The second the words are out, I regret them because when I look over my shoulder at him, the level of misery painted on his handsome face kills me.
I feel like I’ve killed him time and time again. He should put me out of my misery already.
There are some days I wish I’d stayed in bed. Today is one of them.
But no. I had to save the world single-handedly.
I inhale deeply and let it out until there’s nothing left.
Keeping his back to me, Phantom speaks in a soft tone that feels as powerful as a sledgehammer to my heart.
“Why are you here, Everly? After all this time, you pick now to show up?”
I wrap my baby girl in her coat and prepare for our exit despite my heart pleading for me to slow down. “You know why. My father. Someone has to stop him. It’s been me and my brother for so long. There’s no one else to trust.”
Phantom slowly turns. “You had me. You still do. I’m standing right here. What will it take for you to see you are not alone? You’re as–”
His eyes fall on Kaylee and his candid words fade into a hard exhale.
His expression morphs from one of confusion and anger to raw surprise. Come to think of it, I don't think I’ve ever seen that look on his face. Mr. Control here prides himself on knowing everything about everyone. At least he did. I finally caught himoff guard. Make that twice now, given he never saw me leaving him the way I did.
I could walk out the door right now. He doesn’t even need to know Kaylee is his. He would think I married someone else and I would never put him or my baby girl in danger again. My father would never know I hooked up with his enemy and he would never think to hurt him by hurting my daughter. He’s the kind of animal who would do just that.
It could work.
“When were you going to tell me I have a daughter, Everly?”
Phantom closes the gap between us and takes a silky piece of Kaylee’s charcoal hair between his fingers. As I look on, he takes in her large gray eyes and the cute little dip in her chin.
“What is my daughter’s name, Everly?”
He holds his voice low and even. I don’t know why. Kaylee is not scared of the large biker man. She seems completely mesmerized by the colorful tattoos on his hands and throat.
She bounces in my arms and holds her hands out for Phantom to take her. Just like her father, she makes friends easily and seems to know who she can trust better than I can ever tell.
Phantom’s hands go around her tiny frame, and he holds her to him.
Instant. Freaking. Tears.
Regret and heartache swirl in the pit of my stomach. This is all I ever wanted. A family that showed love instead of hatred. A family who healed wounds instead of causing them.
My heart melts into a puddle of goo in the middle of Chloe’s living room watching them connect for the first time. Tears burn the back of my eyes and I fight with all that I have not to cry, but a couple of the bastards slip out to fall down my cheeks.
I clear my throat. “Umm, Kaylee,” I answer.
He inhales sharply. “After my sister?”
I lift a single shoulder. I don’t want to break down into a weeping mess right now, but the onslaught of emotions is getting thick and I don't know how strong I can be much longer.
“Yeah. I wanted to keep her memory alive. I know what it’s like losing a sibling.”
“I heard about Shawn. I’m sorry.”
Phantom should be raging mad at me and threatening to take my head off for the secret I kept from him. Not stroking the backs of his knuckles over the swell of my cheek and kissing the top of my head while holding our daughter.
I lean back and our gazes connect. The shield he threw up a moment ago has totally crumbled to dust as he holds our girl like he’s an old pro at being a dad.
He’s being as open as he can and here I am looking for every exit. That’s what growing up with a murderous, psychotic narcissist does to your brain.
