Chapter 23 #2
“Okay, well, that’s just hot,” Lark declared. When everyone’s eyes shot to hers—her dad appearing rather uncomfortable—she said, “I’m sorry. It is. There’s no other way to put it.”
My lips twitched. I loved Lark for that exact reason. She didn’t hold back sharing precisely how she felt about anything. Evidently, according to the parents, she was just like her mom.
Ignoring that, my dad called, “Hawk?”
“Yes, sir?”
“I’d like to talk to you for a moment… in private.”
My stomach dropped, but Hawk didn’t hesitate. He immediately got out of his chair, prepared to go wherever my dad wanted him to go. I reached for his hand and stopped his movements.
“What’s the matter?”
“Are you… Are you sure you’re okay with that?”
He bent down, kissed my cheek, and promised, “I’ll be fine, sweetness. Stay here. Eat. I’ll be right back.”
With his reassurances in hand, there was nothing I could do but sit back and watch as Hawk followed my dad to the opposite side of the yard, where the men had been brooding earlier.
HAWK
I wasn’t quite sure what I expected about how this day would go, but I was certain this wasn’t it.
Not once had the thought crossed my mind that Chloe would spill the beans to her family about being attacked outside her cake shop.
I hadn’t realized she hadn’t done it weeks ago.
And now I was following her father away from the group, because he wanted to have a chat.
If there was one thing I had attempted to prepare myself for, it was meeting Chloe’s parents.
I didn’t think the meeting with her mom could’ve gone any better than it had.
She was kind, compassionate, and welcoming—traits she’d clearly passed on to her daughter.
But the slight stubbornness and determined nature I’d noted in her father was also a big part of Chloe’s personality, too.
When Chloe’s father came to a stop and turned to face me, he didn’t delay. “Do you know him?”
“Who, sir?”
“Do you know who the guy was who attacked Chloe?”
I shook my head. “No. And from what I gathered from her after the fact, Chloe didn’t know him, either. It appeared to be a random attack.”
The muscle in his jaw was working, barely controlled fury blazing beneath the surface. “And it happened the way she shared it?”
Nodding, I confirmed, “It did. I’d been on my way from the furniture shop to her place when I saw them.
At first, because Chloe and I weren’t together at the time, I thought she’d gotten involved with the guy.
But when she tried to shove him away and shouted for him to leave her alone, I understood what was happening. ”
“Thank you for stepping in and protecting her.”
I jerked my chin down. “No thanks necessary.”
Some of the tension eased out of his frame as he said, “I’m sorry for being a bit standoffish with you from the start. You don’t understand this now, but I’m a dad of three children. I want to protect all of them, of course, but it’s different with my girls.”
“I understand. And I don’t hold any grudges. My parents didn’t give a shit about my sister or me, so I’m glad Chloe has a family like this.”
“I’m sorry to hear about your parents. If it’s alright with you, I’d like to start fresh.”
I inhaled deeply, deciding that if I was going to take this man up on his offer, he needed to have the full truth. Chloe meant enough to me to make sure I didn’t hide anything from the people who mattered most to her.
“I’d like nothing more, sir, but I think if we’re going to do that, I need to be honest with you.”
He cocked a brow. “Honest about what?”
“Who I am.”
Best to just rip the bandage off. Even if it meant that the very little progress we’d made was going to be undone.
“Who are you?”
“I’m a thirty-four-year-old man, so seven years older than Chloe. Hawk is a nickname my sister gave me years ago, and it stuck for a multitude of reasons, the biggest being that my birth name is Gavin Michael Kennedy, Jr.”
I watched as Zane Cunningham’s eyes narrowed. “Why does your name sound familiar?”
“Because it is. Because twelve years ago, I went to prison. I was released two years ago.”
The tension was back in his body, every muscle taut. “What were you in for?”
No matter how much I wanted to keep it from him, I couldn’t now. He’d figure it out, anyway. “It had never been my intention for it to go as far as it had, but I came home one night at twenty-two years old and murdered the man I found violating my sister.”
It surprised me how much easier it was to share that with Chloe’s father.
Maybe because I’d done it once already with her, or perhaps it was because I knew this man wasn’t going to settle or accept a man in his daughter’s life who didn’t own up to what he did.
