"Because my injuries were so severe, the hospital contacted the police. And when they opened a case, they dug through my records and found my father's name on my birth certificate, one that my mom kept hidden from me. That's how he learned he had a son. He came to the hospital the same day."
"You didn't know about his existence?"
"No. He was furious that he didn't know I existed, but he was even more furious that I'd been hurt and demanded I tell him the truth. I didn't want to. He was yet another stranger to me."
"He didn't threaten you, right?"
"No. He said he's my father, promised me he'd make whoever hurt me pay, and he'd teach me how to protect myself if that's what I wanted. I almost burst into tears when he said he was my real father, and that he'd protect me."
"I told him everything, and from then on, everything changed. Once I was healed, every day after school, and during weekends when I was supposed to be in the library, I went to his house."
"He started teaching you how to kill people?"
Who in their right mind would teach that to an eleven-year-old kid?
Sebastian laughs like I just told the funniest joke.
"No, silly Daddy. He taught me how to fight, how to protect myself. When I was sixteen, he started teaching me more things: knives, guns, things like that."
It still sounds terrible. Psychotic, even.
"I looked up to him. He knew so much, and he always cared for me. When I was seventeen, I found out he was an assassin, and I said I wanted to be one too."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that. There are always people who get away with the law. Always. If I can get rid of some of the trash, why wouldn't I?"
I'm not sure if I should be fascinated by the way my boy thinks or terrified. Even when I saw him kill, I still wasn't terrified of him.
"Are you disgusted by me now that you know?"
"What? No! No."
"Are you sure?"
"I am. Thank you for telling me everything. It doesn't change anything between us. If anything, it makes our connection stronger. I want to see every part of you, little one."
"Even the dark, twisted one?"
"Especially that part." I kiss him hard, trying to pour all the emotions inside me into that kiss. "Especially the dark, twisted part, because it's the one you've hidden and been alone in."
"I've had my dad, my best friend, and some other people in the assassin club, but I admit that I felt lonely."
"Assassin club?" I shake my head. "No. We'll come back to that later. You won't feel lonely ever again, because I'll be beside you."
"What? You'll accompany me on my kills?" he jokes.
I just stare.
His jaw drops. The shock is cute.
"No way. I'm not killing someone in front of you."
"And I'm not letting you kill someone alone. Besides, you already killed someone in front of me."
"That's because I didn't know you were there!" he argues, then shakes his head and adds, "No."
"Yes, boy." I use my Daddy voice and watch him shiver. "I'm coming with you, and you won't argue about it."
