The Fall

Chapter 28

Kade

What the fuck did I just do?
You just kissed your best friend's little sister that's what.

Now I'm sitting here, in Dr. Lawrence's office with Sage clutching my hand like it's her lifeline and our thighs are practically glued together. I glance at her out of the corner of my eye and she's biting her lip. Fuck me, those soft, plump, perfectly pink lips. I'd kissed Sage before, but that was different. Then it was a crush between two teenagers, finding their sexual awakening.

Now, however, I'm looking at this woman who's easily starred in a few of my fantasies recently and now that I've tasted her again, my cock wants in. Badly.

"We've made a lot of progress one on one and in groups in the last few weeks and I'm proud of that progress." Dr. Lawrence said and I snap my attention back to her. Her smile is warm and inviting, the kind that lowers a person's guard and for someone like Sage, it's imperative that she feels like she can trust you.

"One of the things we've been working through has been Sage's communication skills. In the past, she's been unable to express her feelings in a way that is healthy and this is where her addiction comes in," she takes a seat beside a TV screen and Sage sucks in a deep breath, her body radiating tension. I squeeze her hand and her eyes dart down to my her hand in mine, then up to my face, a flicker of surprise and appreciation in those baby blues of hers.

"Before we begin, Sage would like to say something," the doc said and nods in Sage's direction. She pulls her hand from mine as she stands and I'm already missing her touch. Her gaze bounced between all of us and she swallows. She stands in front of us as the doc hands her a notebook. Whatever's inside has a look of uncertainty on Sage's gorgeous face as she takes it in hand.

"First, thank you for coming today," Sage blows out a breath, clutching the book like it's her lifeline. "Um, one of the things as Dr. Lawrence mentioned, I've been working on is expressing how I feel. Inside this notebook is everything I've thought or felt since I've been in the hospital. I won't lie and say it's been easy, because it wasn't." She pauses, her eyes fixated on her parents, who I'm sure, are the very root of Sage's problems. "I love you both, but you took away my voice, long before I was raped or before I was preyed on by Anthony. You put me, a child, in a position to barter secrets. I was always told that everything is about appearances, not what I feel or want."

We all shift uncomfortably and Kingsley's eyes water as his daughter regards him. "I was in pain for so many years, a little girl who grew up too fast, saw too much and couldn't do a damn thing about it," Sage wipes at the tears falling down her cheeks and without thinking, I'm standing, but she shakes her head and I'm back in my seat. I've seen Sage beneath all the drugs and sex and she's just a girl who wants to be seen and heard.

"Sweetheart, I'm so sorry I didn't prioritize you," Kingsley said, wiping his own eyes, "Seeing you in that hospital bed, fighting for your life woke me up. I haven't been s father to you in years. I've been so preoccupied with business and appearances, I let my family fall through the cracks." His gaze shifts to Kendall and lingers. Something passed between the now exes as he regards her. "Sometimes taking a step back forces you reevaluate what's important," a sad smile graced his lips, "and family is important. You are important, Sage," He stands and with tears glimmering his eyes, he wraps his arms around his daughter tightly. "I love you, Sage."

I'd be lying if there wasn't a tear falling down my cheek watching father and daughter crying in each other's arms, but they're there. Sage looks directly at her mother, eyes clear and spine straight, tension bleeding out of her and I know Kendall is fully aware that her daughter is about to tear her apart.

"I've spent a lot of time here figuring out what to say to you, mother," She closes her eyes and when they open again, there's a fire in them. Oh, Sage is pissed, more than when she woke up from her coma. "Do you want to know how I ended up involved with that man? Because I wanted to beat you, mother. I wanted to take something from you the way you took my childhood from me. Turns out Anthony was pitting us both against each other." She turns away as Kendall gasped and Kyle shoots glares at his mother.