And for Chloe, I was learning there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do.
Zane didn’t give me any indication where his mind was when he asked, “How old was your sister?”
“Eighteen. And she was living with me ever since our parents died of drug overdoses when she was sixteen. I was responsible for her, and I’d failed to protect her before the worst had happened.”
He contemplated for a moment. “How is she now?”
I fought against a smile. “She’s good now. Met a good man. They’re married with a kid, who just celebrated his first birthday.”
While I didn’t know what he was thinking, it was obvious Zane had a lot of thoughts running through his mind.
He remained quiet for a while, eventually turning to the side to look back at where we’d left the rest of his family and friends.
My eyes landed on Chloe, who was wearing nothing but concern in her expression.
When Zane returned his attention to me, he asked, “Did you know Taj is named after Charley’s brother?”
It took me a moment to work out the specifics. Charley was Wes Blackman’s wife and Taj’s mother. “I did not.”
He shook his head. “We know. All of us. But there’re a lot of people that don’t know he was named after the man who saved my wife’s life the first time.”
I blinked. The first time?
“My kids don’t know all the specifics and gory details of this, but I’m going to tell you something.
For eight years, Emme was trapped in an abusive situation with her ex.
Until one day, he beat her so badly, and she called for help.
Charley’s brother Taj rescued her that day, losing his own life in the process.
They eventually moved here from California to get away from the heartache and to keep themselves safe.
I hadn’t known it at the time, but Emme’s ex—Taj’s murderer—was never caught. ”
He paused for a moment, and I wondered if he was going to liken me to the man who’d hurt Chloe’s mom.
Zane continued. “Emme’s ex found her here after we’d gotten together.
And though my brothers and I pulled out every stop to keep her safe, she was kidnapped and taken to an abandoned house in another town.
I had to watch as that asshole sexually and physically assaulted her.
And sometimes, even to this day, it bugs me that it was my brother Cruz who made it to her before I could.
But I guess it was a good thing he did, because he could approach that situation with a different perspective.
Deep down, I know if I’d been the one to get there first, I would’ve been just like you.
I would’ve killed that bastard for laying a single finger on her. ”
When he paused again, I no longer wondered if he was going to compare me to his wife’s ex. I could tell the conversation wasn’t heading in that direction.
“Any man who’d sacrifice himself, his freedom, for someone he loves the way you did for your sister, is a man I’d want to know.
” He glanced over at the crowd once more, took them in, and looked at me.
“You’ve already stepped in to protect my daughter from a random stranger when you two weren’t even together.
That’s the kind of man I want to know my daughter has found.
I’m thinking I don’t need to be concerned about her safety when she’s with you.
I’m thinking you’re the kind of man who’d do what I’d do and step in front of a bullet to protect the woman you’re with. ”
I swallowed roughly. “You have my word, sir.”
Any of the hardness left in his features vanished. His lips tipped up. “Call me Zane.”
Years.
God, whole years of awful, judgmental looks from people had led to this.
Had led to me meeting a woman who’d stolen my heart and treated me with dignity.
Had led to that woman introducing me to her family and friends.
Had led to her father taking a moment to hear my side of things, to understand where I was coming from, and to give me his blessing with his daughter.
That was the only acceptance I needed. Even if nobody else ever gave me a shot, it wouldn’t matter.
I offered an appreciative smile in return. “Thank you.”
He dipped his chin. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry for what happened with your parents and that you had to grow up too soon. From where I’m standing, you didn’t do so bad.”
“I appreciate that.”
Zane curled his arm around my neck and said, “Let’s get back to this party. My wife won’t be pleased with me if I ruin this for her.”
I laughed, going with him, and said, “I fear your daughter might give you a difficult time, too.”
He groaned. “I only have myself to blame with that one. She’s such a headstrong girl.”
“That’s what I like most about her.”
Zane patted me on the back a couple of times and laughed. “Good luck, son.”
Something warm hit my chest at having him refer to me as that. Is that what it felt like to have a father who cared?
My eyes landed on Chloe. She saw us walking back, and when she determined that all was well, her face lit up as bright as the sun.
I could get used to that. To all of this.
My hope was that what happened today was just the beginning of this for us.