He narrows his eyes, but at the risk of pissing me off, I can tell he’s measuring his response. God forbid he show his true colors, that we had the displeasure of already witnessing, to someone like me. Someone with the power I wield.
“I’m sorry you had to witness that, Kane. It’s unfortunate, but it seems like my stepdaughter needed a firm hand. You’ll understand one day when you have kids of your own. It’s necessary to be hard. Please sit, I’ll have Ivy set up the conference room.” His cold, calculating eyes leave mine and focus on the woman of the hour. “Willow?”
Apparently, he thinks the fact she isn’t his own flesh and blood gives him the right to talk to her as if she’s nothing. I know damn well he has been the only father she’s known. I look over at Willow quickly enough to catch her gaze on its way up from my chest before she looks back over at Dominic.
“Sir?” she asks weakly.
“A word?” he questions, and before giving her a second to respond, he starts to move around his desk.
I lose her eyes, but her shoulders drop in what looks like relief for just a second before she catches her slip and straightens her posture, showing her strength in an impossible situation.
When I look back at Dominic, he’s standing in front of me, obviously hoping I’ll move. Fat chance of that, asshole. Standing to my full height, I look down into his eyes and don’t hold back the fact I find this whole scene disgusting. I give him a few beats before looking back at Willow, giving her the lead, the power Dominic is doing his best to wipe from her bones.
I can see the wheels moving behind her shocked eyes. Her mouth moves, but before she can speak, a new voice interrupts.
“Oh, Kane, sweetheart! It’s been ages,” the voice speaks.
What the fuck? I remember her instantly as the woman from the law firm’s offices. While I’m trying to figure out what the hell she’s doing here, I hear Willow’s whispers before she’s pulling Kirby behind toward the door. My shock holds me still as she moves past me, but my body fires to life when her body brushes against mine. Those tits I’ve imagined bouncing in my face as she rides my cock rub against my chest, and I exhale a breath to try to feel more of her.
“I brought you a trash bag, Wills.” I hear the other woman speak, but I don’t move my eyes from Willow. I watch helplessly as the shame and embarrassment are back.
“For what, Ivy?” she snaps, the sarcasm dousing the heat of her embarrassment and making way for anger to take its place.
Ivy. Now, I can put a face to the name I know belongs to her sister.
“For all your shit, sister dear.” Her laugh makes me cringe.
“You bitch,” Kirby sneers.
“You have ten minutes, Willow,” her sister continues. “Make sure and turn in your keycard to the offices as well as any other property of Logan Agency that you might think you have rights to. Ten minutes, Willow, to remove all your shit and don’t let me see you back here again.”
I open my mouth to interject, not really sure what I’m going to say, but the animalistic snarl that comes from deep in Willow’s throat stops me dead. I’m not even sure she was aware she made a noise, but in seconds, she’s like a bull in a china shop. I’m positive nothing could stop her at this point.
“I hate you!” she screams shrilly. “For years, I’ve been your punching bag. For YEARS, I’ve put up with everything you’ve thrown at me verbally. I’ve been nothing but a glorified human pile of crap for the two of you to step in whenever you need to feel better about yourself. You want me gone? Every piece of me? Fine!”
She moves with clipped movements. Her shoes are pulled from her feet and thrust into Kirby’s arms. Then in what I could only explain as a woman who has reached her breaking point, she snatches the bag and starts to pile in anything and everything she can.
I stand immobile and let her have this. Clearly, this is a moment she needs, and after everything I’ve witnessed, I’m sure my interference would do more harm than good. I lean with my back against the glass wall to the right of Dominic’s open office door and cross my arms over my chest. Waiting. Ready to catch her if she needs me. That is until she picks up the computer off her desk, and with a scream, Ivy jumps into my arms, forcing me to catch her.
“There, Dominic,” she pants angrily. “There is the rest of your stupid property. Thank you for reminding me that I luckily share none of your blood. If I never see you again, it will be a day too soon.”
Before I can push Ivy off me, Willow’s eyes turn to where I’m standing. She takes in her sister in my arms with her limbs wrapped around me, and even with her ire, that wounded look is back deep in her scrutiny. “Be careful with that one. Her bite is deadly.”
I try to tell her to stop. Working my mind to think of anything that would abate this feeling of helplessness, but my words fail me. And the next thing I know, she’s gone.