None of us spoke the entire drive home. It wasn’t until we all piled out of the limo, and Brian told the driver he could leave since he planned to stay with me for a while, that my father finally exploded. “Actually,” he said to Brian, “you can climb right back in that fancy car and leave. You’re no longer welcome in my home.”
“Dad!” I gasped.
Jennifer, Juliette, and Ana stopped heading for the house and turned to see what was happening. Brian asked the driver to wait a few minutes, and the man nodded, then kindly rolled up his window to give us a little privacy. When Brian turned back around to face my father, he looked surprisingly calm. I knew it was taking him some serious effort, though.
He stepped away from the car, holding his hand out to me while never taking his eyes off of my father. My heart melted at the way he reached for me. Even with my father telling him to leave and never come back, he wanted me at his side. I happily indulged him, sidling up next to him and leaning into him when he put his arm around my waist.
“Mr. Coleman,” he said, his low voice filled with apology, “I can’t tell you how sorry I am for what happened today. My father was completely out of line, and you have my word that I will never involve your family with him again. He and I will be having a long discussion later.”
My father wasn’t moved in the least by Brian’s apology. “Well, that’s good for you,” he spat. “But I still don’t want you anywhere near my family ever again. It was not your father’s fault that my girls were exposed to that horror today.”
“Yes, it was, Dad. Max posted our location online. He—”
“Stop making excuses for him, Ellamara!” Dad glared at me so hard that Brian stiffened, and his grip on me tightened. “It wasn’t Max Oliver that made Erik Clarke come after you girls at the mall the other day. It wasn’t Brian’s father that has destroyed your life and stolen all of your privacy. You girls were bombarded today because of him.” He thrust his finger at Brian. “All of this has been his fault, and it ends now.”
Maybe claiming that Brian had ruined my life was what broke the seal on Brian’s temper, but I suspect it was the fact that my father was yelling at me, taking his anger and frustration out on me, and, in not so many words, blaming me for what happened because I was dating Brian.
“My fault?” he roared. “I may be famous, and I may draw attention to Ella, but what happened to her today was not my fault. Have you seen that video? I’m not the person who suggested Ella give up her virginity for Christmas. I didn’t drag her into a lingerie store and pressure her to push the boundaries of what she’s comfortable with!”
“Brian,” I whispered, trying to settle him a little.
He didn’t stop. “Who dragged Ella into that store and picked out a bunch of lingerie for her? Who was joking around with her boyfriend about letting him pick out sexy underwear for her at seventeen years old? Those perverts were attacking your daughters because of Ana’s bad choices! If she hadn’t been at the mall with Ella last week, Erik Clarke might have got a cute video of Ella joking around in Barnes & Noble or Wizards of the Coast. I’d have been outed as a big nerd, and that’s it. Nobody would be asking Ella to take her clothes off to make a statement for the world or throwing thongs in her face or exposing themselves to her. Today would have been nothing more than a few fans wanting to take pictures of us, and your family would still be blissfully obscure. If you want to blame someone for today’s mess, blame Ana. This was her fault, and, in fact, she’s been the cause of every horrible thing Ella’s endured since moving to your home. If you’re so concerned with your daughter’s well-being, where the hell were you for the last few months while your other daughter tortured her and made her life miserable, huh? Or is it only the twins you’re really concerned about?”
“Brian.”
I tugged on his arm to get his attention and snap him out of his rant. He flinched and took several deep breaths when he met my gaze. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay. I know you’re upset about all of this, but it wasn’t Ana’s fault. She didn’t mean for this to happen. She was ambushed and tricked as much as I was.”
I cast a glance toward Ana. She, Juliette, and Jennifer were all gaping at Brian. Ana’s face was paler than I’d ever seen it. She noticed me looking her way, and instead of glaring at me like I expected, cast her gaze to the ground.
“I’m sorry,” Brian said again. After another breath, he raised his voice a little louder and said, “Ana, I’m sorry. Ella’s right. It wasn’t your fault, either. I shouldn’t have blamed you; I’m just frustrated. I never wanted this to happen to Ella or to any of you.”
