6. Chapter 6 #3
I’ve told myself that a thousand times. It was never convincing when it came from inside my own head.
Hearing someone else say it is different.
“Tate told me about what my father tried to do to you.” I’m testing the waters with her. “I didn’t know.”
“Of course you didn’t.” She clasps my hand and offers a kind smile. “And I’m fine and happily back with my hardheaded husband.”
Across the room, Fox’s voice rises. “—can’t just go dark for days and expect Dad to cover for you indefinitely. The Council is asking questions. Donaldson is playing the concerned father, and we both know that’s bullshit, but we need something to work with here.”
“Then give me time to—”
“We don’t have time, Tate. That’s what I’m trying to tell you.”
Tate’s response is too low for me to hear, but I see the tension in his shoulders. He’s holding back. For my sake, probably.
I stand up before I can talk myself out of it.
Both men turn to look at me. Tate’s expression shifts to concern while Fox’s remains neutral.
“My father is a monster.” My voice doesn’t shake. I’m proud of that. “All the awful things you wanted to kill him over. He did those things to me, his own daughter.”
Fox’s expression doesn’t change, but I see his hands curl into fists.
“The night Tate found me, he intercepted me before I would have met with another of my father’s clients.”
My throat closes up. I swallow hard and keep going.
“I didn’t know Tate was going to protect me. I didn’t know any of this would happen.” I look at Fox directly. “I know your father is supposed to be searching for me. I know my father wants me back. But I’m not going back. I’m done being his property. And I’m done being afraid.”
Silence.
Fox looks at Tate. Something passes between them—some kind of brotherly communication I can’t read.
“I know what he is.” Fox takes a step toward me, and I fight the urge to back away.
“I know what he does. And I’ve been looking for a way to destroy him that doesn’t bring the whole fucking Council down on our heads.
” His eyes bore into mine. “But I need to know—are you willing to go all the way with this? Because once we move against your father, there’s no going back. ”
“I’ve never been able to go back.” I hold his gaze. “The only direction I have left is forward.”
Another silence. Then Fox nods once.
“Okay.” He looks at Tate. “Dad needs to hear this. All of it. He’s been protecting you without knowing why, and we’re going to need his help.”
“I know.” Tate moves to my side, his hand finding the small of my back. “We’ll go to him tomorrow.”
“We?” Fox raises an eyebrow.
“She’s not leaving my sight.”
“I didn’t think she was.” There’s respect in Fox’s voice now. “I’m just surprised you’re willing to face Dad in person after going off the grid for days.”
“Dad can be pissed at me all he wants. It doesn’t change anything.”
Ivy stands and walks over to where I’m standing. She doesn’t touch me, doesn’t try to hug me or offer meaningless comfort. She just looks at me with those knowing blue eyes.
“I’ve never seen him like this,” she says quietly, leaning close so only I can hear.
“Tate, I mean. He’s always been the cold one.
The one who doesn’t let anyone in.” She glances at Tate, then back at me.
“These Sinclair men—they’re hard. They do hard things.
But they love just as hard. And when they decide you’re theirs, nothing in the world can make them let go. ”
I glance at her and she’s beaming at Fox now. It’s obvious how in love they are, and I can already tell that Fox is a different man for her.
Almost like Tate is for me.
But love?
The word lodges in my chest, right next to the secret I’m still carrying.
Is that what this is? This terrifying, overwhelming need to be near him? Is that what he’s feeling when he holds me through nightmares and promises to kill everyone who ever hurt me?
Even now, I want to move closer to him so his skin touches mine, just to know that he’s there.
I’ve never known what love is supposed to feel like. No one ever taught me.
But whatever this is, I don’t want it to stop.
Fox moves toward the door, already pulling out his phone. “I’ll let Dad know we’re coming tomorrow. Try to soften the ground a little. Ivy and I are going to stay here tonight and get a plan together. Text Thorne and tell him to get his ass here.”
“Fox.” Tate’s voice stops him. “Thank you.”
Fox looks back at his brother. “You’ve always been there when I’ve needed you. And you even took that bullet graze for my troubles.”
I watch the exchange between the brothers. Tate touches his shoulder as Fox steps in the other room. Then Tate pulls his phone out of his pocket to do as Fox directed.
Once Tate pockets his phone, he pulls me against his chest, not caring that Ivy is still in the room with us. I press my face into his shirt and breathe him in.
“You did good, baby girl.”
I look up at him, thinking about what Ivy said.
Am I the one that he won’t be able to let go?
His arms tighten around me, and I let myself believe the answer might be yes.