Chapter 25 #2
“I got sick about four years ago. We’d had a few weeks where there wasn’t a ton to eat.
My body was worn down, and I think I was dehydrated.
It wasn’t anything serious but Dad didn’t want to risk pushing too hard.
We’d just made it to Montana. He found a place tucked far away and let me rest for about a month.
He built us a shelter. Hunted a lot. Once I started feeling better, I didn’t want to leave.
I was tired of always being on the move. So we stayed.”
If they’d arrived in Montana four years ago, that meant they’d been living out here for two years. Two goddamn years. I loved camping. Give me two weeks, even two months, and I’d be happy. But two years? Damn.
“Is that the longest you stayed anywhere?”
She nodded. “I liked it here.”
“Where?”
Vera pointed north. “About ten miles from here. I’ll take you there someday. It’s not exactly easy to get to, but it was close enough to town that I could go in for supplies.”
I blinked. “You came in to Quincy?”
“About once a month.”
Had we crossed paths? Huh.
Vera probably knew the mountains around Quincy better than me or my brothers or even Dad. It made me feel better about all the hiking she did. Not great, but it eased a few fears. No wonder Vance never objected to her hikes.
“This is where Vance found you, isn’t it?” I guessed. “You didn’t just show up on his doorstep in Idaho.”
“Yeah. They were partners. Did you know that? He never gave up on finding Dad. Not because of their friendship. Vance thought, like everyone else, that Dad had killed us all.”
Vance had come to Montana for justice. After Lyla was attacked, the police had put out a bulletin describing Cormac. His build. His red hair. The scar across his face. Vance had seen the APB and come here.
“I’d come to town for supplies. Vance saw me. Chased me down. I took him to Dad.”
“Then what?”
“Dad told him the truth. Lyla was there too.”
I blinked. “What? Vance let that motherfucker around her after he tried to kill her?”
Vera flinched and guilt flooded her gaze.
“I didn’t know what he did to her. Not until after Vance found us.
I’m sorry. He shouldn’t have done it. He promised he wouldn’t have let it go too far, he was just trying to scare her enough to buy himself time and get away.
He was worried that someone would find me.
I’m not making excuses for him. I’m just .
. . I’m sorry. I wish it had never happened. ”
“And what does Lyla think about all this?”
Vera gave me a sad smile. “She has Vance.”
If Cormac hadn’t attacked her, Vance never would have come to Quincy.
And he never would have found Vera.
Son of a bitch. I’d still hate Cormac for what he’d put Lyla through. But damn if it hadn’t changed everything.
“You know the rest,” Vera said. “I left with Vance. We knew it would be impossible to convince people he didn’t murder my sisters, so we didn’t bother trying. We decided to tell everyone I’d left him in Idaho. Let them keep thinking he’s a monster. Better that than have the FBI in Montana.”
Well, they were here now. “You came out today to try and find him and warn him away.”
“Yes. He should leave.”
“How do you know he’s here?”
“I don’t.” She hugged her knees tighter. “I just . . . hoped. I didn’t think he’d really leave me.”
If Cormac had kept Vera hidden all these years, if he’d been determined to keep her close, my guess was he hadn’t gone far.
“He’s all I have left, Mateo. I know he’s not perfect. I know he’s done some horrible things. But he’s my family. I need to find him.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “He’s my dad.”
“Hey.” I cupped her cheek in my hand, forcing her to face me. “He’s not all you have. Not anymore.”
She sniffled, her chin quivering. “I’m sorry. I know I should have told you a long time ago but . . . how? It wasn’t like I could show up at a family dinner and say, ‘Oh, remember that time my dad almost killed Lyla? Yeah, it’s cool now.’ ”
How the hell could she make me want to laugh right now? This woman. I wrapped her up, hauling her into my chest to kiss the top of her hair. “From now on, we go out here together.”
“W-what? You want to help?”
“Yeah. And I don’t want you out here alone. Not anymore.”
Her eyes softened. “Thank you. But I have to come out here alone. If he sees you, he won’t show himself.”
“Oh, I think he will.” I was banking on Cormac’s protective instincts to come roaring to life. If he saw me with Vera, his curiosity might get the better of him. He’d want to meet the man sleeping with his daughter. “Am I a part of your life?”
“Yes.”
“Then he’s got to meet me at some point.”
“But—”
“Just say yes, Peach.”
She sighed. “Yes.”
“No more hiking alone. Promise?”
“Promise.”
I bent and dropped a kiss to her mouth, then slid off the hood of the car and held out my hand. “Let’s go get Allie and head home.”
She set her hand in mine, but not to climb off the hood. Her grip tightened. “Mateo?”
“Yeah, darlin’.”
Her chin quivered. “Thank you.”
With a tug, I pulled until she was on her feet and in my arms. Then I held on to her. There wasn’t much else to say, not until I could puzzle it all out in my head, so I just held on to her.
Tight enough that maybe the next time she thought about going it alone, she’d remember there was no need.