The Ties that Bind (Kingdom) (20 page)

“Did Nim tell you?”

“Yes she did.”

“Are you mad at me because I listened at the door?”

“Yes, I am.” Mason said, coming to join her on the window seat that overlooked the side of the house. It was one of Hope’s favorite places. Their house was the last house on the lot and she could see over into the park where her mother sometimes had taken her and M.J. to play with the other neighborhood kids. She could see them now, but they were too far away for her to make out if any of her friends was there.

“Are you going to punish me?” Hope asked, her gaze still focused on the park.

“Look at me, Hope.” Waiting until he had her complete attention, Mason continued to speak. “What do you want to know?”

Hope decided not to pose the same question she had asked Nim. That wasn’t actually the part of the overheard conversation that she needed an answer to. Yet something within her hesitated. Her father had never given her any reason to doubt him, but for a little while something stayed her tongue. Somehow she knew that once the question was asked it couldn’t be recalled. But that wasn’t what really terrified her. Taking a deep breath, Hope looked deeply into the eyes of the man she had always thought of as her father with a perfect trust. The type of trust that only a little girl who idolized her father was willing to give. A trust that her daddy would tell her the truth.

“Does Mommy think I killed M.J.?”

Hope could see the shock register on Mason’s face, but she also saw something else. If she had been older, she might have understood the look for what it was, it was calculation. The weighing up of what the answer to her question would mean. Seeming to make up his mind, Hope watched as Mason gathered both her small hands in his and briefly closed his eyes, as though carefully contemplating the formation of his words.

“Yes... I’m sorry, Hope, but your mother thinks you’re to blame for your brother’s drowning.”

Chapter 21

Present day

“You told me that you hadn’t heard what had been said. That’s what you told the police and me the day they interviewed you.” Mason said, her words riveting his attention.

“I know. But I heard him say that I was his daughter. That he had her first, and I didn’t want it to be true.”

“I heard her tell him that she didn’t want him that he should get out and not come back!”

“For God’s sake, Hope. All these years and you never said a word. Why... why would you do that to your mother and me?”

Mason’s shot went right through Hope. But quick as a flash she threw the barb back at him. “All these years, Daddy, and you never said a word. You lied to me that day when I gave you nothing but my complete trust. You told a frightened little girl that she was responsible for the death of her baby brother and that her mother blamed her for it.”

“Mason... you didn’t, please say you didn’t do that?”

As Taryn looked over at her husband in disbelief, Steve watched them all. His distaste of these men’s manipulation of a young girl and her mother was something he was unable to keep from his expression. As his glance settled on Nixon, Steve felt an almost overwhelming urge to walk calmly over to him, and punch the smug look off his face. The bastard was enjoying the agony of this family way too much, deriving way too much pleasure from the chaos he had caused in their lives.

There was more to come. Even as the thought settled in his mind, Steve’s attention was pulled back to the people around him. It was the sound of Hope’s laughter that finally arrested his attention.

“Didn’t do what, Mama? Tell me that you thought I, a kid barely eight years old, was responsible for the death of her baby brother. Well he didn’t need to. I heard you. I was listening that night, and I heard you.
Yes, no, no, yes
. I heard you, Mama. What I didn’t hear was you coming to my defense. I didn’t hear you say it wasn’t my fault. What I heard was a mother who couldn’t make up her damn mind if one of her children was responsible for the death of the other.”

“Hope, baby...”

“Oh, for goodness sake, why do you people keep calling me baby? I haven’t been a baby since I was eight years old. You all saw to that.” Jumping up, Hope took center stage, certain that the occupants of the room’s attention were firmly fixed on her.

“Thank you all for making me the person that I am today. Father number one: the eternal bastard who thinks that he has a divine right to take whatever he likes, whenever he likes. Father number two: who thinks the world owes him. The chip on his shoulder, so wide he thinks it okay to take the trust of a little girl and use it against her to further his own ends. Then there’s my mother: the person who gave me life. The person who every child is led to believe they can count on to protect them. While I’m in hell because you had your hand down the front of the pants of that man, you decide to blame me for the death of your child while you take refuge in the bottom of a glass of vodka. Oh, excuse me, pills and vodka.”

