Tiana (Starkis Family #3)

by Cheryl Douglas

  My father scowled. “Don’t be naïve. With as much money as his family has, he could buy good grades.”

  No matter what I said, my father would never believe Blake had any redeeming qualities, but I wanted to tell my mother about the man I’d fallen in love with. This may be my last chance. After today, they may both cut me out of their lives. As painful as that was to contemplate, I wouldn’t bend to their will just to maintain peace.

  “He’s a good person,” I said to my mother, leaning forward as though my father wasn’t in the room and hanging on my every word. “He loves me, Mom, and he makes me happy.”

  “He’s using you!” my father shouted. “Why in the hell can’t you see that?”

  “I know I can’t change your mind about him,” I said to my father, my voice carefully controlled, “but time will prove you wrong. I really believe he and I can make this work.”

  He lowered his chin, looking down on me as though I were some servant whose only purpose was to cater to him. “Are you telling me you’re actually stupid enough to consider a future with this man?”

  I bristled every time I heard my father use that word. He’d always been so proud of Damon, with his genius level I.Q., and made me feel inferior by comparison.

  “I’m telling you I’m smart enough and mature enough to make my own decisions now. I don’t need you to tell me what to do or look out for me anymore.” To soften the blow, I said, “You’ve both done your job as parents. None of your children ended up on skid row or behind bars. We’re all educated, responsible, intelligent people who’ve found healthy relationships with partners who love us. Can’t you just be happy for us instead of ridiculing and judging us because we haven’t done things exactly the way you wanted us to?”

  “You won’t understand until you’re a parent,” he said, setting his glass on the burled walnut table with a heavy thud. “You don’t stop worrying or trying to protect your children just because they’ve reached the age of consent.”

  I supposed he was right. I’d never walked in his shoes, didn’t know how it felt to be responsible for another person, but I’d like to believe that when I did have children of my own, I’d be smart enough to let them know that I loved them unconditionally and would support them regardless of the choices they made.

  “I love you both,” I said, trying to diffuse my father’s anger with the truth. “I want a relationship with you, but not at the expense of my freedom.”

  My father rocked back on his heels as he shoved his hands into his pockets. “What the hell is that supposed to mean? Are you threatening me now? Trying to tell me if I don’t let you have your way on this, you’ll cut me out of your life?”

  That was typical of my father. He only thought about how circumstances would affect him. My mother’s feelings were always an afterthought. He’d barely glanced in her direction to determine how well she was faring during this exchange. I knew she didn’t want this discord any more than I did. Left up to her, she would find a way to come to terms with my relationship with Blake, but my father wouldn’t give her that option. It was his way or no way.

  “The last thing I want is to lose either one of you.” I reached for my mother’s hand when I noticed a tear slip down her cheek.

  “Then you only have one option,” my father said, his gaze locked on my face. “Break up with him.”

  I slowly lifted my eyes to meet his, expecting to see some trace of the man who’d dried my tears when I scraped my knee or had a bad dream. But he was gone. In his place was the ruthless dictator my brothers had warned me about.

  “I’m not going to break up with him,” I said, enunciating each word.

  “Then we have nothing more to say to each other.” He thrust a finger toward the door. “Get out of my house.”

  My mother gripped my hands, her eyes pleading with me. “Please, Tiana, think about what you are doing. No man is worth this.”

  “I’m not doing this for Blake,” I said, slowly withdrawing my hands. “I’m doing this for myself, because it’s time for me to take my life back.” I stood and crossed the room slowly until my father and I were standing toe to toe. “I’ll clear out my office on Monday.”

  I heard my mother gasp, but my sole focus was my father’s lifeless eyes.

  “The sooner, the better,” he said, his voice strong and unwavering.

  ***

  I should just go home, but I was craving human contact after my exchange with my parents, so I found myself knocking on Eleni and Damon’s door and hoping someone was home.

  My niece, Dalia, opened the door, grinning at me. “Teta Tiana!” She threw her arms around my waist.

