen, melted away some of the tension. I crept quietly up behind her, where she leaned against the counter cutting something. She was deep in thought as she didn’t hear my approach, or if she did, she wasn’t responding to my presence.

“Damn it,” she muttered under her breath. Instantly, I was behind her, peering over her shoulder to see that her erratic chopping resulted in a missed slice landing across her thumb. Blood flowed quickly out of the cut.

“Here.” Strong arms encircled her, and she jumped back against my chest. The moment she hit me, she flinched a second time, and pulled away from me. Ignoring the flinch, I guided her to the sink and forced her thumb under cold water. The shocking sting made her draw back instantly. A kiss to her neck stilled her. Then she tightened again.

“First you’re jumpy, now you’re rigid,” I mumbled. “What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?”

She wasn’t answering and I pressed the full weight of my body against hers. I was instantly hard, and I wanted her to feel what she did to me. My attempt to distract whatever thoughts clouded her mind didn’t seem to be working.

“Before I take you against this counter, I want to know what’s making you fidget,” I demanded low in her ear, but she only shook her head in response. My free hand outlined the side of her and she closed her eyes. She was fighting me, but why? My heavy length pressed against her ass, letting her know I was fully intending to take her against the kitchen counter, in order to get her to open up to me. She shivered against me.

“Do I frighten you, Sofie?” It came out commanding, but concern filled me. I didn’t want her to ever be afraid of me. I was more frightened of her. She would kill me if she left again.

She shook her head, but no words left her mouth.

“My father scares you, doesn’t he?” I asked, in silent hopes this was her fear. I didn’t want her to be afraid that he would hurt her, but I’d prefer she was scared of him over me.

“He’s a powerful man,” she whispered.

“I’m going to protect you,” I assured her with a tender kiss under her ear, as relief flooded me. It was true. I would not let him anywhere near her.

“What if he really does go after my family? My innocent grandparents? My Papa?” she questioned, still watching blood mix with water.

“He’s going after his own instead,” I groaned, resting my forehead against her shoulder and removing her hand from where I held it under the cool spray. She instantly began to bleed again and I stared as the blood dripped from her into the sink. The water swirled with red. A river of blood streamed toward the drain.

“What do you mean?” She tried to twist her neck to look at me, but my large body and solid forehead held her firm. I couldn’t face her.

“He’s pitting Abel and me against each other again.” Her body grew tense against mine. “He wants a rematch.”

She twisted as best she could to face me, and I returned to holding her hostage with my pelvis.

“You wouldn’t?” she stressed, searching my face, willing my eyes to look at her, but I kept them carefully averted.

“You know I’d do anything for you, Sofie,” I emphasized, dragging her hand up to my mouth, and sucking on her thumb that resumed bleeding with the fresh air. Holding it in my mouth as a human bandage, I swallowed her blood. A blood bond. She was my blood and I was making a pact with her. The cobra struck and continued to suck the blood of the woman. The snake and the female would be joined together forever. There was nothing I wouldn’t do to protect her. My eyes closed for a moment, keeping the intensity of her stare away from me. I sucked harder then released her thumb.