by Leanne Davis
“So you’re against us then?”
He sighed as his grandfather turned and stared at him. “I’m not, but if you choose to see it as that I can’t stop you.” He grabbed the box at his feet and then his briefcase. He glanced around. There wasn’t much more he needed. His entire professional life was one box. It didn’t matter. Not anymore.
“She’ll never prove it.”
His grandfather’s parting words stopped him dead in the doorway. Tristan glanced back over his shoulder. “Thank you for saying that, for making it easy for me to walk away. She thinks this will tear me apart, being pitted against you and Tommy as you fight her. It won’t. I don’t condone rape, nor can I be around anyone who does. Goodbye, Grandfather.”
He slammed the door and for the last time walked down the hallway of Tamasy Industries. The only thing he took with him was his box of mementos, a few files, and Reese, his secretary, who gladly followed him like in some dramatic scene from a movie. But really there was only a handful of employees there to see him walk out.
He thanked Reese outside the building and promised to contact him the next day and they’d get started… somehow. Other people started new businesses, why couldn’t they?
He went straight to Kylie’s studio. She opened the door when he knocked and drew him inside as he set the stuff down and leaned over it with a pronounced, too long, and exaggerated pause. Her arms encircled him from the back and she leaned her head against the center of his back. He held her hand to his chest and kissed her palm.
“Did you see him?”
“I did. He’s sticking with Tommy. That’s okay, I expected him to.”
“It’s not okay. But what about your parents?”
He turned and took her hand and led her to her bed, where he sat down and pushed her hair back off her shoulder. He shook his head. “They won’t be a factor in our life. They aren’t like Tracy and Donny.”
Her eyes were large. “I’m sorry, Tristan.”
“Don’t be. Actually, all this has got me thinking, there is one family member I’d like you to meet, hell I’d like to meet… Do you think you’d go with me to find her?”
“Tara?”
“Yes, my sister.”
“Of course I would.”
He slid a chunk of her hair between his thumb and index finger. He pushed it behind her ear. “I think she’d like you. She might even give me a chance because I’m with someone like you.”
“Someone like me how? Like all messed up?”
“No, Kylie. Because you are someone genuine, real, honest, kind, sincere, sweet, funny, and someone who I love.”
She smiled softly. “What about your job? Everything you’ve worked for?”
“I’m not that old. I can start over. It’s nothing, Kylie. I am actually already getting ideas and getting energized. I’m not kidding you, I’m actually pretty good at what I do. I think I can make it on my own merit, and even more since Reese came with me. You wouldn’t believe the wealth of information that man holds. He’s my ace in the hole.”
She grinned.
“What?”
“I love that you love your male secretary.”
“He’s my male administrative assistant, and he’s more valuable than I am at this, I swear. But it’s pretty encouraging that he believes in me enough to come with me. You’d be surprised how much he made at Tamasy Industries. I can’t match that for a while, but he came anyway. Mostly, I can’t believe you believed in me.”
She shrugged. “I talked to my parents today.”
He took in a deep breath. “And what did they say? I can’t imagine it was good.”
“They were shocked, yes. But they’ll come around. You have the most work to do with Donny, but I think you can handle it.”
Her smile was quick and easy and something released in his stomach. He’d been a quivering knot of guilt, anxiety, and nerves for the last week, and especially yesterday. Seeing Kylie smiling at him, in fun, with ease and faith was something he didn’t think was possible.
He grinned back. “Do you think I could maybe stay here for a while? I can afford the rent here, but I can’t afford my own.”
“You can stay, but you pay half the rent. You don’t support me. We’re not doing that.”
He nodded. “So… Donny, Tracy, and I are renting the apartment? He’ll love that.”
She nodded. “Oh, he’ll definitely make you pay. If not financially then otherwise.”
“Are you sure? I can obviously find another arrangement.”
“Are you asking to move in with me for convenience or for good?”
He sighed. “If I said for good, would you think it was too soon? Too crazy? Too wrong?”
“I think all of the above. But then… our entire relationship is kind of based on that premise.”
He stared into her eyes. “I love you.”
“I would hope you do after all this.” Her smile matched his own; happy, bright, in love, but also kind of sad. There was an element of sadness that tinged their smiles, their relationship, and their love.
But Tristan knew being with Kylie was better than not. So sad and happy were part of it. Just as they were kind of entwined in her. Just as all the bad made everything good shine that much more brightly.
Chapter Twenty-Three
KYLIE MCKINLEY SPOKE AT two thirty-seven on Wednesday, April thirteenth before the disciplinary board of Peterson College, which was headed by the university’s sexual assault education coordinator. She was accompanied there by her parents, sister… and Tristan Tamasy. It took every ounce of their support bolstering her courage to make her find the words to describe what happened to her… and to say them out loud, all alone before strangers who were there to judge her… against Tommy.
She didn’t look even once at Tommy… She looked at the back of the room and pretended she was talking to Tristan.
