“Shocker.” She draws a shuddery breath. “This non-violent, pacifist, vegetarian you were visiting—why is he incarcerated?”
The truth. In this case at least, I can tell her the truth.
“Assault.” I see from her face that she already knew this. “And yes, Enzo recently had his sentence extended. There was a misunderstanding that led to?—”
“Don’t bullshit me, Luke.”
Clenching my hands at my sides, I nod sharply. “I’m sorry, Hazel. I should have been honest, but you have to believe?—”
“I don’t have to do anything, Luke.” Her grip on the bear is so tight it looks painful. “I understand you showed him my photo. A dangerous felon now knows what I look like, thanks to you.”
Shit. Whoever her source is must have been close.
“It wasn’t your photo,” I say. “That’s the God’s honest truth.”
Hazel blinks. “I’m sorry?”
“I didn’t show Enzo a picture of you.”
Her eyes blaze again. “My father begs to differ.”
“Your father?” Wait. “Is he?—”
“You’re not asking the questions here, Luke. My father heard you tell this—this Matador person that you’re having twin girls. When he asked to see your babymama, you just handed him the photo without even hesitating.”
“I did.” This isn’t helping things, is it? “But it wasn’t a photo of you.”
Hazel stares like I’ve grown a third arm. “If you tell me you got another woman pregnant, so help me God?—”
“I didn’t, I swear, you have to believe me!”
“Fuck you!” She slings back the bear and hurls it at my chest. “If you tell me one more time what I have to do, I will call the police and have you removed from this house.”
“Okay, all right.” I pick up the bear and prop it on the changing table. Then I take a step closer, like a man in a meat suit approaching a tiger. “Look, I lied. I’m sorry I lied, and I won’t make excuses. It was wrong and I’m sorry and it won’t happen again.”
“You’re damn right it won’t.” Lurching out of the chair, she wobbles unevenly.
I reach out to steady her, but she swats me away. “Hazel?—”
“I trusted you, Luke.” Her eyes are like ice blocks on fire. “You looked me right in the eye in that boardroom and swore, ‘I’ll stay out of trouble.’ Remember that? ‘I won’t hang with criminals.’ That’s what you told me.” Her eyes fill with tears, but she swipes them away. “I even gave you a second chance after that last time I caught you there.”
God, I wish I could go back to that phone call with Noah. I’d tell him to shove it so hard— “I had an opportunity to learn more about my father.”
“Oh really?” Hazel’s eyes narrow. “How exactly does El Matador know about your dad?”
Dammit, I need to explain this with care. “I was offered a deal in exchange for visiting an old friend.”
“Jesus, Luke, you’re not James Bond. Cut the cloak and dagger crap.” Another thought strikes her. “And why would you take someone else’s offer of help when you flat-out rejected mine?”
“I don’t take charity. I earn my own way, Hazel.”
“By betraying me.”
Fuck.
When I don’t respond, she shakes her head grimly. “I knew not to trust you. I knew not to believe all your promises. But you kept pushing and pushing, convincing me to give you a chance. Promising you’d changed, that you’d turned over a new leaf.”
“I have.” How can I prove it? “Look, there are some things I’m not at liberty to discuss. But I love you, and I love our girls. No matter what, that’s the God’s honest truth.”
