Page 94 of Dangerous Promises

Anton's nostrils flare. "I drove us into the ground?" He takes a menacing step forward before thinking better of it and stopping to laugh unkindly. "That was all you, brother. For never letting go of this grudge against Chet in the first place and for locking her up in this house and expecting her to like it."

Dad stands up straight, huffing as he turns to my uncle, unable to resist the urge to yell. "He killed your wife!"

"And yet you are the one who can't let it go."

"I can't let him get away with what he did."

"Which is what exactly?" I say, scoffing as I let my arms fall aimlessly to my sides. "Look at all these scars on my back-"

"Sage, please-" Dad starts. But I cut him off.

"Iwear the consequences! It's etched into my skin. The least you can do is tell mewhy."

He shakes his head, looking exhausted and no more willing to cooperate.

"Why does he hate us enough to do this to me? Why does he-"

"Okay, I get it," Dad says, taking a deep breath before his gaze drops to where I've subconsciously wrapped my hand around Isabelle's necklace. "You're still wearing that thing." Dad purses his lips as he spares a glance for the locket. A glance that he can only maintain for a second, like for him, staring at it is akin to staring at the sun.

"Chet promised Isabelle he'd never forget," I say. "It says so in here. Along with a picture of-" I let the words rip to a stop, too afraid to speak them into the world. It's a topic I've never had much luck with. Dad effectively erased every memory of my mother from his life. And mine by association. That's why I'm so surprised when he answers me.

"Mom,” Dad finishes. "I know."

I hesitate, knowing that I've gotten no meaningful answer about her from my father before. "Then what-"

Dad holds up a hand to stop me. I unwillingly halt, waiting on him to speak through the pain that I see gripping him as his hand closes tightly around his cane.

"Chet… He - he loved her, too," Dad says, huffing a breath through his nose. "Hell, he loved her first." He shakes his head, lost in the memory. "But she loved me more."

I look over at Uncle Anton for confirmation that this is truth, because lies live on his face until they consume him. But right now, there are none.

My head swims at the possibilities of what this all means. But I know I've been living the consequences of this for my whole life and it's all for a lost love. A year ago, this would've never made sense. But there's a madness in grief. One that steals every echo of the person you were before.

This is why death promises are made. This much, I know.

"Why not just tell me that before?"

"Would you have understood? Before now?" Anton answers for him, kind eyes settled on me. He knows he's right. There was a time I wanted to do far more than just tear strips of skin off Alexei's back.

"So this is all because he loved Mom?" I ask.

"Yes," Dad rushes to say. Anton's eyes widen minutely, before Dad gives him a hard look. "It ended badly, and he came after you as retribution towards me. End of story. That's all I'll ever say. Now take that fucking necklace off."

I do as he says and take it off, letting it fall into my hand.

"Seriously?" I ask, noting where Dad has extended his palm to me and I roll my eyes as I drop the necklace into his hand.

"I've been ready and willing to take that fucker down for over twenty years," Dad says, eyes hard. "You'll never convince me I need someRushkoffshelp to do it."

"Sage," Anton prompts.

Uh oh. My turn.

It's all of my secrets and all of my lies that are twisted up in the truth of why we need the Rushkoffs to take Chet down. Victor. Nicholas. Alexei. Telling Dad feels like a surer way to lose him forever than death would ever be.

Realistically, where could I start? There's no good way to open a conversation like this. It's not like I missed the bus or spilled soda on the expensive rug. I've done too many awful things in a row to easily explain any of them.

While Anton looks at me with a demand, Dad looks at me in confusion. We all want something that cannot be given. Anton wants me to come clean. Dad wants me to return to the person I used to be. I want to avoid all responsibility for everything I've done.