Chapter Two: Laina

I’d dozed off thanks to the medicine, but I was woken up by a loud, booming voice, “Laina, honey, it really is you!” My eyelids struggled to open as someone hugged me, leaning over the hospital bed to do so.

I breathed him in, knowing who it was before I even opened my eyes fully. “Hey, Dad.”

My dad let me go, taking the seat that Lola chick had sat in earlier. He wore a brown suit, the hue matching his hair—which was now combed back, all slick. His eyes were like mine, a shade of blue, and they were heavy on me as they studied me.

His gaze landed on my left hand, taking in my new disfigurement. “I’m so sorry.” He dropped his head in his hands, sounding quite repentant. When he looked at me again, his eyes had gotten misty, like he wanted to cry for me.

He probably was imagining all of the horrors I must’ve gone through these last two years. Whatever he was imagining, of course, was wrong.

My Devil didn’t hurt me. He opened my eyes, and now I saw clearly.

“I hear you’re the new mayor,” I broke the silence of the room. I’d give anything to get out of this hospital bed. One step at a time. I’d show my dad soon enough that I wasn’t the same girl he used to know, and it was all his fault.

“I am, though it’s not really new anymore. I’ve been at the job for almost two years now.” He looked down at his lap at that, as if hearing how wrong it was. My dad had become the city’s newest mayor not too long after the news of my kidnapping went public, almost like they were connected.

Almost like it was planned.

But my dad would never… or would he? Those were the thoughts I wrestled with while in that room, watching the TV my Devil had brought down for me. Oh, yes. I’d been there to witness every single newscast, every single meeting with the press. I was there when he gave his acceptance speech, when he loudly proclaimed he’d make the kidnapper pay for taking his only child away from him. My high school had even given me a diploma, even though I wasn’t there to accept—my dad was, though.

I was there in spirit, watching the television set with a growing hatred for him and everything he stood for. I’d sacrificed the latter half of my childhood when he suddenly grew a change of heart and wanted to get into local politics, and this was what I got?

Shafted. Abandoned. Forgotten. My kidnapping used to further his career.

I’d make him regret it.

“Honey, are you all right? The police said you’re not really talking much. If there’s anything you can tell them to help them catch this guy… if you could help point them to the house—”

“I don’t remember,” I told him, visibly growing upset. “Obviously, if something comes back to me, I’ll tell them, but right now, I just want to be happy that I’m out of that room. Isn’t it enough that I’m back and safe?”

My dad’s face softened, and he reached for my arm, squeezing it the same way Lola had. “Of course, it’s enough,” he said, and I resisted my urge to pull away from him. I’d rather have that Lola chick touching me. “There is something else you should know.”

I had the feeling I already knew what he was going to tell me… but I said nothing, not wanting to give anything away.

“Tessa and I… we got married about a year ago. She’s part of the family now, your stepmom.” As if sensing my disdain for the woman, he added, “She’s overjoyed you’re safe, Laina, and she really helped keep me sane these last two years.”

Oh, well, anything to help keep my precious dad sane. Anything at all. As long as he was fine, we’d all be fine, right?

Wrong.

“She and Kieran should be here soon,” my dad told me. He reached up to my face, swiping some of my hair aside and giving me a look I was sure he thought was sincere and loving. “It’s going to be okay. The police will find him, and I’ll make sure we give him exactly what he deserves.”

Giving people what they deserve was only reserved for others, in his eyes, not himself. How hypocritical.

My dad tried to talk to me more, tried to ask me about what happened to me these last two years—but I didn’t want to talk, so my answers mostly included a lot of grunts, nods, shakes of my head, or “I don’t know.” He finally got the hint that I wasn’t feeling very chatty, but of course, right then, the door opened and someone else strolled in, followed closely by someone else.

My dad got to his feet immediately, sweeping over to the woman who’d just walked in and giving her a peck on the cheek. “Darling, you made it here fast.”

Darling. Yuck.

Tessa—Tessa Hawkins now—was a woman in her early thirties, still perky and vibrant with youth that my dad no longer had. She had not a wrinkle on her face, luscious brown hair, and brown eyes a shade or two darker than warm amber.

Her hair was pulled back in a low pony, and she wore a matching workout outfit, a zip-up jacket on her shoulders, the tennis shoes on her feet bright white. “Yes, well, Kieran did break a few traffic laws,” she spoke dryly, shooting her brother a glance before stepping around my dad and coming toward me, a gentle smile on her face.

I matched her smile with one of my own, even though I really didn’t feel like it. It wasn’t that I hated Tessa because she was over ten years younger than my dad. It wasn’t due to the fact that she’d been his first relationship—that I could remember, at least. No, it was the fact that she’d married him and acted as if her life was perfect now.

Granted, it could all be a show for the cameras, but it bugged me. How could her life be perfect when her husband’s only child had been kidnapped and was probably presumed dead?

I was obviously not dead, but I could’ve been.

“Laina,” she cooed, trying to sound like a mother, I assumed. She swept to my bedside, ran a hand along my head, and gave me a loving look. “I’m so glad you’re safe. Your father and I have been worried sick about you these past two years.”

