“Violet,” Sasha soothed, which angered her even more.
“No! You don’t get to placate me. You lied. You both lied!”
She stopped moving when her back hit the front door. Staring at both men, mentally she knew they weren’t responsible for her past, but for their actions in the present, they were. It took everything she had to leave Treasure Cove and even more to trust Sasha and Tristan when everything in her body was screaming at her not to. She ignored her inner voice and took a leap of faith, knowing that if she was ever going to be able to start living again, she was going to have to trust someone. And at the first chance, she made a mistake. She put her faith and trust into the wrong hands.
Not knowing what to do, where to go, or whom to trust, Violet reverted back to the only thing she knew and said, without inflection, “I want Gabriel.”
Chapter Twenty
In the weeks that followed, the National Guard, FEMA, and the Red Cross showed up to help with local rescue and the removal of the twenty-four bodies still trapped in the mine collapse. But mainly they were there to take care of those residents who were displaced. The small town of Treasure Cove made national news and the outpouring of support and kindness from the nation overwhelmed most of the town.
Most of those who died worked for Trinity Construction. The others were local, like Old Man Bill Homer, the town’s only hobo. A Vietnam veteran, Bill was a staple of Treasure Cove and would surely be missed. Matthew lost his secretary when her car got swallowed up in the collapse. Though Tomas survived the hole, he was rushed to Silver Springs when he started coughing up blood. He later died on the operating table from a lacerated liver. Macie was heartbroken. Sam was still in critical condition, but the doctors were hopeful that he would make it without any complications. River’s sister, Lake, was recuperating nicely and eager to get home.
After the town made the news, Tristan offered Treasure Cove everything they could possibly needed to get back on their feet. Even going as far to hire construction crews from out of state and offering to pay for the reconstruction himself. Though it was determined that the Summerfield Corporation was not at fault for the mine collapse, Violet knew that Tristan felt responsible. She had overheard him talking to Gabriel a couple days ago at the Pleasure Cave, when he said, “I started a chain of events that have led to disastrous repercussions. I may not be responsible for the collapse, but I will never be able to live with myself if I don’t help in some way.”
“You don’t have to do this, Tristan,” Gabriel replied. “The town will recover.”
“I’m not doing this for the town.”
“Has she contacted you?”
“No, and I don’t expect her to.”
“She knows the truth, Tristan. Just give her time to assimilate it all.”
“She was right, Gabriel. We lied to her. She will never forgive us for that.”
“How is Sasha?”
“He stays drunk all the time. Grey can’t snap him out of it. I thought of bringing Lisset to the States, but I can’t get ahold of Damien and Devlin. It’s like they vanished into thin air.”
“Alex and I want to help you and Sasha with Lisset. I never did thank you for giving Sasha that information.”
“I think on some level he always knew you and Alex never hurt Lisset. He had a hard time swallowing his sister’s past. It’s not every day one learns that his sister is a submissive and lived in the lifestyle. He knew you both tried to do right by her, but he still feels like it’s his fault she was hurt.”
“It was James’s fault and no one else’s.”
“Any leads on where he’s at?” Tristan asked.
“None. It’s like he disappeared off the face of the earth,” Gabriel admitted.
“Will you keep me informed?”
“Yeah,” Gabriel sighed. “Do you want to see her?”
“No. She’s better off without me. You know when I first met her, I called her damaged goods. The funny thing is, I am the damaged goods.”
“You’re not damaged, Tristan. You trusted your brother. He is the one who is damaged, not you.”
“We share the same blood running through our veins, Gabriel. It could have easily been me. I could have been the monster.”
“Not possible. You had me, Alex, and Sasha. James had no one. He never did.”
“He had me if he would have allowed it.”
Violet wanted so much to walk into Gabriel’s office and comfort Tristan, but her legs refused to move. Instead, she turned away from him, hoping that her brother could ease some of his pain. As for herself, her siblings had tried to help her, but after living her life alone for so long, she couldn’t bring herself to be around them. She felt as if she disappointed them somehow, and nothing they said or did could get her to relinquish that feeling. What made matters worse was that her heart ached for Sasha and Tristan. She missed them terribly. Regardless, she had other things to think about today. Today was the funeral for those who died.
There were so many faces that would no longer walk the streets of Treasure Cove, but many who would remember them always. Though the church was destroyed in the collapse, Reverend Bram Prescott insisted on holding a service to thank those who journeyed to help, and to remember those who were no longer with us.
“God works in mysterious ways. We take for granted how precious life is, and in a blink of an eye, everything you love and hold dear could be gone. I know that some people say that death is a celebration. That we should rejoice that their journey in this life has ended and they are finally going home. But to me, death represents a new chapter in our lives. The story of those gone is over. It’s the living that must continue on as we write the next chapter. We will mourn those who passed, we will remember them, we will honor them, but we must continue on. Our stories haven’t been written yet. Just being here adds another sentence, another paragraph, another chapter. What happens next is up to you. Don’t waste it. Live it, love it, embrace it.
