My gaze shifts back to Morgan.
“He’s been througha lot,” I hiss. “Nightmare after nightmare. Devil after devil. Some of them I could fight off, others I couldn’t. But you?” I shake my head. “Iwillfight you off before I let you fuck with him anymore. Is that understood?”
He nods.
A hand lands gently on my arm, and I turn to see Evelina looking at me with tears trickling down her cheeks.
“Mr. Bancroft,” she chokes, glancing at Morgan. “I’m sorry, but we have to go.”
I’m only vaguely aware of her standing with me, taking my hand, and leading me out of the restaurant.
“Is this the part where you tell me I acted insane and that I don’t understand complicated relationships with fathers?” I growl when we step outside into the noise of the city.
“No,” she chokes. She twists, grabs my shirt, and pulls me down close, her eyes searching mine. “This is the part where I tell you I’m so fucking sorry. This is the part where I tell you I’m here for you, with whatever you need.”
And then she kisses me.
And God-fucking-damnit, everything else just sort of fades away.
36
EVELINA
“I’m so sorry.”
Vaughn is motionless in the living room as he grips the back of the leather chair. His head is bowed, his shoulders tense.
I swallow the lump in my throat as I walk a little closer to him.
“I…” I shake my head. “Vaughn, I had no idea it would be like that. I didn’t know…your life back then…”
He slowly turns to face me, and a cold shiver ripples down my spine at the raw pain and anger on his face. His eyes lookhauntedas he grits his teeth, shaking.
“How,” he rasps out, the ice in his blue eyes fracturing like shattered glass. “How do you have anypossibleforgiveness for your father after what he put you and your family through?”
I wince.
“After what he did to your brother?” he chokes. “Tomine?!”
I shudder as a tear slides down my cheek. “I’m sorry?—”
“I don’t want you to fucking apologize,” he says tightly. But there’s no malice in his voice, and when I really take in the emotions on his face, I realize he’s not furious and vengeful.
It’s an actual question.
“Genuinely,” he says, his voice thick as he swallows. “How thefuckdo you forgive someone for putting you through something like that? How do you reconcile shit likethatagainst that person whose supposed to be your fucking parent?”
“I don’t know,” I whisper. “Just—he's my dad. I can’t hate him.”
Vaughn exhales and then walks around to lower himself heavily into the chair. Without a word, I cross the room and sit on the arm of it. Then his arm slides around my waist, pulling me into his lap.
“I—” I wince. “I thought…I mean, Ididthink ambushing you would be this silly thing where you’d begrudgingly have lunch with him. I'm so sorry.”
“You didn’t know,” he growls. “How would you. Val doesn’trememberit, and I don’t share that part of my life with anyone.”
His phone buzzes. He sighs heavily, then reaches into his jacket pocket to pull it out. I’m nottryingto snoop, but I can’t help but see “Sabine” on the screen.
“Not even withSabine?” I say tightly.