She made sure to dress exactly as she always did, no frills or gimmicks. Just purely Kylie, exactly as she was. She told them in a cool, even tone what she remembered of the night she woke up reeking of sex and unsure of how it happened. She understood no criminal charges could be proven, but she wanted it on the record what was done to her. Per university procedures it was a closed and confidential proceeding. Even witnesses couldn’t listen to other witnesses. Kylie consulted a lawyer but the counsel wasn’t allowed in the university proceedings. The university would investigate sexual assault complaints independent of any criminal proceedings. They were looser in what was allowed to be presented. But essentially all there really was for “proof” was her accusations against his denials. Her story to his. He said, she said.
Tommy’s family was all there too, out in the lobby of the building. His parents and grandfather. It was the first time Kylie had even seen what Tristan’s parents looked like. The dad, JR, looked just like Tristan… and Tommy. Kylie saw the resemblance now, where she hadn’t first made the comparison. And his mother? A tall, cool, well-dressed blonde with stylish short hair and a glare for him and Kylie. They never did say another word to Tristan. It hit hard against her heart to watch them ignore him. But he never once wavered in his faith, love, and belief in her. True to his word, he stood by her for the entire ordeal.
Tristan sat waiting with her parents and Ally for Kylie’s ordeal to get over. It was not one she ever cared to repeat. It was humiliating, hard, and cold. Things that were so private and personal and painful were made cold and sterile and out there to be judged. But she went through with it.
Tristan could have pushed her to let it go, drop any charges or efforts to get any kind of justice. Instead he was the one who figured out what she should do. He helped her prepare. He held her when she was unsure she could follow through with it. He encouraged her when she didn’t want to.
Still, she did it.
Three days after the proceedings Tommy was cleared of any wrongdoing. Reasons? Insufficient evidence. Which Kylie suspected would happen. Anyway, the worst that could have happened to Tommy fr
om this disciplinary board was expulsion from school.
Maybe if Cadence had been able to go up against Tommy too, and speak up with her. But Cadence was too fragile emotionally to go up against him. The irony wasn’t lost on Kylie. It was supposed to be her, but in the end it wasn’t she who couldn’t speak against Tommy. She finally spoke up just fine.
Justice… It was something she now knew she deserved. It was something she would not get. Tristan didn’t make up for that. Being in love didn’t soothe the feelings of being violated and abused that Tommy’s actions had given her.
But Tristan did help her to live with it.
It was a strange dynamic they had. She was his support as he went up against his family. As he lost his family, job, and lifestyle, he turned to her for comfort and encouragement and support. It was because of her he lost it all, and because of her he didn’t care that he did.
There was no celebrating their loss. There was no crying either. Her mom asked them to come to dinner, so they could be together that night. Her, Tristan, Ally, Julia, and her parents.
They sat at the table together. It was solemn and quiet. Subdued. But she was also okay. Kylie glanced at her mom, who looked so sad. She leaned over and touched her hand. “It’s okay, Mom. I accomplished more than I lost.”
Tracy squeezed her hand. “I just wish… I mean, it’s so unfair…”
“Life is unfair, right? But I said it. I faced it. I’m going to live with it. He can’t define who I am anymore or what I do. I’m stronger than I ever thought, or believed… and now you understand that too. You understand what happened to me and who I am, and most of all I finally let you.”
“It’s not enough to make up for what he did to you.” Tracy glanced at Tristan. “This is hard to talk about in front of you.”
“No, that’s the mistake, having topics be off limits. There is no off limits with us. There is just talking and honesty even when it’s hard.”
“I know, Tracy,” Tristan agreed, his tone quiet and expression intense. He leaned over putting his arm around Kylie, gripping her shoulder in his hand. “I know how hard it is to realize what he did to Kylie. I don’t condone it. I don’t like it. He belongs in prison, he shouldn’t be graduating college.”
“But she has to go there and maybe run into him… It’s cruel and unusual punishment.”
“Maybe. But I made a statement, Mom. I did something about it. I stood up for myself and stood up against the names I was called, the blame I was assigned, and the beliefs that were all wrong about me. I might not have changed all their minds, but I changed my own, so it wasn’t all bad.”
Donny held up his wine glass. He glanced at Tristan. “I was against him being at our table ever again when I first heard who he was and what he’d come after Kylie to do. But for some reason he was able to get through to you and bring out your strengths. So this sucks, we all agree, but Kylie didn’t lose. She isn’t lost or broken. She’s right here and she didn’t take it silently. Kylie not only faced her attacker but then found the uncanny ability to love his brother. So I for one could not be prouder of you. My daughter.” He then glanced at Tristan. “Both of you, actually. I’m very proud of both of you.”
Tristan’s smile was almost embarrassed as he lifted his glass as he shut his eyes for a split second and then opened them. “Thank you, sir.”
