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“There is nothing I need to say to you that requires privacy.”
“Well there are things I need to tell you,” he returned sharply. “And I’d prefer to say them without an audience.”
“And I would’ve preferred to have a father who hadn’t lied to me for twenty years but here we are, neither of us getting what we wanted.”
The room went still. That was, still with the exception of Nebraska’s chest heaving with fast, choppy breaths.
Fuck this.
I twisted my hand free, pushed her chair away from the table, scooted mine back, plucked her out of hers, and planted her on my lap. Once she was settled I grabbed her hand and relaced our fingers. If she was going to have to endure another hit that was going to leave her hurt and upset she was taking it while in my lap so I could see to her.
“Slow. Breathe,” I mouthed.
She nodded and slowed her breathing.
“Again,” I whispered.
Another shallow breath.
Unfortunately Charlie chimed back, and did it nasty.
“Do not think for one second you understand the truth. I don’t know what they’ve been filling your head with, but—”
“What I understand is my mother is alive and you knew. What I understand, because it is seared into my brain, is that I went to a funeral and mourned a woman who is not dead. I know I spent twenty years with you and you never told me. I know that Maddon knew and never told me. But now I know why Maddon withheld that information. He was biding his time waiting until just the right moment to impart that news to cause maximum damage. And what I know is when he told me, that damage he caused wasn’t maximum—it was earth shattering. Want to know who was there to hold me together? Not you, my father. Easton. Want to know what they’ve been filling my head with? They’ve been trying to convince me you had good reason to lie to me. They’ve been trying to explain to me that sometimes a lie is meant to protect and not harm.”
Some of the pain slid from her features, morphing into glittering shards of blue ice. Her right eye barely twitched. If I hadn’t been staring right at her I would’ve missed it. I wasn’t sure if this meant she was slightly pissed or if this was a level of pissed I hadn’t seen yet.
I’d learn it was the latter.
“Dmitri Zenin.” The name vibrated from her chest. “You kept that from me, too. A flighty bitch who didn’t want to keep her daughter and a mob—”
“Watch your mouth, young lady, you’re talking about the woman I love,” Charlie exploded. “You have no idea how hard it was for her to leave you. You can’t fathom what she went through to keep you safe. You think she wanted to leave you? She had no option once she heard Zenith was looking for her. If he found her, he found you and she would die before she let him get his hands on you. And yes, you’re right, I didn’t tell you. I was in an impossible situation between the only two women I’ve ever loved. I promised to keep her secret. I vowed to protect you.”
Nebraska’s eyes had widened. She obviously didn’t know the depth of Charlie’s feelings for Anna.
“Love breaks you,” she whispered.
“Goddamn right it does. I loved her enough to let her go. And I did that knowing there would never be anyone else. That’s how much I loved her. I had you, her secret, and the knowledge that to protect you both I had to betray you. Anna told you your father died in a car accident. I didn’t correct that story because I couldn’t, though truth be told, even if I could’ve, I would’ve taken that to my grave. That man doesn’t deserve to look at you much less claim you. You’re my daughter. I love you. Not Zenith. Not Anna. Me.”
Nebraska’s eyes were shining with unshed tears. Her chest was rising and falling at a rapid pace. Her face was pale and the freeze-out had ended. There was nothing but pain coating her entire being.
No more.
She was done.
I entered the conversation. “Give Nebraska what she needs and get to a safehouse.”
“I’m perfectly—”
“That wasn’t a suggestion,” I cut him off. “Get your ass to a safehouse or a team will be there in a few hours to escort you.”
“Mr. Spears—”
“Jesus Christ,” I exploded. “Give her what she needs.”
“I’ll call Dutch,” he relented.
The line disconnected. Either Kira cut the call before he could say something more to piss me off or slice Nebraska, or Charlie hung up.
