Love Among The Ruins-Chapter 38

NADINE’S P.O.V

Jennifer did not like me.

I wasn’t looking to be liked by her, but I would have preferred that we were civil at least. We were unfortunately living together for the time being and I had to be confident that she wouldn’t try to smother me when I wasn’t paying attention.

They only arrived yesterday and she spent most of her time with Dan- who I hadn’t gotten the chance to see since he came in. He was taken to the guest room where he had been since.

For the most part, Rowan acted as a buffer between Jennifer and I, but that didn’t stop her from shooting me death glares whenever she could.

"She looks like she is planning ways to stab me in my sleep," I whispered to Rowan who just glanced over his shoulder at her before shrugging.

"She won’t get to you."

"You don’t know that."

"You sleep in my bed, princess, she won’t come near you, you can trust me on that."

My stomach fluttered in response and I tried to hide my flaming cheeks.

He probably didn’t mean it the way I thought of, but it was fun to imagine that we were on the same page.

"Why does she hate me so much?" I asked instead. "Yesterday, she said something about my father and what they did to you."

His movements ceased and he sighed. "Don’t worry about it."

"You can’t ask me not to-"

"You aren’t your father, Nadine and that’s the most important thing. What’s the use of telling you when all you will do is feel guilty for it."

I bit down on my bottom lip, resisting the urge to keep pushing.

I could have, I wasn’t sure if he would have answered me but it would have been a good try. However, he said my name, and he didn’t say it unless he was serious so I let it slide.

"I’m going to sit by the window for a while."

He finally turned to me. "We’re leaving first thing tomorrow morning. Don’t stay up late."

"What about Dan? I thought he was hurt."

"He can walk. We’ll be a bit slow but we have to keep moving. I don’t like being in one place for too long."

I just nodded.

His lips brushed the top of my head before disappearing upstairs. I waited until he was gone before I made my way over to the large living room window.

It wasn’t raining at the moment, but the sky was beautiful. The stars twinkled in the sky and the moon shone brightly, casting a glow on everything out there. There wasn’t much I wouldn’t give to just stand outside and breathe without fear that I would be dead.

A scoff pulled me out of my thoughts and I turned to find Jennifer watching me with a look of pure disdain.

I ignored her, remembering Rowan’s words from earlier. She was angry with my father, not me, I just so happened to be the one who was around for her to pour out her anger on.

"You think you’re so perfect, don’t you?" she asked and I forced my eyes to hers. "You think you’re better than us."

"I don’t actually."

"Good, because you’re not. You’re out here with us and if we weren’t with you right now, you would be dead."

I sighed and fully turned to I was facing her. "What do you want? I have stayed out of your way. I have ignored you. What do you want from me?"

"A fucking apology would be nice."

"What do I possibly have to apologize for? I don’t even know you. I haven’t done anything to you."

"We all suffered because of pompous little bitches like you," she hissed, her voice a low and dangerous whisper. "If it weren’t for Caine, you would be dead. I would take pleasure in killing you slowly and making sure you suffered the way we did."

The worst part of it all was I could tell she was being genuine. I could tell that she would happily torture me and she would enjoy every second of it. I had never seen such hatred and anger in her eyes.

"I’m sorry for whatever my father did to you, but I am not him."

"Tell that to me and the other guards that suffered. You’re fucking Caine, aren’t you?"

My cheeks burned. "I don’t see how that is any of your concern."

"Have you seen the scars on his body?" she asked. "Take a wild guess as to how they got there. He defended you, he lied for you and-"

"Jennifer, stop!"

Her words hung in the air and I desperately wanted to ask her to continue but she had gone quiet.

Standing behind her was Dan, his hair was disheveled and he was shirtless, revealing a bandage still wrapped around his side. He didn’t look angry, just exhausted. He made his way over to her and whispered something harsh into her ears.

Jennifer glared at me once more before disappearing.

I stared at her retreating back for seconds before Dan’s voice filled the air. "I’m sorry about her."

It took me a second to respond. "You don’t have to."

"Jennifer keeps grudges, but she’s also insanely loyal. She thinks you must have brainwashed or manipulated Caine."

"Have you met him?" I snorted. "He can’t be manipulated."

The corner of Dan’s lips quirked. "I think she knows that. She just doesn’t want to admit that maybe he just truly likes you."

"Was she sleeping with him?"

Dan laughed. "No, I don’t think he saw her that way. I don’t think he saw anyone that way to be honest. He was very private about his sex life and whoever his partners were, they didn’t talk either."

The silence between us stretched for a long moment.

"I’m sorry about what my father did to you."

He waved me off. "You’re not your father."

"I’m still sorry, and I’m sorry if our argument woke you."

"It didn’t. I was already up and better me than Caine."

I mentally grimaced. "He would have been so pissed at me."

"At you?" his brows rose. "You sweet, little, oblivious thing."

"I don’t understand."

"It doesn’t matter. You should go to bed."

With that, he turned away from me and walked away leaving me alone in the quiet living room. I glanced out the window but the initial feeling of warm solace was gone.

I made my way gingerly up the stairs and into the room I shared with Caine. He was seated with his back to me, his shirt discarded on the floor somewhere. The moonlight shone directly on his back, illuminating those faded scars that littered his skin.

I slowly made my way over to him.

He was aware of my presence. I saw him tense as I approached, but he trusted me enough not to turn. My fingers brushed his skin hesitantly.

"She told you."

It wasn’t a question.

"I think you may have also told me before. I just didn’t realize the severity of it until now." I pressed a soft kiss to a particularly long one. "I’m sorry."

He finally turned to me. "Don’t you ever apologize for someone else’s actions. I chose to lie to them."

"Why?"

His eyes searched mine, as if trying to figure out something.

Whatever he was looking for, he didn’t find it because instead of responding, he kissed me softly. "It doesn’t matter."