SWNOVELS Tiny Dark Deeds: Chapter 33
Sloane
Wells: Pizza night. My place tonight, right?
Thatcher: Yeppers.
Wells: What the fuck? Yeppers?
Thatcher: Yeppers.
Dorian: You fucking idiot.
Thatcher: *kiss emoji*
Dorian: *middle finger emoji*
Ares: Dude, our sisters are on this text loop.
Wells: And what?
Thatcher: *kiss emoji*
Ares and Dorian: *middle finger emoji*
Me: You guys are all idiots. Hopefully, Bow hasn’t left the thread this time.
Bow: Still here. *blushing emoji*
Me: Good.
Ares: We’ll see for how long. LOL.
Thatcher: *kiss emoji*
Dorian: Thatch, stop that fucking shit. I swear to fucking God.
Thatcher: *kiss emoji*
Wells: Anyway, Sloane, you coming tonight? Bru said he had a thing tonight so he can’t when I asked him about it at school today.
Bru: I do got a thing. Science club, but it’s wrapping up early so I should be there. *smile emoji*
Wells: Sweet!
Ares: Fuck yeah! And Sloane can’t. She’s going to a boring as shit art thing tonight with Dad. Right, little? *wink emoji*
Dorian: Hold up. That art show is tonight? Awesome, little fighter, and Wolf, shut the fuck up.
Ares: *kiss emoji*
Thatcher: Okay, so that’s my thing so…
Ares: Yeah, and I’m taking it. Like I said, little is busy. So it’s just us guys tonight.
Bow: Still here. *blushing emoji*
Ares: And Bow. Sorry, Rainbow.
Bow: No big, and that art show with Ramses is tonight?? Ahh! So fun! *heart emoji* *star emoji* *rainbow emoji*
Me: It is, and I’m looking forward to it. And it’s fine, Dorian. Ares is an uncultured swine so Bocelli’s work would go over his head anyway. *wink emoji*
Ares: The fuck ever.
Ares: Also, where are you at? Dad’s getting ready but haven’t seen you.
Me: OMW. Have to pick up something first.
Me: It’s a gift for Ramses.
*
I didn’t expect to see anyone at the house my brother and I had stayed at when we’d first arrived, but it wasn’t empty as I approached. In fact, beyond the gate was a fury of activity, movers. Several men and women were in brown bibs, and each one hauled boxes or furniture out of the house into moving trucks parked outside the garage.
The garage was open too, and I parked inside it, sending the Legacy group text one last text. I hadn’t told them where I was getting my gift for Ramses, and I wanted to keep it that way.
I didn’t think it was a big deal I’d decided to stop by my old place after school to get some of my artwork, but they might. The guys had gotten most of our clothes from there and school uniforms that day I’d met Ramses and Brielle, but everything else my brother and I owned had been virtually left behind. I think, at the time, neither of us had wanted to bring any of it up, and Ramses and Brielle had provided pretty much anything we needed anyway.
This meant I’d been forced to leave behind the majority of my artwork and anything Thatcher hadn’t grabbed for me that one day. I’d had lots of constellation pieces still at Callum’s glass house, my best stuff actually, and had been meaning to get back here for a while to get them.
I didn’t expect the place to be packed, though, people moving in and out. I thought about turning around, but if Callum had sent people to clean the place out, I definitely didn’t want to lose my stuff. Like stated, my best work was in there, and I wanted to give Ramses one of my constellation pieces. I knew I didn’t have to give him a gift, but I wanted to. Those tickets had been very generous.
Anyway, I thought he’d like one of my smaller pieces, so I went ahead and turned off my Hummer in the garage. I hadn’t told Ramses and Brielle I didn’t want to drive Godfrey’s Chevelle anymore, but Dorian must have because the next day, the car was gone and replaced with the Hummer. The black beast was the same model as Ares’s, and I’d wondered if it fit my style until I’d gotten behind the wheel.
The thing ended up being perfect for me, and it was newer than Ares’s, so I got to brag about that. He grumbled a little bit every time I did, but I didn’t think he was too sore about the ride because he offered to help me paint a statement piece on it like his wolf this summer. He said it was something we could work on together, and I was looking forward to that. We also did work well together.
Grabbing my purse, I got out of the car. I thought maybe I could sweep in and out, get my stuff, but I stopped the moment I spotted a familiar face. Callum’s bodyguard, Lucas, was outside with the rest of the movers, and when he noticed me, he approached my Hummer.
I adjusted my bag, trying not to feel awkward. I hadn’t seen or spoken to him or Callum since that last day at the hospital.
