47

Abel

I hated being this helpless. I couldn't go against my father and come out successful. No one could, and it was so painful that Solana thought she stood a chance against him. Norman Stravkos could destroy her without lifting a finger. Without even moving a limb, he could wipe her from the face of the Earth.

I'd once wanted to wield that sort of power. Raw, encompassing, frightening. I'd once wanted to have everyone at the tip of their toes. Have them tremble and pledge their utmost allegiance to me. But now? I'd be damned repeating such a lame, damaging cycle.

Solana went upstairs, straight to her room when we got back to the house, and though exhausted, I shut myself in my private office and tried to drown myself in paperwork to stop my mind from whirling. She hadn't said another word to me after our little exchange back in the car, and I suspected that she was pissed, as expected. But I wouldn't try to pacify her now. That would be later, when both our tensions had cooled off. I