“Then you shouldn’t have dragged her into your life,” my dad snapped. “As long as you’re dating her, you’re going to keep hurting her. You’re going to keep dragging her into the media, and you’ll never be able to control it. And now your fame is hurting the rest of my family. I don’t care whose fault today was. The truth is, if you weren’t dating Ella, none of this would have happened. I can’t stop her from seeing you, but I sure as hell can make you stay away from the rest of my family. I want you off my property, and I want you to stay away from my family. If you don’t, I’ll have a restraining order slapped on you, and I’ll have you thrown in jail any time you come near any of them.”
“DAD!” I couldn’t believe this was happening. Yeah, my dad is a prosecuting attorney, but I never dreamed he’d use that to hurt someone I loved. “You’re being unfair.”
“No, Ella,” Brian said. His anger was gone. He was calm again. He shook his head as he stared at my father. “The man has a right to protect his family. I will respect that.”
I wanted to punch my father right in his smug face. My jaw quivered as I fought the urge to cry. “Brian, this is not your fault.” I took a breath and tried to get my voice to stop shaking. “Don’t let him make you feel like you deserve this kind of treatment. You don’t.”
When Brian gave me a soft, sad smile, my heart stopped. I assumed my father had finally gotten to him and that he was going to break up with me for my own good. “Brian,” I whispered, as all the blood drained from my face. “Don’t listen to him, okay? I don’t care about the fame. I swear. You’ve brought far more good to my life than anyone besides my mother ever has. I need you.”
He surprised me by pulling me into his arms and kissing my forehead. “I need you, too, Ellamara. Don’t worry; I am way too selfish to give you up.”
Thank heavens the man was spoiled.
He squeezed me tightly and then pulled back to look into my eyes. “I will respect your father’s wishes, because asking me to leave is his right. But…” He hesitated, a rare flash of insecurity crossing his face. He swallowed and reached up to tuck my hair behind my ear. “Will you come with me?”
“Of course.” How could he think I wouldn’t? Like I wanted to have Christmas dinner with my father after what he just did?
“No. I mean…will you come with me permanently? Will you agree to move in with me now?”
My dad gasped. “What?”
We both ignored his outburst. “You see what I mean about Vivian’s place not being safe for you, right?” Brian asked. “I love Vivian and her dads, and I wish you could go there because I know you would be happy and comfortable there, but you just can’t. I’m so sorry.”
“I know,” I admitted with a shudder. “I won’t go to Vivan’s.”
After what happened at the theater today, there was no way I was going to live somewhere where anyone could walk right up to my home and peek in the windows. Or break through them. And there was no way I’d even consider bringing that kind of drama to Vivian or her fathers. It was bad enough Juliette and Anastasia had been sucked in.
“So will you come?”
Before I could answer, my father took over the conversation. “No, she most certainly will not come,” he growled. “She’s staying here.”
Brian closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying once again to keep a lid on his temper. “Your father’s place is better than Vivian’s. I’ll understand if you want to stay. But I would feel better if you came with me.” He frowned. “Especially since I’ve just been banned from the property.”
At the reminder, I glared at my father. He jutted his chin out and folded his arms, unwilling to relent in the slightest. He was as impossible as this situation. “Fine.” I looked back at Brian and forced a small smile. “Okay.” I blew out a breath as the enormity of what I was agreeing to settled in. “Okay, yes. I’ll come with you.”
Brian’s eyes widened just the tiniest bit, as if he’d been sure I was going to stay home. “We’re in this together,” I said, squirming with sudden apprehension. I wasn’t ready for this, but I didn’t have another choice. “I need you, and if you aren’t welcome here, well, then…” I took another deep breath, trying to settle my nerves. “My staying here isn’t an option.”
The expression on Brian’s face right then was worth everything I’d been through this week. It was a face I’d only seen on him once before—when we had dinner together at FantasyCon. It was the wonder-filled look of a man who thought all of his dreams had just come true. His tiny, overwhelmed smile took my breath way. As did the light touch of his fingers when he took my face in his hands. “Thank you,” he rasped, and brought my lips to his in a soft kiss. “I promise I will be a perfect gentleman.” He paused, thought about it, and a ghost of a smile crossed his face as he tacked on, “Most of the time.”
