Page 43 of Scarred Sunrise

Chapter 19

“You wantto be there when they question the scientists?” Zack asked as they stowed their gear in the lockers.

Smithy had been quiet on the way back to Hereford trying to process all the things he’d learned. The fact that his team had overheard his conversation on the comms with John was both a good and bad thing. At least he didn’t have to rehash everything he’d said. “No, Zin has that handled. I think between him and Kanan, they’ll give us what we need or at least confirm what we find.”

“You handling things?”

Smithy knew precisely what Zack was asking, and he had no clear answer to that question. Part of him wanted to go to a bar and get shit faced. Forget that the man he had in some ways admired, was the same man who’d thrown him away like he was nothing for a woman who’d later almost ruined him. The part couldn’t feel anything in the way of emotion because it was all too surreal. “I am for now, and if I feel I’m not, I’ll book an appointment with Lawson.”

Zack nodded. “Good. Don’t let him take away all the progress you’ve made. It’s good to see you happy instead of being a miserable sonofabitch.”

Smithy snorted. “Noted, boss man.”

Stepping back into the body of the building, he made his way towards the tech room where Will was already pulling all the data from the flash drives. He saw the main hallway door open, and Liz was there, her eyes fixed on him, looking like the very breath he needed to live. Her gaze slid up and down as if cataloguing him for injuries before she moved towards him, her arms going around his neck, her body pressing to him as she buried her head in his throat.

He wrapped her in his arms, holding on tight to the woman who was his saviour and had been since the day he’d met her. Her scent enveloped him, the silk of her hair tickling his face, and still, he held on. She was his strength, his port in a storm, the only thing that mattered to him.

John being his father, the Watchers, Winslow, none of it mattered without her. It was selfish, but he didn’t give a toss.

“Are you all right?” Her lips touched his neck as she asked the question.

He reluctantly let her go so he could answer her. “I am now.” He pulled back at the wary, worried expression on her face. “Liz?”

His insides contorted as he imagined every scenario that could put that look on her pretty face, and he didn’t like any of them.

“Come here.” Liz took his elbow and dragged him into the still empty conference room.

“Sit down. I need to tell you something, and you’re not going to like it.”

Smithy let her push him into a chair and then she began to pace in front of him, rubbing the sweat from her palms on her jeans as she did.

His unease increased with every turn she made. Was this where she told him she’d changed her mind and didn’t want him? Had she finally seen he was no good for her and wanted out? She’d never want to hurt anyone which explained the nerves she was displaying.

“For God’s sake, Liz, just say it.” His voice was harsher than he intended as he began to mentally throw up walls to protect himself from the shattering blow to come. He knew for the first time in his life, he wouldn’t let her walk away. He’d fight for her this time.

She turned to face him. “John Smith is your father.”

It took a moment for her words to sink in, and when they did, he began to laugh.

Lizzie cocked her head, looking at him like he’d grown another head as he let the relief and the tension from the last few hours out. “Ty?”

“Come here, babe.”

He held out his hand, and she slowly moved into his embrace as he pulled her to his lap. The smile was still on his face as he looked at her clear brown eyes so trusting and open after everything she’d been through, not just now but in her whole life.

“Why are you laughing?”

Smithy wiped his eyes and cupped her chin, pulling her mouth closer to his. “I know about John. I found out last night when he showed up at the lab and dropped that particular bomb on me.”

Her eyes went wide before they softened. “Oh, Ty, I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. It was a shock, but in hindsight, I should have seen it.”

Her fingertips brushed the scruff of his face. “How do you feel?”

He tipped his head, running his nose along hers wanting to kiss her. He didn’t, knowing it would end the discussion he wanted done so he could put it behind him and move forward with this woman. “Honestly, I wasn’t sure, but as I waited to hear what you would say, I built myself up so badly that when you told me it didn’t even matter anymore. It was a relief to what I was expecting.”

“Did you have any idea?”