They all raised glasses and clinked and Kylie, for the first time in years, felt tears fill her eyes and fall down her cheeks. Everyone stared at her, confounded.
“Are you crying?” Julia asked. She was aware things had gone on, but was hazy on the full details and scope of events.
Kylie used the back of her hands to wipe her tears and nodded as a short laugh burst from her mouth. “Uh-huh.”
“That’s what makes you cry? After all these years… all these things… and this makes you finally freaking cry? A happy speech?” Ally finally said.
Kylie smiled through her tears. “I guess happiness makes me cry. I guess I think that this is worthy of my tears.”
Ally rolled her eyes and Tristan leaned over and kissed her cheek as her parents smiled and Tracy leaned over to grab her hand.
After many kisses and well-wishing and goodbyes to her family, Tristan and Kylie started for his car. Just before her car door he pulled her into his arms and kiss her lips. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Being with me. Agreeing to come with me this summer to look for my sister. I don’t think I could do it without you. But I really think I need to do it. And what if she needs me? I have no idea where she is or how she is or even who she is. I have no idea what to say to her. Or what Tara will think of me… I keep hoping, if she meets you, she’ll understand I am not like them. Maybe I can understand now why she left and her version of what they did to her. I don’t know it as fully as I should. As her older brother, I should know what happened. But I don’t really. I was too busy. Too busy for her spiraling out of control. Too busy to notice my brother was a fucking—”
She pressed two fingers to his lips. The rape and Tommy came up like this between them quite often. She hoped over time it would fade into the ether and not be in the forefront of their relationship. But she supposed it was to be expected.
“I’m happy to come with you and meet your sister.”
“Thank you for everything else, Kylie.”
“Everything like what?”
“You gave me everything I never had, nor would have had. Love. Family. Forgiveness. Honesty. A chance to shape my own future and my own decisions. You changed my life by just being… you.”
It was a quiet end to the most explosive secret of her life. She had sat on it, and let it tangle itself around everything, from her self-confidence to her self-image. She had let it change her and try to ruin her. She had nothing to show for her rape, other than how she handled it now.
And now? She would no longer hide from it or let it define her. And when she had started attending a group of rape survivors with Cadence, it was she who pushed and helped Cadence to go, and it was eventually Kylie who started talking about her experience until months into it, it was she who was acting as the leader of the group and she was the one guiding newcomers to share their stories, listen to other survivors, and believe that they—no one, actually—deserved it. No matter what they had done or said or lived like before and after being raped. They were not to blame. No matter what.
And it had taken her rapist’s brother to first start to show her that.
####
Dear Reader,
I would be so grateful if you took a few moments to leave a review of The Broken Sister. It really helps expand an author’s audience, and we do appreciate the effort.
Please read on for a peak at the next book in the Sister Series, The Perfect Sister.
Otherwise, thank you for reading, and I hope you try another one of my novels.
If you would like to keep up on my releases, please go to my website and sign up for my email distribution list or contact me directly at [email protected].
Here is a preview of my other novels.
Sincerely,
Leanne Davis
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Book #8
Ally McKinley has been told how perfect she is so often that she now strives to live up to that ideal. Her father abandoned her family when she was a just a kid, but it taught her the importance of taking care of herself. She must keep everything around her under perfect order and control to avoid ever again being so blindsided. Her type A personality helped her sail through school and her college years, but that merely reinforces the positive aspects to being so perfect.
It also prevents almost everyone from ever seeing who she really is.
Nate Stratton attends the same college. He is in the same grade, majoring in the same subject, and even shares family with Ally. Ally is smart
, funny, sarcastic, and, to everyone else’s eyes, the perfect college senior, about to take her world by storm. Nate, however, finds Ally’s need for perfection ridiculous, especially after he learns the secret he’s pretty sure no one, not even her sister or mother, know about her. Her secret threatens her health as well as her life. He thinks she is taking a stupid gamble to uphold her illusion of perfection. What good is striving to be perfect if she never allows herself to feel anything real? He intends to show her that imperfection is far more interesting than trying to live up to an ideal that might ultimately kill her.
The Perfect Sister:
Prologue
She had failed. She had completely and totally failed. She could do so much better. She was so much better than this. How had this happened? She kept rehashing the last test in her geology class that she’d gotten a B- on, which had lowered her quarter grade to a B+. It was… good. Fine. Okay. Not great. Not the best. Ally needed to be good, great, better than most. What she needed was perfection. B+. She’d gotten a B+. The words spun all around Ally’s brain as she leaned over the toilet and put her finger into her mouth. Out came dinner and the thousands of calories she’d consumed on top of that. Out it all came in a disgusting heap that landed in the toilet bowl. She flushed and did it again, and again. Ally shut her eyes against the images. The anti-perfection she had created. It left her stomach hollow and feeling like a pit was deep inside it. It left her esophagus and throat burning as her mouth tasted rancid. It left her cringing at what was before her.