House of Paine - (A Romantic Suspense - Book 2) by Kylie Walker Page A
Authors: Kylie Walker
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bear for him to risk his life to be with me. When Kevin was well, Jackson extracted another promise from us both...again using Kevin’s life as his bargaining tool. I suspect he used mine while bargaining with Kevin. He made us promise that the baby I carried home in my belly from Maine would be his to raise and call his own. He told me, my sweet Damien, that if I ever revealed to anyone that Kevin is actually your father...he would kill him.
When I finally left again two years later, it was with Kevin’s help. That time he was tortured in a warehouse by some of your father’s men until he was just moments from death. Jackson didn’t kill him, but he came close. Kevin’s kindness, his money and his resources are how we got our start. He always made sure that we had everything we need.
Jackson knew where we were within a matter of weeks. He had the best security force at his disposal. But this time, when he tried to force me to come back to him, I used the evidence I’d taken with me when I left. I told him if he left me alone, I would leave him alone. But, if he sent anyone to try and take my babies I would kill them. He told me that he would allow me to raise you and your brother in California and he wouldn’t try to take you from me in exchange for my silence. In a way I believe it was Jackson proving there was still something inherently human in him. He didn’t want to kill his brother. If people knew that you were his child, he would have to in order to save face.
So my love, if you can’t forgive me for never telling you, I understand. I did what I thought I had to do in order to keep everyone I loved safe...that doesn’t mean it was right. I do ask you one thing and that is to please forgive Kevin. He has loved you from the moment you were born and although it has all been behind the scenes, he has done everything he could do to keep you safe. He didn’t raise you because that would have been a life for you on the run...and if Jackson had caught up with him, he would be dead. He also did what he felt he had to do in order to give you the best life possible and keep everyone involved safe.
I love you, Damien. Please, always remember that. Please always remember this as well: You are better than where you come from. I know that and Kevin knows it as well. Don’t shortchange yourself in life.
All my Love,
Mom
Chapter 10
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P aige found some chicken and vegetables in Roxi’s kitchen and made stir fry. It helped her psyche to do something as normal and mundane as cook. She was feeling discouraged after what Jake told them, and she was scared to death for Damien. Jackson had a reputation for putting up with a lot more from his family than he would anyone else and still letting them live...but that didn’t mean he would let Damien live well.
Then there was her mother.
Now that the Kramer’s were convinced that Paige killed Caine...and now put Kelsey in jail, Crystal wouldn’t be able to return to her home. She would be the first one they’d go through to get to her. She was feeling overwhelmed and guilty. She felt like her quest for revenge had caused a chain reaction that was ruining many more lives than she counted on.
Roxi came out of the office a few minutes after taking Damien in there. She’d told Paige that he would probably need a little time alone but she hadn’t told her why. Paige had cooked and listened as Roxi once again chastised Jake for not going to the hospital and that made Paige once again think about how close someone had come to getting killed because of the choices she’d made. The guilt was beginning to overwhelm her and it was clouding her thoughts. She was beginning to have thoughts of going to Lucas Kramer and offering herself in exchange for the safety of everyone else. If she thought he was someone she could trust to keep his word, she would do it.
Roxi and Jake eventually left. They had dinner reservations. When Paige finished cooking she
When I finally left again two years later, it was with Kevin’s help. That time he was tortured in a warehouse by some of your father’s men until he was just moments from death. Jackson didn’t kill him, but he came close. Kevin’s kindness, his money and his resources are how we got our start. He always made sure that we had everything we need.
Jackson knew where we were within a matter of weeks. He had the best security force at his disposal. But this time, when he tried to force me to come back to him, I used the evidence I’d taken with me when I left. I told him if he left me alone, I would leave him alone. But, if he sent anyone to try and take my babies I would kill them. He told me that he would allow me to raise you and your brother in California and he wouldn’t try to take you from me in exchange for my silence. In a way I believe it was Jackson proving there was still something inherently human in him. He didn’t want to kill his brother. If people knew that you were his child, he would have to in order to save face.
So my love, if you can’t forgive me for never telling you, I understand. I did what I thought I had to do in order to keep everyone I loved safe...that doesn’t mean it was right. I do ask you one thing and that is to please forgive Kevin. He has loved you from the moment you were born and although it has all been behind the scenes, he has done everything he could do to keep you safe. He didn’t raise you because that would have been a life for you on the run...and if Jackson had caught up with him, he would be dead. He also did what he felt he had to do in order to give you the best life possible and keep everyone involved safe.
I love you, Damien. Please, always remember that. Please always remember this as well: You are better than where you come from. I know that and Kevin knows it as well. Don’t shortchange yourself in life.
All my Love,
Mom
Chapter 10
––––––––
P aige found some chicken and vegetables in Roxi’s kitchen and made stir fry. It helped her psyche to do something as normal and mundane as cook. She was feeling discouraged after what Jake told them, and she was scared to death for Damien. Jackson had a reputation for putting up with a lot more from his family than he would anyone else and still letting them live...but that didn’t mean he would let Damien live well.
Then there was her mother.
Now that the Kramer’s were convinced that Paige killed Caine...and now put Kelsey in jail, Crystal wouldn’t be able to return to her home. She would be the first one they’d go through to get to her. She was feeling overwhelmed and guilty. She felt like her quest for revenge had caused a chain reaction that was ruining many more lives than she counted on.
Roxi came out of the office a few minutes after taking Damien in there. She’d told Paige that he would probably need a little time alone but she hadn’t told her why. Paige had cooked and listened as Roxi once again chastised Jake for not going to the hospital and that made Paige once again think about how close someone had come to getting killed because of the choices she’d made. The guilt was beginning to overwhelm her and it was clouding her thoughts. She was beginning to have thoughts of going to Lucas Kramer and offering herself in exchange for the safety of everyone else. If she thought he was someone she could trust to keep his word, she would do it.
Roxi and Jake eventually left. They had dinner reservations. When Paige finished cooking she
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