Throughout dinner, herfather carried on conversation as if it was a normal ordinary,everyday, gathering. She wanted to throw something at him. So forthe most part she kept her head bowed, and just picked at herfood.
“Ivan said you went for arun,” her father stated.
So much for being leftalone. That statement was meant for her. She brought her head upand looked at Ivan. Her eyes narrowed.
He glanced away andpretended to eat.
She was angry. Onebodyguard was enough. She didn’t need to be spied on by one of herfather’s goons.
“That is good, isn’t it?You are getting better.”
Her mouth fell open.Better? She had a breakdown in the middle of a public beach andwoke up screaming the night before! Suddenly she felt Ryan’s handon hers under the table. He gave it a squeeze, then released her.She looked up at him but he never indicated he did that. She knewwhy. Her father would not give up until she answered him and Ryanwas telling her to do just that; to say something to get him toleave her alone. How she knew that, surprised her, but she took theunspoken advice against her own wishes. She took a long deepbreath. “I did. It was fine.”
“Good! That’s great news.”Peter lifted a glass of wine in a silent cheer and took a longdrink.
She really hated him. Heacted as if it was nothing, what she went through. She stared athim for a long while waiting for some indication that it botheredhim that she was locked in a dark room and tortured, that she heardthe screams of her sister; screams that she will never get out ofher head.
“Next week, I’m having aparty. I want you there, proper. I need people to see that you’verecovered.”
Her mouth fellopen. Recovered? She was hallucinating, and hadn’t had a decent night’s sleepunless she self-medicated!
He just started talking toIvan after that as if the conversation never happened.
She turned her head andlooked up at Ryan who had his brows raised to say, ‘well, that wentas expected’. She returned her attention to her food and took a fewsmall bites. It occurred to her then that Ryan Casey seemed tounderstand how her father was more than she did. That made herangrier. He’d barely been there twenty-four hours and he knew morethan she did in her lifetime. It made her feel very naïve, and shedidn’t like that at all. Was she so stupid not to notice, or didshe just turn a blind eye to it all these years?
She tossed her napkin onher plate and stood up. “I’m going to bed—no stay. I’ll be fine bymyself up the stairs to my jail cell,” she added sarcastically whenRyan went to stand. To her relief he stayed where he was. Sheturned and left abruptly.
“She hates me still,” Peterstated while watching his daughter’s back.
“She’ll be fine,” chimedPorsha. “Girls like us just need some time.”
Peter smiled. “I guess youwould know.”
“Maybe I can talk to her,”she further suggested. “Maybe she just needs some girl-time. We cango shopping and just spend a day together.”
Oh shit, thought Ryan. He had a vision of Kat tossing her out of herroom by her hair or pushing her out of a moving car on the freeway.He’d seen the disgust in her eyes toward the other woman and knewthat she just needed a reason to explode. Ryan remainedsilent.
The older man turned hisattention to his new employee. “Has she told you anything about hercaptivity?”
“No sir.”
“Do you think shewill?”
“No.”
Peter studied the youngerman for a moment to see if he was lying. His men wouldn’t dare lieto him, but this was an outsider. His daughter was an intelligent,beautiful woman and he was hired to protect her, so he could beloyal to her already. “What makes you say this?”
“It’s too soon. She’s notready, and might not be for a very long time.”
“She’s told youthis?”
“No.”
“What has she told youthen?”
“She’s told me that sheremembers nothing,” Ryan answered. He left the beach incidentout.
Peter’s eyes remained onRyan’s for a moment longer to try and read him. Then he seemedsatisfied that he told the truth. “I am hoping that she gets overhating me soon.”
Again, Ryan remainedsilent. He doubted very much that was going to happen in Peter’stimeline.
He waved an arm in the air.“I should have had a son. My wife gave me daughters—so emotional,so dramatic.” He was serious but Porsha laughed as if it was ajoke. Peter smiled at her, that way an adult smiles at a simplechild.
There it was, the reasonRyan wanted to pull his gun and put a bullet between his eyes. Hisdaughter was kidnapped, tortured, and left exposed for the world tosee, and he could only talk about having a son. He had no idea whatfamily was. “Excuse me.” He got up and left the table.
“I don’t trust him.” Heheard Ivan say as he walked away. He was sure it was loud enoughfor his benefit.
Katya was sitting in asettee in her room when he walked in. She had a lamp on the sidetable and was reading a book.
“I don’t want company.” Shespoke without looking up.
“I wasn’t offering company,Kat. I’m just doing my job.” He smirked and went back to his room.He heard her moving around and she appeared in hisdoorway.
“I need to go sign up formy classes tomorrow.”
“That’s fine.”
“Do you have tocome?”
He turned and faced her.His eyes studied her expression for a moment. “I think the beachincident this morning is testament that I have to.” His eyebrowsrose. “And I will not fight with you over your frustration withyour father.”
“Hatred—hatred of myfather,” she corrected.
He nodded. “Thattoo.”
She ran her fingers throughher hair and walked into his room. Then she sat on his bed andstared up at him. “This was my sister’s room.” She looked around.“He’s removed everything that reminded us of her. I mean, you can’teven tell that it used to have a feminine theme. Now, it’s justneutral. I don’t know if he’s trying to make
