Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Shelby
My body moves on autopilot, my socked feet silent against the carpet. Before I know it, I’m standing in the kitchen doorway.
Leonard stands at the kitchen island, oblivious to my presence. My rage increases with every chop of the knife his hand makes until I can’t take it anymore.
“Have you lost your fucking mind?”
His head snaps up. I don’t know if it’s the anger in my voice or the rage vibrating from my body that clues him in, but one look at his face, and I know that he knows.
A calmness passed over his face.
“Where did you come from?”
Instead of answering aloud, I point at the ceiling. My labored breathing is obnoxiously loud. His calm demeanor pisses me off more.
Gently, he places the sharp knife next to the chopping board. The room stays silent, and our gaze locks as he reaches up to remove his dark-rimmed glasses. They’re placed on the other side of the wooden board.
“Watch your tone.”
I shiver.
I find out he’s my mystery man, and that’s what he has to say?
“You fucking asshole,” I whisper, barely holding my tears in.
Leo’s face darkens.
“Watch your mouth while you’re at it.” His eyes flick to the wall beside me that hides the hall.
Riley.
Closing my eyes, I take a deep, calming breath.
Nope, not helping.
I’m shaking by the time I open my eyes, the glint of the knife drawing my attention.
A deep chuckle penetrates the tension between us.
“You thinking of using that, baby?” Leo taunts.
Long, confident fingers wrap around the black handle. I watch, caught in his spell, as he flips the knife, catching it by the blade, his fingers narrowly missing the sharp edge.
Stretching his arm out, he holds it like an offering.
“This isn’t funny, Leonard.”
His eyes close at my words.
“I do love it when you say my name.”
Unable to hold them back any longer, a sob leaves me and then another.
“This isn’t funny!” I repeat, harsher.
“I’m not laughing, baby.”
And he’s not. Leo looks at me with an expression that upsets me more.
Acceptance.
“You weren’t supposed to find out like this,” he tells me calmly.
“Or at all.”
“I was going to tell you. I just wasn’t ready for it to end yet.”
“Liar,” I mumble.
His face darkens again. I’m making him angry. Like he has the right after what he’s done. Irritation builds my confidence.
“Liar!” My words echoes out, the space between us closing when I step forward.
“Keep your fucking voice down. I will not tell you again.”
My body responds to his threat in more than one way. I really am fucked up. Frustrated at myself and angry with the man before me, I push more.
“Or what, Leo? What the fuck are you going to do? Lie to me a little more . . .”
Before I can say anything more, a small voice cuts between us.
“Daddy?”
Doc and I both freeze. My heart plummets. He recovers first.
“I’m sorry, baby. We didn’t mean to be so loud. Go back to your bedroom. Dinner will be a little late.”
Wetting my lips, I try to swallow around my suddenly dry and scratchy throat. Taking a shaky breath, I hold on to the kitchen island. The cold countertop helps ground me.
Turning, I avoid looking at Leo.
“I’m sorry, baby,” I whisper, kneeling before her. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have yelled. It won’t happen again. I promise.”
“Why don’t you pick out a book? Shelby will come read with you while I finish up in here?”
Her pretty eyes flit to the man behind me.
Stroking my thumb across her cheek, I nod because what else is there to say? I may be caught between wanting to punch her dad in the face and needing to kiss him, but none of this needs to play out in front of her.
When the little girl hesitates, her dad adds, “She’ll be in, in a second.”
Relief and annoyance mix within me. I don’t want to fight with him, but who is he to decide that this conversation is over?
This is entirely his fault.
The kitchen stays silent except for the gentle patter of small feet heading down the hallway. I stay kneeling even after she’s out of earshot.
A presence behind me straightens my back.
The room blurs before I close my eyes. When I stand, a sniff gives away my distress.
“Enough.” A heavy hand rests on my waist. “You will go spend time with Riley until I come fetch you both for dinner.”
I shake my head.
Air catches in my throat. How the fuck did we get here?
Rubbing the knuckle of my thumb over my eyebrow, I step away from him.
Not that Leo lets me get far.
“Shelby,” he warns.
Strong hands turn me by my shoulders. Shaking my head, I continue to move away, backing up until I hit the wall behind me.
Large, strong arms brace on either side of me.
“You will go spend time with Riley.” I shake my head. “This conversation is over.” His tone leaves no room for argument.
I forget how to breathe when his head drops low, his nose nudging mine.
“You will spend time with Riley, we will have dinner together as a family, and then you will spend the night.”
I shiver when his fingers play at the collar of my shirt, and a moan slips out when they dip below.
His eyes snap to mine. The slight smirk riles me.
He owns me, and he knows it.
Asshole.
The necklace tickles as it slides against my skin. Once his mother’s locket is out of my shirt, he closes his hand around it.
“When Riley’s in bed, you will take a shower and wash this anger away.
What’s done is done. Once you’ve calmed, you’re going to come to me.
My bed. Where you’ll ride me like I’m your whole world.
I didn’t intend for you to figure the truth out on your own, and for that, I am sorry. But you are mine, Shelby.”
My tummy flutters at the way he punctuates that one word. He really fucking means it.
“Mine.”
I shake my head. “I don’t want this.”
“Now, who’s a liar?”
I am.