So lost was Hope in her years of pent up accusations, she didn’t notice that her mother had risen to her feet. Her first realization of their proximity was the resounding slap she felt against her cheek.

“You will stop this, now.” Taryn told her only child in a calm voice that clearly belied the emotion she actually felt. “You’re hysterical, get a grip of yourself.”

“You hit me.” Hope voiced in disbelief at her mother’s action, her face smarting from the slap. In her whole life never had either of her parents ever lifted a hand to her.

“You need to calm down, Hope. I’m sorry... but you needed to get control.”

“I needed to get control? You the habitual drunk, the pill popper. Do you know that’s what I’ve called you in my head since I was eight years old? The drunken pill popper. The person who would rather drink her way through bottles of vodka than admit to her part in the death of her son. The woman who would rather blame her daughter for her own shortcomings. The woman who had her hand down the front of a man’s pants that wasn’t her husband, jerking him off!”

“Hope, that’s enough!” Steve interjected. Tired from a long grueling day and fed up with the disrespect these people were throwing at each other.

When he had her full attention, he continued to speak. “While I understand why you’re mad at your mother, you need to start thinking a little more deeply about what’s been going on for the last twenty odd years.”

“What do you mean?”

Placing his hands in his pocket, Steve turned to face a still seated Nixon, a self-satisfied smile still on his face. About to address him, Steve changed his mind. Swinging his head around he spoke to Mason instead, hoping to catch him off guard.

“What does Nixon have on you, Mason?”

Caught unaware by the question, Steve witnessed a look of shock register across Mason’s face. Steve had played a hunch and had made a direct hit. Mason’s look of uncertainty only lasted for a second, but it was enough for Steve to determine that this situation needed further probing. Whatever hold Nixon had on Mason was serious enough for him to suffer the indignity of his cousin’s constant undermining presence in the midst of his family.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, young man.”

“Really, Mason? Surely you can do better than that.”

When Mason remained stubbornly quiet, Steve decided to take a punt at Nixon. “What about you, Nixon. You seem to take joy in the misery of others. Why don’t you fill in the gaps for us?”

Maintaining eye contact with Steve, Nixon rose from his seat, straightened his cuffs, and smoothed out the folds of his jacket. Apparently satisfied with his appearance he strolled over to the bar giving every outward indication that he was totally in control of the gathering.

“Oh dear, it would seem that this is now an alcohol free zone. How long do you suppose that’s going to last, Taryn?”

Taryn didn’t rise to the bait of Nixon’s words. In fact, Steve witnessed a look of serenity settle across her face.

“I’ve just realized that I actually feel really sorry for you. You’re like a type of malignant growth that needs to be cut out and discarded. Why don’t you do us all an enormous favor and go away? Nobody wants you here. Our family may be broken, but I intend to put those pieces back together. But somehow I think it’s too late for your family, isn’t that right, Nixon?

I’m willing to attempt to fight for my family. It may be one of the hardest things I’ll ever have to do, but I’m willing to fight. Do you have anybody willing to fight for you, Nixon? I hear that all your kids have moved away. Moved away to get away... from you. I also heard that your wife saw to it that you are no longer a part of her daddy’s company. Oh dear, marry for money, repent as a puppet.

A drunk I may be, and you’ve heard the way my daughter speaks to me. But none of that matters. I lost all pretense at pride a long time ago. There is nothing more you can do to this family, so get the hell out of our home and don’t come back. Nobody wants you here!”

As Taryn came to the end of her tirade, Nixon began a slow clap, increasing the speed and loudness with each connection of his palms.

“Well damn, Taryn! That little speech, that fire, it reminded me of when we first met.”

Steve watched as Taryn’s face heated with her anger at Nixon’s mockery of her. He also waited for Mason to step in and man up. When it became apparent that Mason would remain silent, a haze of anger settled over his eyes letting him know that he had reached his limit.