A quiet, semi-hysterical bark of laughter bubbled up from my chest. Brian registered my fear and leaned his forehead against mine. “Don’t be nervous,” he whispered. “This isn’t about me, okay? It’s about what you need. You have nothing to fear from me.”
“Okay.” Nodding, I gave myself a mental pep talk. I trusted him. I did. But I was still scared and completely overwhelmed by the idea of moving in with him. “Okay, just give me a few minutes to pack a bag. I can worry about everything else later.”
He let go of me, and I took a small step back. I was really doing this. I was moving in with Brian Oliver. With Cinder.
I met my stepsister’s eyes. “Hey, Jules?” I said quietly. “Will you help me pack a few things?”
Juliette looked as overwhelmed as I felt. She looked sad but understanding and gave me a small smile as she nodded. I got one step before my dad stopped me. Judging from the look on his face, he still didn’t quite believe what was happening. “Ellamara, no. Juliette, don’t bother.” He shot her a warning glance and then shook his head at me again. His mouth flopped open and closed several times, until his face finally flushed with anger and he found his scowl again. “You are not moving in with him. You’ve known him less than two weeks. It’s…it’s…preposterous. Out of the question.”
Brian stepped up to my father and met his glare with a calm, confident stare. “This isn’t your decision to make.”
Brian spoke respectfully, but Dad was not about to take any kind of orders from him. “The hell it’s not! She’s my daughter.”
“She’s an adult,” Brian said. “And she’s better off with me.”
Dad pulled in a breath so sharp it whistled in his nose. “You think you can take better care of my daughter than I can?”
Dad was grinding his teeth so hard I think he spit that whole question out with his jaw locked shut. Brian matched his rigid posture and leaned toward him, looking very much like a pit bull straining against a tight leash. “I have no doubt,” he growled. “I’ve already been the main man in her life for over three years now. You may have brought her into this world, but you don’t deserve to call yourself her father.”
Dad’s face went from red to purple. “How dare you suggest I don’t deserve—”
“How dare you presume that you do!” Brian shouted. “You have no right to lecture her about her choices or try to tell her what to do. She is ten times the adult you ever were. You want to lecture Ella and me about our relationship? HA! At her age, you managed to knock a woman up who wasn’t even your girlfriend, and then you blamed your child when the woman refused to get an abortion. Like it was Ella’s fault you couldn’t keep it in your pants.”
Everyone gasped except me. I couldn’t breathe enough to gasp. I was simply frozen in astonishment as I watched this train wreck. I didn’t try and stop Brian. He’d had a problem with my dad’s attitude since the first time they met. Dad had been awful, judgmental, and unfair to Brian from the get-go, and frankly, Brian deserved to rail on him for a change.
“You didn’t even have the balls to divorce your wife before you started sleeping around on her. Nor did you bother to say good-bye to your daughter when you finally decided to abandon her. You left her for ten years, you bastard. You’re nothing but an irresponsible, unfaithful coward who never wanted his daughter in the first place. You have no idea who Ella is or what she needs. So, no. You don’t deserve her, and you’re damn straight I can take better care of her than you. I already do!”
Brian’s chest heaved as he worked to regain control of himself now that he’d spoken his peace. When he saw my stunned expression, he held his hand out to me again. He didn’t apologize this time for the things he’d said in anger. I didn’t think he’d ever apologize. He wasn’t the least bit sorry.
“Fine,” Dad spat when I took Brian’s hand again. This time, he glared at us both. “If you want her so badly, then take her, you arrogant son of a bitch. And good riddance.”
I sucked in a breath, and my knees nearly buckled from the pain that ripped through my chest. Candy Cane was the only thing that kept me on my feet until Brian wrapped his arm around me and held me upright against his chest.
“Ella may have signed up for your bullshit,” my father continued to rant, “but my family didn’t. I don’t want them exposed to it anymore, so get the hell out of here, and don’t ever come back.”
