Burned Dynasty by Lisa Renee Jones

Author:Lisa Renee Jones [Jones, Lisa Renee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Julie Patra Publishing
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

Damion

Thirty minutes later, Alana and I have found our way to the couch, where we sit to devour pizza from a popular local New York City restaurant. Alana sits intimately to my right, her hair silky brown, a delicate quality about her at present, mimicked by the fragile silk of her pink robe. But slowly, with each bite she manages, the color in her cheeks begins to return. By the time she’s downed most of a bottle of water and a full slice of pizza, her voice is stronger, her energy measurably higher.

But while her body is on the mend, free of outward damage, I fear her emotions are far more battered and bruised.

She’s not talking to me about anything but how delicious the pizza is and how good it feels to be home. It’s as if she’s shut down the emotions, compartmentalized the hell she’s been through, and locked it away. There’s no doubt though that eventually that door will burst open and the monsters inside will not only have grown stronger, they’ll demand to be acknowledged. For that reason, and it’s a big one, I’m of the mindset it’s better for her to face those monsters now, on her own terms, rather than later, when they will sneak up on her. The idea that this day will cause a lingering effect the way being locked in the cellar did is literally gutting me alive right now, but it’s all too raw for me to push her.

All I can do is be here for her, be present, as I promised her I would.

We’re on the second slice of pizza each when my cellphone rings with Blake’s number. Looping her in, aware the unknowns are not good for her right now, I angle caller ID toward Alana.

“Can you please answer on speaker?” she asks, clearly paranoid about what comes next.

I answer the call with, “Blake, you have me and Alana on the line.”

“Alana,” Blake greets. “How are you?”

“Better,” she says. “We’re eating pizza, and the food is helping me feel more myself. Thank you for all you did today. Your voice was the first friendly voice I heard for hours. I know I didn’t react like I was relieved, but I was.”

I’m reminded of Blake telling me she’d been screaming when he’d found her, freaking out in the darkness. My fingers curl into my palm, anger ticking in my jaw. My father has to pay, and maybe death is too good. He needs to be locked in a dark, fucking room somewhere and left there. It’s not murder. It’s poetic justice.

“I’m just happy we have you back with Damion,” Blake replies. “And I’m calling for an update on your mother, anyway. She’s refused to leave with Joey. She went to the bathroom before they were to leave for the airport. She stayed in there a very long time, and when she came out, she announced she was not leaving. We think she was convinced by someone else not to go with us.

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