Caught in the Undertow (Hawaiian Crush #6) (16 page)

“I thought I was always welcome?””

“You are,” Sydney said. “But as a guest, not a roommate.”

Her mother fell silent.

“You can’t rely on other people to take care of you. Mom, you have to be independent. I know it’s hard, but you can do it.”

Denise ran her fingers through her hair but said nothing.

“
I know we’ve been through a lot. When I was younger, I was always scared and afraid of what he might do to me.” She suddenly realized that her mother never apologized for the way she treated her. It made her sick to her stomach. “But I can’t take care of you. It isn’t my responsibility.”

“So you’re just going to let me be homeless? Let me starve?”

“You won’t be if you get a job.”

“I don’t understand why your father left you this house,” she snapped. “It should have been mine.”

Sydney stilled at her words. She wasn’t expecting such a comment. “Well, Dad left it to me so it is mine. There’s no argument about that.”

“It shouldn’t be.”

“What are you saying?” Sydney said.

“You wouldn’t be able to afford to live here if it weren’t for this place.”

“I have a scholarship,” she said. “I could have lived off that if I wanted to.”

“So if you have a bunch of money in your savings account?”

She did but she didn’t want her mom to know that. “No.”

Her mother eyed her. “I was married to your father. It should have been mine.”

“But you were cheating on him,” Sydney snapped. “Why should it go to you?”

Her eyes widened. “I did no such thing.”

“You can’t lie to me,” Sydney said. “I’m not five anymore. And you are leaving this house one way or another. Even if I wanted you to stay, Coen obviously doesn’t want you here. I can’t do something he’s so strongly averse to.”

“So you let him boss you around?”

“Not at all,” Sydney said.

“You’re kicking me out, then?”

“No, I got you a job and a place to live. You should be thanking me.”

“I gave birth to you. You should be supporting me now.”

Sydney wanted to scream. She was stupid for thinking her mom would ever change. “You never apologized to me.”

Her eyes clouded with confusion. “What?”

“For the way you treated me. You stood by and let Dan beat me, putting me in the hospital.”

“What was I supposed to do?” she snapped. “If I intervened he would have beaten me.”

Sydney shook her head. “I can’t believe you. You should have protected me at the cost of your own life. That’s what parents do!”

Coen marched down the hall and reached the table. “I’m getting really sick of this.” He glared at Denise. “Get the fuck out of my house and away from my wife.”

Her eyes widened in anger. “
Your house
?”

“Yes, my house,” Coen said. “I’m married to her. Half of it is mine. Now get out.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” she said simply.

Coen took a deep breath. “Baby, please smack her for me.”

Sydney gripped her hair in frustration.

“And you’re welcome, by the way.” Coen stared her down. “That bat I took to the chest for you was pretty painful.”

“I didn’t get a chance to say something,” Denise said.

Coen looked at Sydney. “I’m calling the police if she doesn’t leave. And I’m not bluffing. She’s only here to use us. We were stupid
for ever thinking otherwise.”

Sydney looked at her mom. “
I’ll call the police if I have to, even though I’d rather not. Grab your things and we’ll take you to the hotel.”

Her mom didn’t move.

Sydney pulled her phone out of her pocket and made the call.

“Okay, fine,” her mom said. “I’ll get my things.”

Sydney hung up.

Her mom left the room and went into the bedroom.

Coen paced in the kitchen, his hands on his hips. “How did you come from that? I honestly don’t understand.”

“I don’t either,” she whispered.

“I fucking hate her. I mean, I actually hate her as much as your stepdad.”

Sydney tried not to cry. Just when she thought her mom had made a serious change, had become the parent she always needed, the truth came out. Her mother never loved her. All she cared about was money and being taken care of. That was the only reason why she came to Sydney.

“Seriously, your mother is a fucking bitch. I can’t believe someone would treat their own daughter that way. It’s despicable.”

Sydney hid her face, feeling the tears bubble.

“I’ve never wanted to hit a woman more in my life, even Audrey!”

She broke down and the tears fell.

Coen stopped when he heard her. “Baby, I’m so sorry. I was being such a fucking asshole.” He kneeled before her and cupped her face. “I’m sorry.”

She sniffed. “She never loved me. She never did.”

Coen felt his heart ache. There was nothing he could say to make her feel better. Her words were fact. Her mother just proved it.

“I’ve never been good enough for her. It doesn’t matter what I say, it doesn’t matter what I do.”

“Baby, look at me.”

Sydney kept averting her gaze.

“My mom loves you like her own. She really does. They invite you over and forget about me entirely. My entire family thinks you’re too good for me. My uncle is obsessed with you, thinks you’re a genius. Don’t let your mom hurt you like this. It says more about her than it does about you.”

“I just want to be loved,” she whispered.

“You are,” he said. “By me. Your friends. My family. We all love you. You don’t need her.”

Sydney tried to control her breathing. “It’s just not fair.”

“I know,” he said gently. “It kills me every time I think about it.”

“I don’t know what I would do without you, Coen.”

“You’re my seahorse. You never have to worry about it.” He pulled her to his chest and kissed her on the forehead. “It’s alright, baby.”

She moved away and wiped her tears. “I’m sorry for crying.”

“Why? I was being insensitive.”

“I know you would never hurt me on purpose.”

“You can always cry in front of me. Don’t ever apologize for it.”

Her mother came back into the room, her bags in tow.

“I’ll get rid of her,” Coen said. “Just stay here.”

“Okay,” she whispered.