Where he came from, men, real men didn’t stand by and allow their woman, any woman, to be humiliated in his presence. Taking a step towards Nixon, Steve decided to follow through with his earlier feeling of punching the shit out of the smug bastard.

“Mason, I suggest you call off your boy!”

“Stephen! Whatever you have in mind, I demand that you stop... now!”

“Give me one good reason why I should?” Steve said calmly, continuing to advance towards a still defiant Nixon.

“This is my house, and I will not have any fighting in it!”

“No problem, I’ll take him outside and kick the shit out of him there.”

“I forbid it!”

“Oh, for goodness sake, Mason, let him. God knows he deserves it!”

“Mom!”

“What, are you about to tell me he doesn’t deserve it?”

“I said there will be no fighting, inside or outside of my house.”

Steve was good and mad now. He had held his peace for as long as he intended to. This mess of a family was impacting his life, and he was fed up with it. He intended to get to the bottom of whatever was going on and these bullies weren’t going to stand in his way.

“That’s not a good enough reason. You may think it’s acceptable that he speaks to your wife in the way he just did, but I don’t.”

“Well learn and learn fast!” Nixon threw back. “When it comes to this family, know that I call the shots.”

Nixon’s words stopped Steve in his tracks, but he didn’t take his eyes off the older man still standing behind the bar.

“What does he mean, Mason?” Taryn spoke into the quietness that now took over the room.

When Mason remained silent, Hope seconded her mother’s question. Realizing that Mason had no intention of answering, Steve again witnessed the self-satisfied look he was beginning to come to associate with Nixon.

Turning to Mason, Steve spoke to the older man in a last attempt to get through to him.

“It’s time to remove his control over your family, Mason. The man is making a fool out of you, and you’re standing by and letting it happen. Or do you only know how to manipulate and control women?”

“I taught him everything he knows.” Nixon interjected with a laugh, seemingly back in command of the situation.

Steve ignored him. “What does this man have on you, Mason?”

Steve and the women watched as Mason seemed to deflate.

“You don’t understand, none of you understand.”

“Then tell us, Mason. This needs to end. His control over this family needs to end. Until it does, we can’t move forward.” Taryn said, going to her husband’s side. Stretching out a tentative hand, she rubbed his arm in an awkward attempt at giving him comfort and support.

“You don’t understand. Even if I tell you it won’t mean anything. He’ll still have the means of destroying everything I’ve worked for my whole life.”

Taryn was joined by her daughter who took up a place at Mason’s left side. “Tell us, Daddy, it’s time.”

Moving away from them, Mason made his way over to the opposite side of the room and stood alone. Steve thought his actions were indicative of a man torn, subjugated by the power another held over him.

“I can’t I’m sorry, I just can’t.”

“I’ll tell you.”

“Nixon, no!”

“What does it matter if they know? It will mean nothing. I’ll still have the evidence.” Nixon finished with a malicious laugh.

He’s enjoying himself too much, Steve thought. At the same time, his mind darted in countless directions, imagining the worst scenarios possible. Steve’s thoughts settled on murder. Mason must have killed someone and Nixon knew about it.

“Did someone die, Mason?” Steve asked, wanting to hear the words from Mason and not an embellishment from Nixon.

“No, of course not!”

“Oh, now that’s rich. You thought Mason killed someone! What do you think this is some hood drama? Mason doesn’t have the balls to kill anyone.”

“You’d be surprised what people have the balls to do, Nixon.” Steve told him, a deadly look appearing in his eyes. He was through playing with this man. He was going to take him down, and he was going to enjoy doing it.

“He’s a thief and a cheat, aren’t you, Mason?”

“Shut up, Nixon!”

“Come on now, I’ve kept your little secret for all these years. I think it’s about time your family knew all about the great Mason Richards.”

“I’m warning you.”

“Don’t threaten me, don’t you ever threaten me!”

“Mason,” Taryn called her husband’s name, “it’s time to take away his power. If you allow him to speak for you, this thing, whatever it is will never end.”

Steve was proud of Taryn. She was stepping up in a way that he had never seen before. He could also see that she finally had Hope’s attention.