Chapter 43
Maddox
What now? Whipping around, I stare at Delaney, and she raises her luminous eyes to mine. More gray than blue in her distress, I see the resemblance that had never occurred to me before.
This explains her stubbornness. Good god, I picked the soft, female version of Wolf. My little cheerleader princess is a Castro.
“What the fuck did you just say?” Wolf barks while I stare steadily into my princess’ eyes.
It’s okay baby.
She seems to ease under my look, but I know the true force of what her mom is saying will hit her hard later when we’re not all facing off against each other.
Does she know who Diablo is? Fuck me, I’m gonna enjoy harassing the shit out of Wolf when this has all blown over.
I wasn’t lying when I told Delaney that I don’t care who her father is, but I’ll admit that I’m relieved it isn’t Ice or his brother.
After a moment, the silence in the room penetrates our cocoon and I meet Pops’ searing gaze as Delaney whispers, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
When he backs away, I turn back to the spectacle. He needs time, I get it. Despite their marriage ending, it can’t be easy to know your best friend fucked your ex.
“Because if I told anyone,” Helen says, her pale lips trembling, “it would all come out.”
Turning to Peter, she continues, although he avoids her stare, glaring at the wall, “The truth is, I’m an addict. I’ve been fighting off my need since I was raped. I guess it was easier to be high than face my reality.”
“What the fuck are you saying?” Peter growls.
With her chin held high, albeit a little wobbly, she says, “I ran away in the middle of the night. Diablo helped me after I came, uh back, and things, well changed. He found me a place to stay and sat with me while I detoxed. It wasn’t anything but two people finding comfort in a really crazy situation.
Later, when Joey followed, I convinced him that Delaney was his. ”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Peter asks.
“Because you wouldn’t understand and I didn’t want you to bear this burden, especially when it could mean a death sentence.”
I think everyone is pretty much speechless at this point and I slowly step in front of Delaney when Helen says, “I couldn’t live with my choices and eventually the drugs became my solace again. The truth is, Peter, that it wasn’t Delaney who was supposed to be watching Petey the day he drowned.”
Oh shit. Here it comes and I meet Delaney’s wide eyes, asking, “You okay, princess?”
It’s a stupid question. I’m sure she’s not okay but I have to say something. She’s too pale and quiet.
“I was passed out on the couch,” Helen whispers. “I didn’t hear him go outside.”
I never thought I could feel sorry for the pig, but when he drops to his knees, I wince. This is seriously fucked up shit and all the hair on my nape stands on end when an animalistic growl passes his lips before he tips his head back and screams.
Fuck me.
Delaney
The bright light from the window burns my lids and with a groan, I roll over and open my eyes to find the spot beside me empty.
Staring at the indentation in the pillow, Peter’s desperate screams rebound around my brain, and I curl into a ball.
Although I wanted my mom to speak her truth it didn't change the fact that it opened old wounds for Peter and maybe in the end, it was crueler for him to know.
I guess only time will tell now.
Seeing Peter on his knees, completely defeated, hurt my heart but I have hope that he can heal with my mom now that the two of them are able to move forward without secrets between them.
Although I worry about them both, I know there is nothing that I can do. Mom assured me she was fine, and I know how much Peter loves her, despite this horrible news.
As for the knowledge that Diablo, a Shadow Saint, was my father, I think I’m still coming to terms with it. Besides, apparently the man is missing and therefore, he’s forever lost to me anyway.
I guess now I know who the shadowed man was that we visited from time to time but I wish that I could remember more about him now that I know his link to me.
Luckily, I have Maddox to work through my past with me. Can our love survive the differences between us? I sure hope so because I can’t imagine living without him.
“Princess?” Maddox rasps and I roll over to find him sitting in a chair.
When I push to my knees, his lips tilt into that sexy smile complete with the dimple that I adore, and I leap off the bed before jumping into his arms.
“C’mere,” he growls, wrapping me up.
As soon as I’m in his lap, tears prick my eyes. So much has happened and I guess it’s all pressing at my chest now that I have a moment of calm to process.
All the while, he holds me close and I breathe in his warm, spicy scent until he asks, “Are you okay?”
When I lean back, meeting solemn gaze, he presses a kiss to my forehead and then my nose before our lips meet. It’s slow, tender and absolutely amazing and when we eventually break away, I lean my head against his chest, asking, “Do you think they’ll be okay?”
“I don’t know.”
“Hm,” I mumble, and he touches my cheek.
“Those two will have to work it out together,” he says, “but I think the fact that he went home with her is a good sign. True love, right?”
When his lips tilt into a crooked grin, I touch his mouth, whispering, “True love.”
Those dark eyes turn to liquid, and he runs the pad of his finger down my skin and over the bow of my lip. Tingles follow in his wake, and I lean into his touch as I say, “Maddox, I…”
“Princess,” he says. “I don’t care about anything but making sure you spend the rest of my life by my side, feel me?”
Searching his eyes, I slowly nod before saying, “Are you sure?”
Just because Ice turned out to not be my father doesn’t mean that I don’t come with baggage. My stepdad is a cop and my mom a recovering addict with a lot of shit hidden beneath the depths of her addiction.
Late last night while I stared at the wall, I came to realize that even though Kidd was not my brother, when he sacrificed himself for me, he became my family forever. Somehow, I have to honor him and that might be another sticking point between us.
“I’m fucking positive,” he says. “Me and you, this is it, princess.”
My heart warms at his declaration and I touch the dimple in his cheek before he darts his tongue out and sucks the pad between his teeth.
My core clenches at the erotic rasp of his tongue and I watch his eyes darken before he presses a last kiss to my finger, cups my cheeks and says, “I’ll never let you go now, Delaney. ”
Tears fill my eyes because after everything, this has to be the most romantic proclamation ever, but I don’t know about his family, although I have hope that we can figure it out.
“I hope not,” I say, and he grins, revealing that damn dimple again.