Coen walked away and grabbed her bags. “Let’s go.”

“Isn’t Sydney coming?”

“No,” Coen said. “She isn’t your daughter anymore.”

They left the house, leaving Sydney alone. She listened to the silence for a while, letting it soak into her skin.
Her youth was all a waste. It was a time of pain and torture, memories that she would do anything to forget. But the fact that her mother really didn’t love her, really didn’t care, was enough to cripple her. The only people who ever showed her real love were her friends. Without them, she wouldn’t have even understood what the word meant. Then Coen came along, making her understand the meaning of trust. He never let her down and she knew he never would.

Syd
ney put the dishes away, a few tears escaping every once in a while, and then got ready for the day. Coen wasn’t back within an hour and she wondered what was taking so long. He was probably yelling at her mother, making her feel like shit for the way she treated Sydney. Even though Coen was argumentative and stubborn, he defended her in every way. It didn’t matter who the attacker was. Coen would rip them apart for ever hurting her. It was like having a human watchdog.

A loud bang against the door made her stiffen. It happened again.

She walked down the hall and headed to front door. Before she looked through the peephole, it thudded again.

“I know you’re in there!
”

It was Dan.

Sydney felt her heart accelerate. Her first instinct was to grab her phone. She searched for it but couldn’t find it because she was so panicked. She looked in her purse but it wasn’t there. The counter was spotless. The space between the cushions was empty.

“Open the fucking door!” he yelled.

Sydney cursed to herself. Now she wished she had a land line.

The door cracked as he threw his body against it.

Sydney ran to the closet and grabbed the bat Coen stored in there. She came to the front door and waited.

He finally crashed it down, looking sweaty and hot. When he saw Sydney, he glared at her. “Where’s that bitch?”

Sydney wasn’t offended by the insult. “She’s not here.”

“Don’t fucking lie to me.”

Sydney tightened her grip. “She isn’t here. Now get off my property.”

Dan looked around. “Where’s that watchdog of yours?”

She didn’t answer.

“I think you’re telling the truth for once.” He looked over his shoulder. “Johnny, come in.”

Sydney felt her neck sweat. They were both here.

“Looks like your sister is all alone.”

“I’m not his sister,” she said automatically.

He stared her down. “You’re being awfully rude. Is that how you address your father?”

Sydney felt the insult sting. She knew exactly why he said those words. To get a rise out of her. “You aren’t my father,” she said firmly.

“I was hoping you’d say that.” He stepped closer to her, his arms flexed for battle. He glanced at the weapon
. “You think I’m scared of that?”

“You should be,” she snapped.

“Johnny, hold her down. I’ll do the rest.”

Sydney didn’t like the sound of that.

“I’m sure your husband will be happy,” he said with a smile.

“To kill you,” she said.

He raised his hands and stepped toward her.

Sydney gripped the bat and held it close to her body.

Dan stepped to the left while Johnny moved to the right.

Sydney remained calm, remembering everything Coen taught her. This was a moment she had been waiting a long time for. And she had a weapon. She would love to bash their faces in.

“Now!”

Dan moved in at the same time as Johnny.

Sydney swung the bat and collided with Dan’s side. Johnny took the opportunity to jump on her. Sydney pushed her palm up, hitting him in the nose. He screamed and cowered back. Sydney swung the bat and hit Dan in the shoulder.

He screamed then grabbed her leg, forcing her to the ground.

Sydney rolled out of the way then got to her feet. Johnny came behind her and pushed her to the ground, pinning her down with his large size. Sydney fought his grasp but he held her too tight. She struck her head back, hitting him in the nose again.

“Fucking bitch!” he screamed.

Dan reached for her but she kicked him in the groin, making him moan in pain.

She rolled then grabbed the bat, but Dan kicked it away. He grabbed a fist of
her hair then pulled as hard as he could, tearing the strands out. Sydney screamed then fought against him, trying to get away.

“Johnny, grab the bat!”

Johnny ran to it then picked it up.

Dan held her arms to
her sides. Sydney tried to head-butt him but he was too tall. She twisted and screamed, trying to get away. Dan dug his fingers into her sides. “Give her a nice hit to the ribs.”

Sydney stomped on his shoe
and he winced in pain. She tried to get away but he wouldn’t let her.

“Hit her! Teach this bitch a lesson!”

Johnny held up the bat, ready to strike.

The door burst open again as Coen smashed it to pieces with his large size. The look on his face was indescribable. His eyes were bigger than Sydney had ever seen them. The look of murder on his face showed everything he intended to do to them. Every muscle was flexed, every tendon was sprung.

Johnny swung the bat at Coen, but Coen grabbed it and broke it in half with his                        bare hands. Johnny stepped back, frightened. Coen grabbed both pieces and slammed them against either side of his head. Johnny immediately dropped to the floor, completely out.

Coen rushed Dan next. He punched him in the face then hit him in the neck, making him lose his breat
h for a moment. Sydney felt his hold loosen so she pulled away. Coen grabbed her and shoved her behind him. She fell to the ground out of harm’s way.

Coen grabbed him by the neck and slammed his face into his knee. Sydney moved further away, afraid of Coen’s bloodlust. Coen yelled as he slammed Dan’s body to the floor. The wooden floorboards shuttered with the amount of force that collided against the foundation. Dan tried to roll away, but Coen grabbed him by the neck, squeezing his windpipe as he dragged him across the floor.

“Nobody touches my wife like that.” His eyes were wide with rage. He squeezed his throat.