Since you ran.
Yeah, I tried not to be awkward, and he raised a hand as he got close.
“Good afternoon, Miss Sloane,” he said, always so formal. He had a long wool coat on, his breaths puffing in the wintry air. “Can I help you with something? We’re actually just gathering up your things along with the rest of the house. Callum had intended to ship everything that was yours to you.”
He had? My mouth parted. “I actually was going to grab a couple things. That’s why I came. Probably should have called.”
Called who, I didn’t know. I mean, I guess I could have at least told Bru to mention it to Callum.
“Well, they are your things so feel free to take what you’d like,” Lucas said. “I can even have the team load your vehicle for you.”
I didn’t know about all that. I didn’t want the Mallicks or Legacy to know I was here. I thought it’d bother them, so yeah. I pointed toward the front door. “I just need one thing actually. An art piece I worked on.”
Lucas raised a hand. “No problem at all. Take whatever you’d like.”
I nodded, feeling awkward again. I felt like I should thank him. I mean, he had saved me when Godfrey had taken me.
But I’d always had been an awkward bunny. The moment passed, and I ended up rushing off just to avoid the silence. My feet leaving tracks in the fresh snow we’d had this morning, I only got a few steps before Lucas called my name.
“I just wanted to let you know Callum is here,” Lucas said, catching up to me. “He’s inside. Overseeing the move so…”
He probably felt the need to tell me due to obvious reasons.
You did run.
I had been running, and Legacy, along with Ramses and Brielle, definitely wouldn’t like that I was here with him inside. They didn’t trust him, and they all had history with him.
I think they all did know the circumstances surrounding Callum were more complex regarding myself, and I had been thinking about what Bru said. Callum had been asking about me, and he had taken care of me.
I nodded to Lucas before he was called to assist with a question the movers had. I was left in the cold then, my bag on my arm, a chill in my body. Going and confronting Callum probably wouldn’t be liked by others in my life, but this was my life.
I ended up going inside, and Callum was doing exactly what Lucas said he was. In his dark suit and crisp tie, he directed those around him carrying boxes and furniture.
“That’s Miss Sloane’s stuff,” he said to one, a few of my canvases under their arms. One of the works was actually the piece I’d planned to grab for Ramses. Callum placed hands on his cane. “Be careful with everything. We’ll be overnighting all personal items to her.”
I swallowed, the guy with my paintings passing me. This, of course, brought Callum’s attention my way.
“Sloane.” He stepped forward, his jewel-top cane assisting him. He didn’t seem terribly reliant on it, and I assumed it was more for stability since he was older. He looked around, and I definitely saw the connection to him and Dorian’s father now that I knew the fact was there. Decades separated Dorian’s dad and him, but Callum clearly used to be blond and had a similar presence about him.
I supposed Dorian may have some of those mannerisms too. I adjusted my bag. “Hi.”
“Hello. What are you…” He stopped when a mover required his attention. He answered their question quickly, politely, before gesturing me to the right and guiding us both out of the fray. “Everything all right? We were just moving your things, packing up the house.”
I saw that, my fingers clenching my purse. It was weird now, being within the same space as him, like I was doing something wrong by being here and not telling anyone about it. It didn’t sit well at all, and I really wished I hadn’t come. I didn’t want to upset anyone. I…
Perhaps, he knew my discomfort as he studied my body language, a frown on his lips. “Have you come for something at the house? We didn’t know anyone would be here today.”
“I…” I started. You’re fine. You’re not doing anything wrong. “Yes, I did. Just wanted to grab one of my pieces so—”
I caught the mover guy before he got too far, taking the small canvas from him. When I cradled it, Callum had his head tilted. I felt bad for how weird I was being, but I had a feeling he got that.
How could he not?
“We really didn’t know anyone would be here.” A mover cut in front of him, his smile small at the man before looking at me. He lifted a hand. “Please. Take anything you’d like. It’s yours, and whatever you can’t we’ll have shipped to the Mallick household.”
“Thank you. Thanks,” I huffed. “Really. Thank you.”
“Of course,” he said, his gaze averting. I was sure this was just as awkward for him. He braced his cane. “Well, I suppose I better get back to it. Good seeing you, and I’m glad I got to. Your brother mentions you from time to time, but I’ve always wondered how you’ve been.”
I’d been well, and extraordinarily so. This was 100 percent due to the changes and people in my life, his grandson included.
Callum’s expression tight, he navigated away, and I felt like such a piece of fucking crap. He’d always been nice to us, and I was treating him like shit.