“Today we honor the men and women who died. We will never forget what they’ve done for this town, their families, their friends. All were good, honest, loving men and women who didn’t deserve what happened, but are no longer hurting. They’ve started a new journey in their lives, and I am here to wish them Godspeed.”
Since the accident, the town of Treasure Cove muddled through, never getting back that vitality and lust for life it once had. Everything changed that day and would never be the same again. The ranchers, once a vital part of the community, stayed closer to their homes, continuing on with their lives as best they could. Many of the town’s residents moved to neighboring cities, hoping that one day they could return to the small, simple life of Treasure Cove. Others moved to Celestial or Silver Springs, but for those who stayed, they had the constant reminder of what was never going to be again. It was those people, like her brothers and the Jenkins family, River and her men, and the men from Cove Auto Body, who refused to let a disaster run them out of town. Though the town was still in mourning, the rebuilding would soon start, thanks to Tristan and Sasha. There was already talk of a better, more vibrant town. But until that day came, no one was holding their breaths.
Quietly exiting the makeshift tent where the funeral was held, Violet walked beside Hazel and her men, Steven and Neil Connor. She spotted Tristan and Sasha talking with Gabriel. Sasha looked horrible, like he hadn’t slept in days, and Tristan didn’t look much better. When her feet faltered, Steven whispered, “Men make mistakes, Violet. We’re human. It isn’t until the truth comes out that we realize our actions could have prevented those mistakes, and when we realize that, we blame ourselves harshly. Sometimes, if we’re lucky, we can find grace again through the love of a good woman.”
“You?” Violet asked, looking up at her brother-in-law.
“I wasn’t always a nice man, Violet. I was stubborn and conceited. I let my anger and frustration destroy everything once, and it almost cost me the woman I love. If it weren’t for Hazel, God only knows where I’d be
right now. I may have saved her from her ex-husband, but she was the one who saved me.”
“You think I should forgive them?”
“That’s not up to me. The question you should be asking yourself is, can you live the rest of your life without them? Is what they did so bad that they can’t be forgiven? They are already punishing themselves enough, Violet. They will never forgive themselves or their actions because it caused you so much pain. Only you can ease that.”
“I can’t forget, Steven.”
“No one’s asking you to. Your past isn’t just yours alone anymore. There are two men over there who are now a part of your past. They won’t forget any more than you will. But to move past it, one of you is going to have to take the first step,” Steven said, before leaving her to stand by his wife.
Violet looked over at Sasha and Tristan, just as both men turned to look at her. The moment their eyes met, Violet knew Steven was right. The sorrow and regret that shone in their eyes pierced her soul. She may have survived the worst torture anyone could endure, but they were living with the knowledge that they had a part in it. That alone was too much for one, let alone two men to endure. She wasn’t vindictive, nor was she heartless. She refused to be the one who became the tormentor.
“Violet, you ready to go?” her sister said, walking over to her. Nodding, Violet looked one more time at Sasha and Tristan and turned away.
* * * *
An hour or so later, Tristan and Sasha walked into the guesthouse at the Masterson Ranch. Neither said anything since seeing Violet at the memorial service or on the drive from town. Too much had happened and been discussed already. There was nothing more to say. Sasha was already packed and leaving first thing in the morning for Seattle. There was nothing more he could do from Treasure Cove, and he had decided to return to the Den. Tristan was planning on leaving shortly after that. He still had some unfinished business to attend to in Celestial, and planned on making some kind of contribution to the town for the trouble he caused. As for his drilling equipment, well, he wasn’t giving that up. He owned the land he was currently drilling on and decided to continue, but the construction of the new business offices and suburb was halted. He knew he couldn’t stay in Treasure Cove with everyone knowing what his brother did, but mainly he refused to stay and cause Violet more grief. She had already been through enough, and he was just ready to go. He didn’t know where he was going, but anywhere was better than here.
“When does your plane leave?” Tristan asked, walking over the fireplace.
“Seven in the morning,” Sasha replied, placing his keys and phone on the kitchen table. “What about you?”
“I’ve asked the mayor of Celestial if I could speak with them again. I wasn’t very nice the first time and I want to make a donation to the town to offset any problems my drilling equipment might have caused.”
“And the mayor is okay with that?” Sasha asked.
“I don’t care. I’ve caused enough trouble in these parts. It’s the only way I know to say I’m sorry.”
“Then show them that you meant it. Stay and help rebuild.” Tristan whipped around so fast he accidently knocked over a picture frame. Sasha dared not move. She was there. In the guesthouse at the Masterson Ranch with them. She looked beautiful but scared. Tristan could relate, because he was, too. Tristan took a single step forward as Sasha slowly walked to stand next to him. Neither knew why she was here. Both had thought they’d never see her again. Though they didn’t like it, they accepted it. She was pretty clear two weeks ago when she said she didn’t want to see them anymore and called Gabriel to come get her. Since then, they kept their distance, not wanting to upset her anymore. Now, they both were wondering why she was here. “Gabriel told me you two were leaving.”
Both men nodded.
