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He put her in my arms, and I examined her button nose and the lips like her alpha dad. I made sure she had ten fingers and toes.
Much as I wanted to go home and forget about tonight, Flint had responsibilities to the pack. Burning bodies and burials. I held my daughter close,
As Alpha he had to stamp out what was left of the rebellion and deliver punishments to those traitors who remained alive. I hated there would be more bloodshed, but none of us would be safe if he didn’t mete out the appropriate punishment.
“Dad and Arnie will take you home.”
“No. We’ll sleep in one of the cabins until you’re done. Rudy can stay with me.” We had snacks, though the cabins were stocked with food. “Also, Uncle Arnie was a hero.”
“One of many heroes tonight.”
I snuggled with our daughter, and we slept for hours as loyal pack members surrounded the cabin, and Rudy made sandwiches.
When Flint finally came and put us in the back seat of the car, he slumped beside me, worry creasing his face.
“It’s done.”
Rudy was in front, Uncle at the wheel, both bickering in whispers about who was the better driver.
Some things never changed. Thank gods.
28
TONY
Lottie squirmed in my arms as we stood around my father’s memorial plaque, and Rudy took her. Flapping his purple scarf at his granddaughter calmed her, and she tried to grab it. It wouldn’t last long once our little girl got her hands on it.
My father. While Antonio was how my dad knew him, I now thought of him as Anthony, his real name. Those who worked with and cared about him had given him a backstory, instead of being shrouded in mystery. Anthony was fiercely loyal to his pack, La Luna Noir, and to Flint’s grandfather, Florian, the pack Alpha.
We’d designated the ground under the flame amur maple tree where the photo was taken that Rudy showed me. It had convinced me they were telling the truth about my father. In the fall, the tree’s leaves were a stunning flaming red.
My family gathered around me: mate, in-laws, daughter, and Arnie who was still wearing his cheap suit, though there was no sign of the thumb drive. Dear Uncle Arnie adored Lottie. He and Rudy were always arguing as to who got to hold her.
I studied my father’s epitaph, the one I’d chosen:
Here lies Anthony, a beloved father, who carried a secret to the grave.
The secret referred to his double life. It saddened me he’d had to hide part of himself. He must have loved Dad to have sacrificed so much.
Arnie cleared his throat and glanced at Rudy who nodded. Arnie was holding a document, and he credited me with him finding it.
“Me? You must be mistaken, Uncle.”
“You should have looked behind the picture, Tony.” He waved the yellowing envelope.
I scrutinized first Flint and then around the circle at the family, but no one offered an answer.
“You’ll have to explain.” I loved Arnie and hoped his memory wasn’t failing.
“The night you snuck into my office.”
Oh gods, why did he have to bring that up? My cheeks burned at the memory, and I elbowed Flint when he sniggered. While I hated being reminded of my little escapade, I had to clear up the uncertainty.
“I did look behind it, but there was nothing there.”
“On the back of the picture,” Arnie clarified. He held the envelope up high. “It was stuck on the back, and I suspect it’s about your father.”
“Damn! I was so close.” I tried to make light of the moment and nudged my mate. “Just think. If I’d found it, I might have marched out of there and never met you. Could have saved myself a lot of trouble—and a split lip!”