I didn’t want to keep doing that to him, treating him that way, and when he walked away so quickly, he let me know he hadn’t expected anything from me.
“He lost his entire family after what he did.”
“I want to thank you for what you did.”
He stopped after what I said, peering over his shoulder until I came around.
I blew out a breath. “When Godfrey came to you, you didn’t have to help. You could have kept his secret. Hell, you could have just ignored us or washed your hands of us.” I gripped my purse. “My point is, you didn’t have to do anything, but you did, so I thank you for that.”
The gratitude was stiff, and I noticed the waver in my voice. I didn’t know this man, and all I did know was what he’d done for me/what he’d done in the past. The latter, quite frankly, still scared the fucking shit out of me. It frightened me because he had that capability, and I didn’t know what kind of person he was now.
I just knew who he’d hurt.
Callum waited a long time before speaking, as if considering what to say. In the end, he passed me a slow nod and a small smile. “I hope life is good to you. As far as Godfrey, he did something wrong, and you kids deserve better than that.”
My throat constricted, the frog returning to my throat.
“Anyway, best of luck to you,” he said. “The Mallicks… Ramses and Brielle seem like good people. I don’t know much about them, but again, Bru tells me things. He has nothing but good words to say, and I want you to know he is very much welcome to stay with me for as long as he wishes. He’s not bound or obligated, and I am in the process of drawing up custody papers. I assume you would like to be his guardian.”
I would be if that was what Bru wanted. I only hadn’t been this whole time due to finances.
That had obviously changed.
A lot had, my breath shallow when I nodded.
Callum did the same, his head bobbing in acknowledgment once. He started to walk away.
“Is that why you did what you did?” I asked, needing to know. “You did it to help? Because Godfrey did do something wrong and you wanted to help us? Just wanted to help us?”
I hoped that was the reason. I hoped to fucking God because I wanted to believe him, and what my brother clearly already felt. That Callum was maybe a man who had a dark past, but possibly was trying to be different, better.
Callum’s lips turned down, his expression serious. “I helped because I know what it’s like to lose family,” he said, the air leaving me. “I know firsthand how that feels, and I wasn’t going to let that happen to you kids, and you in particular.”
Of course, he didn’t say how he’d lost that family. I braced my canvas. “Why did you do what you did? How could you? You and my grandfather…” Finding it hard to talk about this, I rubbed my face.
Callum frowned, and when another mover required his attention, he asked if the guy and his team could let us have the room. They started packing things in the adjoining dining room instead, the noise significantly less when they did. “I can’t tell you your grandfather’s reasons, but I can guess they had something to do with mine. He was trying to help out your great-uncle, family, and I believed I was doing the same with my own. There was damaging evidence linking my son Royal and his friends to that night in question. They had nothing to do with what happened. In fact, they didn’t even know about what had occurred until the rest of the world did, but they were known to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. So, in a quest to keep my son’s name and his involvement from anywhere near the situation, I made a choice to help your grandfather. I did so behind Royal’s back, and ironically enough, it was that attempt to help my son that caused me to ultimately lose him and any possible future I could have had with him and later, his son.”
“Am I supposed to feel sorry for you?” I asked, my swallow hard. “Sorry that you lost your family?” I knew it sounded harsh, but that was because it was. I shook my head. “The things you did…”
“Require no sympathy, no.” He rubbed his cane. “And I expect none. From anyone. As far as helping you and your brother, it was the right thing to do, and the least I could. I think we both know enough lives have already been ruined on both the Mallicks’ and the Prinzes’ sides. There are casualties everywhere, and if the next generation didn’t have to experience that, well…” His gaze took the floor. “There’s been enough darkness in this town, and if I could help at all in rectifying that, I was going to.”
My throat shifted, gazing away.
Callum came forward. “I’m truly sorry for you and what Godfrey and Marilyn did. I’m even more sorry that you had to find out what you did about who you were and the legacy your grandfather, great-uncle, and myself left for you. It’s been a dark cloud over this city and my family for a long time, and I’m sure one of the main reasons my grandson has suffered the way he has. Done some of the things he’s done.”
My head lifted, my eyebrows narrowed.
“I shouldn’t have agreed to help him when he came to me last summer.” His lips thinned. “It only made things worse and fractured any kind of connection we ever could have.”
“What do you mean?”
He glanced my way, his eyebrows narrowed. “Dorian. He came to me asking for help last summer. His needed assistance finding that woman, Elaine Mayberry, who had an affair with his uncle Charlie. As you know, she was the headmaster of your school when you arrived.” His head cocked. “My grandson didn’t tell you any of this?”
