“No, no, no. I’m sorry. Don’t make me leave,” she pleads, her voice coming out in heart-wrenching sobs.
“She doesn’t have to go anywhere with you,” I tell her. “I’m now legally her father. Your threats no longer stand. If you know what’s good for you. You’ll turn around and leave. Now.”
She looks at me, weighing up, if I mean it. Whatever she sees in my expression has her turning on her heel.
“Zach?” she shrieks as she makes her way to the door.
Zach says nothing, his eyes still locked on my sister. When he doesn’t move, Darra harrumphs and storms out, the front door slamming shut behind her.
Gabriel and Caleb drop to their knees by Kat, but she stands up and shrugs them off. Instead, she walks to Lottie, taking my daughter’s face gently in her hands. She drops a kiss on her cheek.
“I’m sorry, Aunty Kat,” Lottie says, a fresh set of tears running freely down her cheeks.
Kat smiles at her sadly.
“You, my darling girl, have nothing to be sorry for. I’m sorry you got caught up in the games of adults. All you need to know is we all love you unconditionally. Whoever your father and mother are, you’re Lottie Brooke Frazer, and you always will be. I need to leave right now, but I want you to know that has nothing to do with you. I love you, sweet girl.”
Lottie lets go of Pen and hugs her aunt. “I love you too, Aunty Kat.”
“I need to go,” she tells Lottie as she pulls away. “But we will all get through this. Call me if you need me.”
Lottie nods.
Pen’s hand comes up and grips Kat’s arm, sending her a silent message.
Kat’s eyes meet Pen’s.
“I need time,” she says, earning herself another acknowledgment.
Kat hugs each one of us in turn, making her way to the door.
She passes Zach, who grabs her arm. She pauses, her eyes going to where his hand is encircling her bicep. She looks up and whatever he sees has him dropping his hand.
“We need to talk,” he says quietly.
“We do,” she says, her eyes now looking ahead. “But not now.”
He dips his chin in acknowledgement, and then she’s gone.
Harper and Mum disconnect.
“I’m going after Kat,” Gabriel says, earning himself a nod from Caleb and Pen.
Caleb follows our brother out, not even acknowledging Zach.
Everything I tried to protect my family from has not just exploded, but it’s taken out half the block with it.
Zach stands with his hands in his pockets, his eyes on our daughter.
“Lottie, if you ever want to talk, you know where to find me.”
He, too, turns and leaves without a backward glance.
My ears ring in the silence.
CHAPTER 59
PEN