“He also told me that both of you have ensured that Treasure Cove has the funds to rebuild and even hired constructions crews to start next week. He also said that both of you have made restitution to the families of the dead, even though neither of you were at fault for the cave in. Why? Why would you do that?” she asked, standing her ground.
Tristan was afraid to talk. He feared if he opened his mouth, the wrong words would come out and he’d ruin the moment. He was just too damn happy she was there and the thought of upsetting her even more was too much for him. He couldn’t speak and chose to let Sasha do the talking. The only problem with that was the man next to him was silent as a church mouse. The one time Tristan needed his friend to speak for him, the man refused.
“When you told me about your family, Tristan, I reacted out of fear. I had a right to. Your brother tortured me, humiliated me, and abused me for years. The thought of you being related to that man was too much for me to handle. I know your brother’s actions are not your fault, Tristan, just like I know my brother’s actions are not what caused your sister’s accident, Sasha. Both of you have set out to destroy several people. You both admitted that to me when you told me what you were planning on doing to this town and my family. If you both mean what you are saying about making amends, then show this town you mean what you say. Don’t leave. Stay.”
“The town doesn’t want us here,” Tristan replied, finally speaking.
“I do,” Violet said. “I know about running away. I couldn’t face my past and ran away. I ran right into your arms. You both taught me that in order to get past my fears, I had to trust again. I know it’s not the same thing, believe me when I say if you both leave, you will regret it for the rest of your lives. These people have been through hell. Help them heal, like you’ve helped me.”
“It’s not that easy, little flower,” Sasha said. “You were different.”
“Why? Because you wanted to help me? Is that what you’re saying, that you really don’t want to help Treasure Cove?”
“No, we do want to help. It’s just that they don’t want our help. They’re okay with taking the money, but they don’t want us here because we remind them of what we did. This town will never be the same again. So many people have already left. We can’t bring them back,” Tristan added.
“They left because they were scared. Everyone is still scared. We’re all unsure of what tomorrow holds. But if you two leave, then no one will ever come back. Stay, help this town rebuild itself. Make Treasure Cove a better place to live. A safer place. A place where people can once again smile and be happy. Show them that you are not the evil bastards they think you are. I was recently told that people make mistakes. It’s our actions afterward that make us the people we want to be. So, are you going to run away like cowards or are you going to stand with this town, own up to your mistakes, and show these people that you mean what you say?”
“My brother is still out there, Violet,” Tristan admitted reluctantly.
“I know that, and I’m scared to death, but I can’t let him stop me from living. If I do that, then he’s already won. I refuse to live the rest of my life in fear of what may happen. I can’t do that anymore. I did that for five years. You two showed me that I could live again. I want that. I need that, but how can I when you two are running away?”
“What are you saying Violet?” Sasha asked, taking a step forward.
“I’m saying stay. Stay here with me. Help me and the others start living again. Show me that everything you both have said to me isn’t a lie. That I can live again. That I can trust people again. That the men I love aren’t just saying words, that they are men of courage, men of action. Show me the courage to change.”
Tristan didn’t know how she was across the room from him one minute and the next she was standing right in front of them. All he knew was that if he reached out, he could touch her. His only fear was that she wasn’t going to be real. When Violet left two weeks ago with her brother, he knew he would never see her again and he accepted that because it was what he deserved. Yet the only thing that kept him sane at that very minute was the fact he clearly heard her say, she loved them.
“Say it again,” T
ristan said, moving closer. So close he could feel her body against his.
“What?” she asked.
“The words, little flower,” Sasha said, moving in behind her. “Say the words again.”
“I love you.”
“Again,” Tristan ordered huskily, gently touching her face. He needed to be sure. He needed to see her accept his touch without flinching. When she didn’t move but sighed and said, “I love you both,” Tristan grabbed her face in both hands and took her lips in a searing kiss. When Violet’s body relaxed against his, he put everything he had into the kiss. He wanted her to know what he was feeling, too. He wasn’t good with his words like Sasha and never would be, but he could show her. He could do that for her.
Tristan kissed her gently at first, barely touching her lips. He had one arm around her waist while the other hand caressed her cheek. He moved slowly, deliberately. His fingers moved past her ear to the nape of her neck. He spread his fingers slightly and moved to her hair, pushing his way through her thick dark strands. He loved her hair. Her long, glossy locks looked like black obsidian that glistened in the light. She was sexy, loving, and gentle, everything he wasn’t. Her tender, calm façade and generous ability to forgive only added to her beauty.
He dropped his hand to her shoulder, pulling her closer. His lips pressed tighter to hers. She grabbed the back of his head, pulling him in. The tip of her tongue touched his lips as he gently sucked it in, teasing it with his, hinting of things to come. His hands moved again. One dropped down to her hip and pulled her closer to him. He needed her to feel his hardness starting to build to show her how much she meant to him. He wanted to please her. His hands slid across her shoulder, past her neck, and down to her chest. Such an overlooked spot, as his fingers lightly trailed across her chest, a wonderful light tickle. She shivered and kissed him harder. Tongues feverishly fought to show that each had more passion than the other.
The Reluctant Submissive: Courage to Change [The Men of Treasure Cove 14] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 24