I think he could see all over my face that he hadn’t, and I wondered if Bru had told him Dorian and I were together. I’d denied it before. I came forward. “Dorian asked you for help with Mayberry?”
Callum started to speak, but then his mouth closed. His head shook. “You should probably discuss all this with him. It’s not my place, and I don’t want to damage our relationship any more than it already has been.”
I got that, but what I didn’t get was why he’d had a relationship with him at all. Ares had said Dorian’s grandfather had stayed out of his life just as much as ours had stayed out. “What did he want your help with exactly?” I asked, pushed. I had no idea they’d been in contact. Let alone last summer with Mayberry and everything.
Callum sighed. “You should really talk to him about this. He might not have told you for a reason and that should be respected.”
My throat flicked, and mostly because Dorian and I weren’t doing this shit to each other anymore. He said he trusted me so no, we weren’t doing this shit, keeping secrets. “I want you to tell me.”
I didn’t have a right to ask this, but then again, maybe I did. Callum had lied to me too after all, and if I deserved something for once, it was some goddamn honesty.
Callum rubbed his mouth, his head shaking. When he lifted it, he sighed once more. “You know about what happened with Mayberry, but what my grandson has obviously failed to tell you is my part in it all. Dorian couldn’t find her at first. The woman went off the grid, and I used my resources to find her.”
My mouth parted. “And he came to you last summer?”
“He did, and I was so desperate for a relationship with him that I didn’t care that was all he wanted. In fact, I was probably willing to do anything he asked me. Anything just to connect with him.” He frowned. “It clouded my judgment, made me agree to help him find her, and ultimately, ended up fracturing things so badly between us. I’m sure you saw that when he pretended not to know me.”
I did see that, but why wouldn’t he tell me all this?
“My grandson has a lot of demons and ones I’ve unfortunately contributed to. I’m sure I’m the reason they’re there in the first place. He carries the weight of what I’ve done in my past. Has to. How couldn’t he?” His lips moved. “He’s in a lot of pain, my grandson, and I know I only stoked it more. He never would have done what he had to me had I not pushed for our relationship to extend once he got what he wanted.”
“What did he do to you?” I heard myself ask the question. In fact, it radiated in my ears, but I still felt outside myself when I asked it. This whole conversation I felt like a fly on the wall, a part of it while not actually being a part of it.
Callum settled both hands on his cane. “He made a mistake, and I told him I forgive him for it. He’s not a bad person. He’s just troubled, and he never would have done it had he not felt threatened. He was obviously keeping our meetings a secret from his parents, my son. This was apparent while we were meeting, but again, I was very desperate to connect with him. I hadn’t known him his whole life and…” His jaw moved. “Like I said, he made a mistake, and I did too. I put his back up against the wall. I wanted to keep seeing him and held the secrecy of our visits over his head. I manipulated the situation and ultimately, attempted to blackmail him so he wouldn’t discontinue our meetings. I was just so desperate and wanted to know him.”
His head lowered, and I swallowed.
“But there’s no excuse for that.” His head rose. “What I did made my grandson act out of character. I didn’t know him well, but I knew him well enough to know he made a mistake. He did the wrong thing, and he did because his back was up against the wall, and he felt like he had to.”
He was still dancing around the question, what I’d asked. I squeezed the canvas in my hand. “What did he do?”
But most importantly, what was Dorian keeping from me? What was he still keeping from me even after everything? I recalled him saying he had to tell me something in the past, but with all his secrets, who knew if this was even it? He couldn’t, for some reason, just be straightforward with me. Honest.
That question hung there between Callum and me, and I wondered if he’d actually tell me. He’d been adamant about Dorian telling me all this himself.
“He tried to poison me,” he admitted, my stomach turning, knotting. A wave of sickness hit me, and so much bile filled my throat, I had to force it back. Callum nodded. “I obviously survived, and I have talked to him about it. At least, I tried to.”
I didn’t know what to say to any of this, let alone what he said Dorian had actually ended up doing.
He didn’t. He couldn’t.
“Promise me you’ll always see me as this… I’m only this for you.”
Dorian’s words played in my head on loop, those moments between us in his car. The nausea rose, and it took me a second to realize Callum said he’d give me a moment. He walked away, and I was still in the middle of a nearly bare living room. He said Dorian had made a mistake, but a mistake was something someone could work through and possibly come back from. With some work, it might not hang over that person’s head for the rest of their lives. A mistake wasn’t just what Callum said.
It wasn’t attempted murder.