32. Sienna
THIRTY-TWO
SIENNA
Kristoff and Kai shared a look, communicating without saying a word, and then my stepfather turned to Tyran, his eyes narrowing in displeasure.
“Very well, but I’m not bringing my other children in the midst of this.”
Pain sliced through me. I hadn’t seen them in five years and had hardly spoken to them for almost as long. Now that they were so close, I couldn’t stand not seeing them.
I descended the stairs and came to stand next to Tyran, but my gaze was locked on my stepfather.
“Please,” I begged. “Tyran… The Callahans wouldn’t hurt them.”
“Like Aiden said,” Tyran said dryly, taking my hand with his free one and giving it a squeeze, “you’re family now.”
“She hasn’t married you yet,” Kristoff retorted wryly, watching him with distaste.
“Dad, please,” I begged. “I want to see them all. I missed—” My voice cracked and Tyran’s grip on my hand tightened. “I missed you all so much. Please… please, Dad… bring them all here.”
Kristoff stiffened and dragged his gaze away from Tyran. His eyes shimmered and he blinked them several times.
I never called him Dad, but I considered him mine. In my mind, he was Dad, I just never graduated to the stage of calling him that out loud.
Dad lowered his gun, holding it by his side. My best friend did the same, his gaze flickering between the Callahan brothers and me.
“God, Sienna, I can’t refuse you now,” he grumbled softly. “I’ll go get them and bring them over.”
I stumbled forward and fell into my father’s arms. He hugged me tightly, and I let out a muffled sob into his chest. It was the second time I’d ever done that, and just like when he rescued me, he murmured comforting words while stroking my hair.
“We have to stop doing this, kiddo,” he whispered against my hair. “I promised your mom I’d always keep you girls safe, and I’m failing.”
“You’re not,” I gasped, barely managing to force the words past the tightness in my throat. “I promise you, Dad, you’re everything every girl could ever wish her father to be.”
My voice broke as I held him tighter.
“I love you, Dad.”
“I love you, too.” He cupped my head. “You make me so proud, you know that.”
My lips trembled as I attempted a smile. “Not sure how.”
“Not sure how?” he repeated incredulously. “You’re strong, smart, compassionate. Just like your mom. How could I not be proud?”
I swallowed, flickering a hesitant look at the Callahan brothers. “Even after all I’ve done?”
“You’ve done nothing wrong,” Tyran answered in Dad’s stead. “Damn straight your father should be pounding his chest with pride when it comes to you. Now, we can go with you to get your wife and kids and escort this ex-best friend out, or—”
“Kai stays too.”
“The fuck he is.” I glared at Tyran. “What, blondie? The dude is like fucking model handsome, and you want me to let you look at him?”
I let out an exasperated sigh. “He’s here, Tyran, and he’s coming to one of the biggest events of my life.”
“Fine, fine. He can come to the wedding and reception, but that’s it. He can’t sleep under the same roof as my wife.”
“She’s not your wife yet,” Kai shot back, and this time I glared at him, willing him to shut up. “Fine, fine. I won’t say another word. I’ll stay at that stupid inn and listen to the Irish sing dumb songs and drink.”
I smiled at my dad, then turned to Tyran, who was watching me with a shimmering gaze.
Maybe this was the beginning of my atonement and things would work out at the end of it all.