“No, but I’ve kept an eye on him for a long time. He’s your age, and he’s a good kid. He’ll watch out for you, but promise me you won’t tell him I told you this. He isn’t too fond of me, so he may not like that I told you to stay close to him.”
“Dad, are you sure you can’t tell me more?”
He places his elbows on his knees and steeples his hands, bringing his chin to the tips of his fingers. “I need you to stay close to Phoenix Stone. That’s all I need you to know.”
I swallow and nod. “Okay.”
Chapter 39
McKenzie
Isuck in a breath, my eyes getting used to the dark. I glance over at Nix to make sure he’s still asleep. Rolling over, I face the opposite wall and begin to dissect everything I just remembered. I was under the impression the things I forgot were related to Phoenix.
I can’t believe I forgot that. Maybe I chose to forget it. It seems my dad had a plan. Did he use me? Did he really trustDick and didn’t realize he would turn on him? Why would he tell me to stay close to Phoenix? Was he hoping he would buy me all along? I have to speak to my dad.
I try to force myself to go back to sleep, but my mind won’t stop. So, I finally get up and walk downstairs. I made some chocolate chip cookies yesterday when we got home. I needed to do something normal. I’m guessing that, along with what Alice revealed, is what triggered these memories to return.
Grabbing a few cookies, I pour a small glass of milk and sit at the island eating them and think back to high school. Small memories begin to trickle in. I squeeze my eyes shut, my head hurting slightly from all the new memories. I was always so shy, but I knew Nix had a soft spot for me. He always says I was oblivious, but I wasn’t. My dad told me to get close to him, but I didn’t have to. Phoenix was always around, and I loved it. I fell for him. He treated me the way my mother always said the man I fell for would treat me.
He sat with me in the library, walked me to classes, and allowed me to be me. In the beginning, I considered joining the cheerleading squad, but I couldn’t. I’m not coordinated enough or extroverted enough. At first I thought that was the only answer to getting close to him, but he was my tour guide on that first day and every day after that, he was always around. Phoenix helped me become comfortable in my skin, so eventually I didn’t care what anyone else thought of me.
I close my eyes and let out a long breath. I have to tell him what I remembered. “What will he think?” I whisper.
“Who?” Nix says behind me.
I take a deep breath and turn around to face him. He’s standing in the doorway of the kitchen, looking sexy as hell in his pajama pants. He walks into the kitchen and I stare as his muscles flex.
“You,” I admit.Might as well go ahead and get this over with.
He tilts his head at me. “What will I think about what?”
I close my eyes. “I had a memory.” He stops in front of me, placing his hands on my knees as he spreads them and steps between my legs.
“Tell me,” he murmurs. I swallow, take a deep breath, and tell him everything.
Phoenix
After McKenzie tells me everything, I take a deep breath and step away from her. I have the same questions McKenzie does.
Did her father use her? Was he really telling the truth that night about Dick? Did he really think I’d keep her safe knowing who my mother was? And if he did, why did he think that?
It seems Marcus was a lot smarter than I gave him credit for. I always had this feeling my dad was never smart enough to outsmart Marcus. He also never seemed to have the courage to go directly for Marcus.If I ever find out Marcus used his daughter, I might kill him too.I pause at that line of thinking.Would I have done the same thing if the roles were reversed?
If McKenzie told me specifically she didn’t want our child going to Brighton, I would have found another way. But from the stories she’s told me of growing up, it doesn’t surprise me.
“I swear I didn’t know, Nix,” Kenz whispers.
I take a deep breath and step toward her. “I believe you, love. And even if you did, it wouldn’t change anything. I will always love you.”
Her shoulders slump in relief. “We need to call my father. I don’t understand why he hasn’t come around all these years. Why hasn’t he tried to find out what’s happening? It doesn’t make sense.”
I huff and shake my head. “Because he knew I’d never let anything happen to you. He knew I’d keep you safe, even against my mother.” I wrap my arms around her and pull her into my arms. I don’t know why he had so much confidence in me, but he did. Maybe even more so than my own father. “We’ll go find him tomorrow,” I promise her.
The next day, I get Rex and Jason to find Marcus. They find him in a few hours at the docks, as expected. I let McKenzie know, and she’s ready within thirty minutes so we can leave. Anna meets us at the door as we’re leaving and gives McKenzie a hug.
“Good luck,” she whispers.
I told McKenzie to wear something comfortable. She stops at the sight of my motorcycle and her mouth breaks out into a huge smile.