Not enough to push off the wedding , I wanted to say, but I kept that retort to myself.

“I assume your father told you we got married?” Tessa paused, and when I gave her a short nod, she glanced back at my dad, then back at me. “I know it’ll be an adjustment for you. Don’t feel like you have to call me mom or anything. Tessa is fine.”

Like hell would I ever call her mom or anything like that, but I didn’t say that. All I said was, “Okay.”

My dad coughed, causing Tessa to look at him. He said, “Can I speak with you in the hall?” To me, he said, “We’ll be right outside.” He gave me a supportive smile as he ushered Tessa from the room, gently closing the door behind them. The police were still there, and they started talking about something, their voices muffled.

I wasn’t alone, though. They’d left me with Tessa’s brother, the man who’d been the bane of my existence before, my dad’s right-hand man, the man who did anything my dad told him to.

Kieran Miller. He was Tessa’s younger brother by quite a few years; I wasn’t sure how old exactly he was, but he had to be in his upper twenties. He had the same brown hair as Tessa, though obviously cut shorter. His eyes were a darker brown than hers, more black than anything else. His jaw was square and strong, free of any stubble. Just under six feet tall, not overly muscled but capable of taking care of himself…

And dragging me to the car when finding me after I’d snuck out all those years ago.

I’d found him utterly annoying before. I wondered if I’d still find him as annoying, or if, maybe, being locked up in a room for so long had changed my outlook on him. He was an uncle now, related by marriage, so technically he was family.

When I saw he was smiling at me, I frowned. Still annoying, then. “What?” I hissed.

He continued to smile at me as he stepped closer to the bed, slow to stand behind the chair to my right. “You look different,” he pointed out, his hands slow to grip the back of the chair. He had bigger hands than I remembered.

Maybe that was just my hormones talking, after being locked in a tiny room by myself.

“It’s been two years,” I muttered. I hoped I looked different after two years; I sure as hell felt different. It was impossible to come out the same girl I’d been before.

“That’s true,” Kieran spoke, measured in walking around the chair and sitting in it. “I was talking about your hand, though. Too soon to make jokes?” He lifted his left hand, wiggling the two fingers I’d lost.

I let out a chuckle, though it was one of disbelief. “Yeah, it’s too soon.” I guess I’d forgotten how much of a sarcastic little shit Kieran was. Always thought he was funny. Always had a smart comment, no matter what the situation was. That was mainly why I’d found him so annoying before.

He stopped wiggling his left pinky and ring finger, dropping his hand to his lap. “Right. I’ll wait a while, then.” His black eyes studied me intently. “Are you all right, though? You can tell me the truth.”

Hah. As if I believed he wouldn’t repeat everything I told him to my dad and his sister, who was now my stepmom. Yeah, no thanks.

“I’ve never been better,” I deadpanned.

That got him to chuckle. “Ah, so you’re allowed to make jokes, but I’m not? How’s that fair?”

“Life isn’t fair.”

“That’s a moody thing to say, isn’t it? But, technically, I guess you’re still a teenager, so you’re allowed to think that way. Soon enough, you’ll realize that life is a miraculous thing that—” Kieran abruptly stopped. “You know what? No, you’re totally right. Life isn’t fair, and no matter how old you get, it doesn’t change.”

He was talking like I was in the hospital for a sprained wrist or something, not that this was our first meeting after being kidnapped and kept for two years. Like a normal day. Although, if I had the choice between him acting normal and him acting like my dad and Tessa, I guess I’d choose normal.

“So how busy is my dad now that he’s mayor?” I asked, picking at the blanket draped over my lower half. Whatever it was made of, it was uncomfortable, itchy fabric.

“He’s busier than ever. He’s always got meetings or places to be. You’d be surprised at how popular your dad has gotten with everyone in this city. He’s got friends in high places.” Kieran paused. “Or low places, depending on how you look at it.”

My voice came out low, a whisper, “He’s not doing shady stuff, is he?” He had to be, but I had to act like the concerned daughter, not that I wanted to hear that he’d been knee-deep in shady stuff these past two years. Hell, I didn’t think you could become mayor to a city like this without getting your hands dirty and keeping them dirty.

But then again… that’s why men like my dad had men like Kieran.

Kieran didn’t answer right away. He simply stared at me with those piercing dark eyes, as if his expression said enough. I supposed, in a way, it did. “He does what needs to be done.” He opened his mouth to say more, but right then my dad stuck his head into the room, calling for him out in the hall. He stood up, told me, “Duty calls,” and wandered over to the door, leaving me alone as he joined my dad and Tessa in the hall with the police.

I stared at them in the hall for a while, wondering what it’d be like at home now that Tessa would be living there. Was my room untouched? Was Kieran living with them as well? I could only take so much of him, but… hmm. Maybe having a stepmom and an uncle close by wouldn’t be so bad.

If I wanted to make my dad miserable, if I wanted him to pay, I had two people to start chipping away at his foundation.