A jolt of shock rattled through my bones when I saw him. He seemed smaller and less intimidating than I remembered.
“Heard you got passed over for partner.” His tone had the same condescending edge to it. “And got…married.” There was no mistaking the disgust in his voice.
I didn’t care.
For the first time in my life, I didn’t give two shits. Not about him. Not about rubbing anything in his face. I didn’t even care that both he and mother had robbed me of so much as a child.
I couldn’t.
Not when I’d received so much more. Not when I had Kate and Millie.
Tucking Kate into my side, I leveled him with a stare. “You heard right.”
My father pulled a face. “You didn’t invite your mother and I to celebrate with you. Do you really care so little?”
Of course he’d turn this around on me. Heaven forbid this man actually apologize for his part in my screwed up upbringing.
I opened my mouth to give him a piece of my mind but snapped it shut before a single word could escape. My parents would never change. Not because they couldn’t, they simply didn’t want to. The life they lived was one they’d chosen for themselves.
Just as I chose for myself.
“No, Father,” I started. “I don’t care at all.” Without waiting for a response or sparing him a second glance, I held on to the woman who anchored me like no other and walked out the door.
“Are you okay?” Kate asked when we were outside.
Cradling her face between my palms, I lowered my mouth to hers, answering her question with a long, languid kiss. I could’ve easily kissed her for hours, but we both knew it never stayed at only kissing with us. Not when every touch of her lips and stroke of her tongue sent my blood roaring through my veins.
Breaking the kiss, I pressed my forehead against hers, my hands tracing up and down her arms. A smile formed on my lips. “As long as I have you and Millie by my side, I know I'll be okay.”
Those stunning hazel eyes met mine, conveying more than any words could ever express. I’d never know what exactly I’d done right for this woman to love me the way she did, but shit, I’d spend every day for the rest of my life making sure I deserved it.
I was about to tell her that when her phone buzzed to life. Shooting me an apologetic look, she pulled it out of her purse.
Her frown was immediate. “It’s Izzy.”
With a hard swallow, Kate lifted the phone to her ear. Whatever Izzy said had Kate’s eyes widening as she slapped her free hand over her mouth. She shook her head, repeating the wordnoover and over.
“Kate.”
I reached for her. My touch didn’t even register. She just kept shaking her head and repeating that one word.
“Kate,” I said again, a bit louder this time.
Her gaze shot to mine, and two thick tears rolled down her cheeks.
This time her “No,” came out in a broken sob before she launched herself into my arms.
“What’s going on?” I asked, my heart thundering dangerously inside my chest.
Nothing could’ve prepared me for the broken words that left her mouth.
“Millie’s gone.”
Ice cold tendrils of fear slithered down my spine. “What do you mean she’s gone?”
Her head snapped up, her eyes big and wild. “We need to go.” Grabbing my wrist, she hurried toward the valet.
“Baby, stop.” I dug my heels in, giving her no other choice than to stop. I waited until she faced me before I spoke, “What the hell is going on?”
