“It’s not true.” He steps forward, shaking his head. “Tell me it’s not true, Briar. Whose kid is that?”
Tears stream down my face, and I know he can see the truth written in my eyes.The guilt.
Koen shakes his head. “Tell me she’s not mine. Tell me you haven’t been hiding mydaughterfrom me this whole time.”
The way his voice breaks…
There’s so much to say—so much to explain—but it’s too hard to put it into words,and I can’t stop fucking crying.
“She’s mine?”
It’s a simple question, but I can’t breathe; the words stay caught in my throat.
“Briar, I swear to god if you lie to me right now…” Koen’s tone sharpens and I look away, unable to look him in the eye.
“She’smine,” I say quietly. “My secret. My beautiful little secret.” I look up at him. “And she’syours,too.”
His jaw flexes. Once. A small, controlled movement, and then he nods, a single, tight dip of his chin.
“I’m sorry.” I regret the words as soon as I say them—because they’re not enough... not nearly enough. But I am…I am so sorry.
“Don’t.” His words are quiet, and I can sense the storm brewing behind his eyes.
I press my lips back together as I try to pretend everything inside of me isn’t falling apart.
“What’s her name?”
I take a sharp intake of breath.
His eyes slide back to mine. “What’s. Her. Name?” His question is raw and desperate, like he’s never needed to know anything more. “Mydaughter?”
“Remi,” I say quietly.
He exhales—just once, staring at the ground again. Silence fills the air between us long enough that I gather up the nerve to ask the one question Ineedan answer to.
“Where is she?”
“She’s here.”
His answer doesn’t put my mind at ease.
“Is she…okay?”
Koen’s chin lifts, and his gaze finds mine, and I almost feel guilty for having to ask.
“She’s safe.”
I nod my head, falling silent. The ropes holding my wrists bite into my skin, and I shift. The chain clinks above, and I feel the weight of his eyes on me.
“That's why you ran.” I look up to find myself caught in the wild intensity of his gaze. Watching as he works it out—works it all out.
“That’s why you ran from me at the warehouse—and again when I found you at Wonderland. You’ve been pushing me away this entire time. You really hate me that much?”
“I don’t hate you.” I stare at him, eyes wide with surprise.
He scoffs.
“I don’t. I don’t hate you... I was going to tell you?—”