  “Hey, sweetie,” I said, hugging her with equal enthusiasm. “I didn’t know you were here visiting your dad and Eleni.”

  “Yup, I’m here ‘til Sunday. We had the day off school.”

  “Cool.”

  She held my hand and led me into the living room. “Daddy’s not home yet, and El’s on the phone.”

  “That’s okay.” I sat on the couch as she stood in front of me, holding my hands. “That gives us a chance to catch up. How’s school?”

  “Good.” She grinned, revealing another missing tooth. “We’re getting out next week.”

  “I bet you’re excited.”

  I squeezed her hands before withdrawing one of mine so I could brush her hair over her shoulders. She had a riot of dark curls, just as I did at her age. I now beat mine into submission with a round brush and hairdryer, going for a wavy look instead of spiral curls.

  “Yeah. I get to come here for a couple of weeks before the wedding to help Daddy and El.”

  “That’s awesome. I’m sure they’ll need your help. Planning a wedding is a lot of work.” I was happy that Dalia and Eleni were getting along so well. It had been touch-and-go for a while, when Eleni learned that my brother had a daughter she knew nothing about.

  “What’s wrong?” Dalia asked, sitting beside me. “You’re sad.”

  She was so sweet and sensitive. I put an arm around her, drawing her close, and inhaled her strawberry shampoo. But she was developing a nice bond with my parents, and I didn’t want to say or do anything to derail that. “I’m okay, honey. Just a little tired, I guess.”

  Eleni came out of the bedroom. “Hey, I thought I heard voices out here.” She propped a hand on her hip, giving Dalia a stern look. “Did you use the peephole before you answered the door?”

  Dalia dipped her head in shame, and Eleni’s lips twitched as she tried to hide her amusement.

  “Sorry, El. I forgot.”

  “Honey, we put that little stool by the door for a reason, remember?” El asked. “Your dad and I don’t want you to answer the door unless you know who’s on the other side. Deal?”

  “Deal,” she said, nodding her head emphatically. “I’ll ‘member next time.”

  “Good girl,” Eleni said, smiling. “Now give your Teta Tiana a big hug and go have your bath. Your grandparents are expecting us in a little while.”

  I held Dalia for as long as I could before she giggled and squirmed to break free. There was no better feeling than having little arms wrapped around your neck, reminding you of the power of unconditional love.

  “Bye, sweetie. Love you,” I said, kissing the top of her head.

  “Love you, too,” Dalia said. “Will I see you before I go home?”

  “Um, I’m not sure. I’ll be away for the weekend. But if I don’t get to see you before you go, call me this week, okay?”

  “’K.”

  Eleni waited until we heard Dalia’s bedroom close before she smiled and asked, “Can I get you a drink?”

  “I’m sorry to just stop by like this.” I suddenly felt guilty I hadn’t had the good sense to call first.

  Eleni frowned. “Don’t be silly. You know you have an open invitation.” When I sighed, she said, “I’m guessing you don’t want that drink?”

  “No, thanks.” I couldn’t even look my friend in the eye. I didn’t w
ant to unload on her or ask her to take sides in my battle with my parents. I just didn’t want to be alone with my thoughts anymore.

  Eleni sat beside me and covered my hand with hers. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “You have your own problems,” I said, shaking my head.

  “Actually, life is pretty great right now.” She grinned while squeezing my hand. “Come on, I could use a little drama.”

  “I had it out with my parents today.”

  “Because of Blake?” Eleni asked gently.

  “Partially.” I covered my face with my hands, trying to collect myself. “Mostly because I just got tired of my father thinking he can run my life and my mother going along with whatever he says.”

  Eleni rested her hand on my shoulder. “For what it’s worth, I think you did the right thing. You’re a grown woman. You’re smart and sensible. Your father has no right to tell you what to do. But…”

  “But what?”

  “I was estranged from my father for a long time. I felt I was justified. He wasn’t an easy man to get along with.”