I waited for tears to come, but they didn’t. At the moment, I was too numb to cry. He’d hurt me too deeply this time. My dad checked himself when he saw whatever look of devastation was on my face, but it was too late for him. An apology would mean nothing to me after that.
“Your family?” I asked. I sounded as dead as I felt. “So once again, it comes down to you and your family, and me. Two separate things. And you’re only claiming one of those things.”
After he realized his error, his face fell and he choked out my name in a strangled apology. I pinched my eyes shut and shook my head, not wanting to hear his excuses. “No, I get it. Good riddance to me. I’m trouble, and your real family didn’t ask for it. You didn’t. Isn’t that right?”
“Ella, I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to!” I screamed.
My voice cracked, and Brian hugged me to him even harder. He was holding me so tightly I could barely breathe, but I wished he could squeeze me even more. I was breaking apart, and he was the only thing holding me together. “Don’t worry, Dad,” I said, voice trembling with both anger and despair. “You just got what you’ve always wanted. You’re free of me. Absolved. I’m not your problem anymore.”
“Ella…I didn’t—”
“No.” I nodded toward Jennifer and the twins. Ana still looked pale, and both Jennifer and Juliette had tears streaming down their faces. “You go take care of them. They’re the ones you really love. They’re the ones you picked, after all. Now it’s my turn to make a choice. I haven’t needed you for years, and I don’t need you now. Brian was there for me when you weren’t. He wanted me when you didn’t. He loves me unconditionally, whereas you can’t.”
I paused, a small part of me waiting for my dad to correct me. He didn’t. It was another razor-sharp cut to my heart, but not a surprise. I nodded my acceptance of the truth and whispered, “If you can choose a new family, then so can I.” I pulled my face away from Brian’s chest and looked up at him. “If you’ll have me?”
Brian’s eyes fell shut as he pulled my head back to his chest. He trembled slightly as he held me. “Forever,” he promised fervently. “You know that.”
I nodded against his chest, and my eyes finally brimmed over with tears. I was so raw from being gutted by my father that Brian’s complete and utter devotion to me felt equally as sharp as my heartbreak. I was so overwhelmed by his love that I couldn’t breathe. The warring feelings of my father’s rejection and Brian’s acceptance were so intense I felt ready to collapse. Shaking so hard that my teeth clattered, I stuttered out my next request. “C-can w-we p-please g-get o-out of h-here?”
Brian ushered me to the back of the waiting limo without a word. As he opened the door for me, I refused to look back, even after my dad called out to me in a desperate plea. “Ella, wait.”
It was Brian who responded. “No.” His voice was as cold, hard, and as sharp as ice. “Ella is done. That was the last time you will ever break her heart.”
The statement sounded like a threat. One that not even my father—a man who laughed at threats from some of the state’s most vicious criminals—dared argue against.
“Let’s go, Ella.”
At his soft nudge, I climbed in the car. He scooted in beside me, gave his address to the driver, and silently held me all the way to his house.
After we walked through Brian’s front door and it closed behind us, the reality of all that had just happened finally slammed down on me. “He did it again,” I whispered. I took a step and stumbled as my body started to go into shock. “He gave me up. He told me to go. He chose his new family over me. Again.”
Brian looked as tortured and heartbroken as me. “Ella, I’m so sorry.”
He wrapped me in his arms, and this time when I buried my face in his chest, the dam holding back my emotions finally broke. I collapsed into violent sobs and barely felt it when Brian scooped me into his arms and carried me to his bed. He laid me down and then climbed onto the bed beside me. I curled into him and let myself shatter into a million pieces.
“I’m here,” Brian whispered as he held me. “I’ve got you, Ellamara, and I’m never going to let go. Not ever.”
And he didn’t. Not while I cried in his arms for hours, and not after I finally passed out. He stayed there in that bed, holding me tightly all night long. We missed dinner; we never bothered to change out of our clothes. Brian never even got up to pee. He literally held me without letting go, until long after the sun came up the next morning.