Cain's Darkness(28)

He exhaled, feeling the same way. “I love you, too, baby, so fucking much.”





Chapter Eleven



Violet stared at Fallina, who sat across from her at her dining room table. “I know this is probably a shock, and we hadn’t planned on this, obviously, at least I didn’t.” She’d just told Fallina about what kind of relationship she had with Cain, and her friend looked like she was either not listening, or in shock.

“I need a beer,” Fallina said, and didn’t wait for Violet to get it for her. She stood and went over to the fridge, and grabbed two bottles of beer out. When she had them on the table and sat back down, she still had yet to say anything in response to what Violet said about Cain and her. Violet’s heart was beating a mile a minute, her palms were sweating, and she felt like she might pass out.

“Please, say something. Anything, Fallina.” Violet stared at her best friend, and saw the way Fallina guzzled the beer in one gulp. She set the bottle down a little too gently.

“He’s so much older than you.”

She nodded. “I know, Fallina, but that doesn’t matter to either of us.”

“And you’ve loved him since after the attack?”

Violet nodded again, and looked down at her beer. She started picking the label off. “I wanted to tell you before now, but your dad never showed any interest. In fact,” she looked up at Fallina, “he pushed me away, didn’t want any contact with me, and we didn’t have any for years. But then he came to my place weeks after he got out of prison, and one thing led to another.” She shrugged, not sure how else to say it, or lessen the blow. “I didn’t mean to do anything behind your back—”

“Are you happy, Violet?” Fallina asked in a soft voice.

“I am, so much that I feel like this is all a dream sometimes.”

Fallina smiled, looked at her hands that were wrapped around the bottle, and exhaled. “Then I am happy for you. I love my dad more than anything, but you and I both know he is dangerous, as is the club he’s affiliated with.” Fallina stared at her. “I just want to make sure you’re okay with everything, and that he treats you good, like how you should be treated.” Fallina was silent for a moment. “I know my father is a good man. He’s just very hardened, a little coarse. You know that as well as I do from growing up. I just want to make sure you know the lifestyle you’re getting into.”

Violet smiled, not able to contain the love she had for this woman. “Your dad is dangerous, yeah, but not to us, and you know that. He’s good to me, sweet and kind.”

Fallina nodded, and her smile grew. “I know, but you and I know how intense my dad can be.” That had them both laughing.

“Yeah, he really is, but I think I love him even more for it.”

They were silent for a few more moments, the air thick, but not uncomfortable. Fallina stood after Violet spoke, and moved toward her. Violet stood as well, and before she knew what was happening Fallina had her in a big hug.

“You keep him in line.” Fallina started chuckling. “He’s a stubborn man, but I know you’re up for the job, and can handle it.”

Violet pulled back, wiped the stray tear away that fell from her eye and down her cheek, and wiped the tear off of Fallina’s cheek, too. Her friend cried, and Violet knew that not only was she crying tears of happiness, but her best friend was as well.

“I’m glad you’re happy. You deserve it.”

“And so do you, Fallina.”

They both laughed again, hugged once more, and Violet knew that things were looking up, and she hoped they stayed that way. She hoped that the good far outweighed the bad in her life, and that she could finally start putting one foot in front of the other and meaning it.

****

Violet stared at her reflection in the mirror on the back of her bedroom door. She decided to wear a lace tunic and leggings, because she knew that where Cain was taking her for dinner wasn’t anything fancy. It was her choice, but she also knew that Cain wasn’t the type of man to wine and dine a woman, dress up in slacks and a button down, and she was okay with that. In fact, she liked that. Violet didn’t want a man that was snazzy, but the type of man that Cain was: hardcore to the bone, and didn’t give two shits what anyone thought about it. She looked at her body, at the thickness, the curves she had, and that way her body was plump and not stick thin. She didn’t think about the disgusting way she had been touched all those years ago, and she knew it was because being with Cain gave her that stability and comfort. She didn’t need a man in her life to give her stability, but she also couldn’t lie and say the connection she had with Cain hadn’t helped her. It was the truth. It was because it was him, a man she’d known for years, trusted with her life, and saw as someone special to her, that she knew she’d never be hurt while with him.