  Eleni had confided in me about her relationship with her parents and what had led her to New York to pursue modeling as a teenager. I couldn’t imagine how she’d been brave enough to venture out on her own before she was even old enough to drive. She’d even petitioned the courts to emancipate her so she could live independently.

  “But when he died, I had regrets,” she said. “There were a lot of things I didn’t get to say to him, and things he didn’t get to say to me. We were both stubborn, and both of us assumed we were right.”

  “You’re trying to remind me there are two sides, right?” I knew Eleni was right. My father could be a menace, but I had no doubt he thought he was acting in my best interest.

  “Demi can be…” Eleni pulled her lips into a tight line, trying to prevent her smile from growing. “Narrow-minded and intolerant, to say the least, but he didn’t get where he is by being a pushover.”

  I knew my father had had to be unyielding to build his empire, and I respected and admired his accomplishments, but I wished with all the lessons he’d learned along the way, compassion and understanding had been among them. “I know you’re right, and I’m sure we wouldn’t be having this problem if it had been any other man, but—”

  “You can’t help who you fall in love with, right?”

  Before I could respond, my brother walked in. He smiled at his fiancée before his eyes settled on me.

  Eleni gave me a quick hug, whispering, “Call me whenever you need to talk.” She crossed the room to hug my brother before announcing she was going to take a shower.

  When we were alone, Damon gave me a thorough once-over. “What the hell happened?”

  We’d always been so in sync, as though we could read each other’s minds. I loved Deacon, but I’d always had an unbreakable connection with Damon. He got me in a way no one else did… except Blake.

  “I had it out with Dad.” Before he could ask any questions, I added, “And I quit my job.”

  Damon pinched the bridge of his nose while closing his eyes. “You really think that was the best strategy, sis?”

  “He didn’t give me a choice. There was no way he was going to accept my relationship with Blake, and I’m not breaking up with him.”

  “It’s that serious?” Damon asked. “You’re really willing to give up your job and your family just to be with him?”

  I knew Damon and Blake were close, but his allegiance was to me. I still didn’t know if Blake had made any headway with Deacon. Blake had texted me, asking me call him, but I wanted to collect myself first. “I hope I’m not giving up my entire family. Am I?”

  “You know I don’t care what the hell you’ve got going on with the old man,” Damon said. “Eleni and I will always be there for you, no matter what. As for Deacon, he may be hard-headed, but he’ll come around. Especially with Mia’s influence. But as for Mom—”

  “She’ll always stand by her man.” I tried not to let bitterness seep into my voice. The irony wasn’t lost on me. I was frustrated with my mother for taking my father’s side over mine, yet I was taking Blake’s side over my father’s.

  “That’s just the way it is,” Damon said, sounding as frustrated as I felt. “It doesn’t matter how he treats her, her loyalty lies with him.”

  I clasped my hands and rested my chin on them. “Do you think I’m crazy?” I whispered, allowing my uncertainty to seep in. I couldn’t share my concerns with anyone else. “Trusting Blake?”

  He didn’t answer right away, which only made me more apprehensive.

  “I can’t answer that,” Damon said finally. “I trust him as a business partner and friend, but that’s a hell of a lot different than what you’re talking about. I’ve never known him to be in a serious relationship, so I can’t say whether he’s trustworthy in that regard. What I can tell you is that he claims it’s different with you.”

  I wanted to believe that more than anything, that I was different, but I couldn’t shake the fear that I may be betting everything on a bluff. “I know there’s no way to fix things with Dad. Even if Blake and I don’t work out, I’ve burned that bridge.”

  “That’s scary, huh?”

  “Terrifying.” I finally let the tears fall. I wasn’t crying for the money I’d lost, but for the love and sense of security I’d always felt as a part of my family.

  Damon sat beside me, pulled me into his arms, and rested my head on his shoulder. “I know it’s scary, honey. But for what it’s worth, I do think Blake is in this for the long haul. And even if he’s not, you had to stand up to Demi eventually, right? If you hadn’t, you would have ended up married to a man you didn’t love just to please him.”

