“It wasn't until about a week ago that I discovered my mother had lied to me.It wasn't that my father didn't want me.He didn't evenknowabout me.
“Mom got drunk one night and started ranting about Dax McNeill and how he'd ruined her life, strapping her with an ungrateful brat.”
Her father stared at her and she fought the urge to squirm.
“Are you saying…you're my daughter?That's impossible.I used condoms every time we fucked.”
“She admitted to poking holes in them with a needle so you wouldn't know.She found out after you were divorced that she was pregnant with me.”
“Shit.She had you and she didn't tell me?She should have told me.I would have been there for you.”
“She didn't want you to know about me.To be honest, I still wouldn't know about you if she hadn't gotten drunk.We don't talk anymore.She told me if I came looking for you, she was cutting me off.I came anyway.”
“What?What kind of mother does that?”the woman asked.
Sophia wondered who she was, but didn't think it was the appropriate time to ask.
“A narcissistic bitch who really only cares about herself,” her father growled.It was a good growl.She could almost see him shifting into a predator, maybe a wolf or some kind of big cat, like in the paranormal romances she read.
“You hit the nail on the head,” Sophia said.“She's a narcissist.I'm not expecting anything from you, I just wanted to meet you,” she added.
“Fuck that.You're my kid.I wasn't in your life for,” he figured it up, “eighteen years.I want to be there now.How long you in town for?”
“Well, I booked a room at the Rosewood Bed and Breakfast for three days.After that, I don't know,” Sophia replied.
“Check out of the B and B, Martha will refund you.I've got a guest room you can stay in,” he told her.
“I don't want to impose,” she countered.
“You're not.No kid of mine is staying at a hotel when I have a perfectly good guest room.”
“Um, okay.I'll go get my stuff then, and come back.”
When they both stood, he pulled her into his arms and hugged her.“I'm sorry I wasn't there for you growing up, but I'll be there for you now,” he told her.
A soft sound escaped her.It sounded a bit like a sob.
“Hey.It's okay,” her father said, rubbing her back.
Sophia sniffled.“Sorry.I just didn't expect you to be so welcoming.”
“Yeah, well, family's important, kiddo.Go on, get your shit and come back and I'll take you to the house.”
“Okay.”
She stepped away and he let her go, and a part of her feared she was dreaming and any minute, she would wake up, to find herself still in her bed at her mother's home.
Chapter One
Sophia
Four years later
Sophia hated the holidays, simply because shoppers gotmeanwhen something they wanted was sold out.Working in retail definitely had its downsides, and that was one of them.
It didn't help that she didn't reallywantto work in retail.She was taking computer graphics courses online, but she still felt… disillusioned.
At least she would be off work early enough to head to the Merciless Few clubhouse for the party planned that night.It would give her the chance to discreetly watch her crush.