  “I know you’re right,” I said, wiping away the tears. “I guess the shock is just setting in, you know? The realization that my life will never be the same.”

  Damon held my face before kissing my forehead. “You’re right. It’ll never be the same. But I like to think it’ll be even better now that you’ve found the man you’ve been waiting your whole life for.”

  Damon’s words soothed me. Blake wouldn’t have allowed me to sever ties with my family unless he loved me and had faith in our relationship.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Blake

  We were on my private plane, headed to Vegas for the weekend, but I couldn’t shake the fear that Tiana and I were further apart than we’d ever been. I knew something had gone down with her parents earlier, but she said she wasn’t ready to talk about it, and I didn’t want to push. I’d tried to tell her about my talk with Deacon, but she asked if we could wait until later to get into that. She said she just needed some time to think and process everything, whatever that meant.

  I hoped she wasn’t questioning her feelings for me, though I wouldn’t be surprised if she was. Being with me meant leaving her old life behind. That would be a scary prospect for anyone, but it was especially hard for someone with so much to lose. Of course being with me meant she would gain even more than she would lose, but convincing her of that would be the challenge. I could love her unconditionally, for the rest of our lives, but that wouldn’t fill the void of not having her parents in her life anymore.

  I wanted to believe Demi hadn’t given her an ultimatum, but I knew him too well. He wasn’t well acquainted with compromise. He was used to getting what he wanted, and he wanted me out of his daughter’s life by any means necessary.

  “I’m sorry I’ve been so quiet,” she said, reaching for my hand. “You must wonder what’s going on with me.”

  “I assume it has something to do with your parents?”

  She nodded. “I’ll tell you all about it, but I want to hear about what happened with Deacon first.” She scrutinized my hand, followed by my face. “No cuts or bruises. I’d say that’s a good sign.”

  I smiled before kissing her hand. “Your brother and I may act like Neanderthals sometimes, but we can behave like mature adu
lts when the situation warrants. We both kept our cool, for your sake.”

  She breathed a sigh of relief. “And for the sake of your friendship.” When I didn’t comment, she said, “I’m hoping that hasn’t been compromised because of this?”

  By this, I assumed she meant our relationship, but I would have felt better if she’d labeled it. “We’ll get through it,” I assured her. “It isn’t the first time your brother and I have butted heads, and I’m sure it won’t be the last.”

  “But he didn’t start making threats?” she asked, resting her head on my shoulder.

  I didn’t get the sense she was tired, so maybe she was trying to avoid facing me. “He knows that doesn’t work with me. I’ll make my own decisions regardless of whether he approves.”

  She curled both hands around my bicep before sighing. “Maybe you could give me a few pointers.”

  “Meaning?”

  “I say I don’t care what other people think, but I’m having a hard time letting go.”

  “Letting go of what?” I looked down at her. Her long eyelashes skimmed her cheeks when she closed her eyes, making me believe she was trying to shut out the world, me included.

  “Everything.” Her grip on my arm tightened. “That’s what I have to do, Blake. Let go of everything. Just start over and reinvent myself.”

  My stomach pitched when I considered what would happen if she came to resent me because of all the choices she’d felt compelled to make. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, babe.”

  “Change is inevitable, especially now that I’ve quit my job. If this dance studio doesn’t pan out, I’ll have to figure out something else.”

  “You quit your job?” I felt queasy when I thought about the role I’d played in uprooting her life.

  “I had no choice. It’s my father’s company, and since he doesn’t want anything to do with me now—”

  “He actually said that?”

  I knew Demi was ruthless, but I never really thought he’d cut his only daughter out of his life. I’d expected him to be angry when Tiana confirmed his suspicions about us, but I assumed after some arguing and blustering, they’d kiss and make up. I never really let myself entertain the possibility that she’d have to choose between her parents and me. But given the choice, she’d chosen me. It was humbling and scary—I didn’t want her to wake up one day and realize she’d made a huge mistake.