“How did you find out?” He asked, still moving his hand up and down her trembling body.
“Scarlett told me.” She sniffled, hiccupping. “Myuncle, the man I believed was my father for my entire life, was in on my kidnapping.”
“I’m so sorry, Autumn.”
Autumn leaned away from him, holding his gaze as tears continued to stream down her face. “And you know what the kicker is?” She rubbed her face with the back of her hand, “My actual parents have been under my nose my entire adult life.” Her lips twisted. “Former Special Agent Braeden Walker and his wife, Lilliana.”
He knew all along. He should have fucking told her.
Do you think she would have believed you?Doubtful.
Autumn would have told him he was full of shit. But he knew there would be a kernel of doubt in her mind. She would question everything.
She would hurt just as much as she already was hurting.
“Braeden had every chance to tell me, Nico. I slept at their home. I had holidays with them. And I called him on the way here. He didn’t admit it, but he also didn’t deny it either.”
Her words brought Nico out of his thoughts. He moved strands of hair from her face. Her blue jean eyes were like a lightning storm. She was angry and upset all at the same time.
“I’m sorry you found out that way,mia cara.” He kissed her lips, then her cheek, and folded her back against him again. “What did Braeden say after?”
“He wanted to talk, but not on the phone.”
“So, you’re going to talk to him?”
“No.”
“No?”
Autumn shook her head under his neck, “I don’t want to see him ever again.”
“I think you should reconsider, mia cara. I understand your anger but give him a chance to explain himself.” How did he make her understand without getting her upset more than she already was?
She shook her head beneath his chin. “I don’t want to think about it anymore, Nico.” She sat up again. “I need you to make love to me. I need at least one person in my life to care about me, to love me without hiding things from me.”
Nico didn’t enjoy seeing her vulnerable. He liked it better when she was antagonizing him and dueling words with him.
She needed him right this minute.
And if she needed this closeness, skin on skin, to prove to her she was special and desired, by God, he would show her exactly that.
Steam filled the bathroom as Nico turned the taps on for the shower. He undressed Autumn slowly and told her to sit on the toilet seat.
Autumn watched him prepare the shower under the glaring lights. She shivered occasionally, probably because she was still soaked from the rain as she ran into the building.
“Are you my father?”
“Autumn, what’s going on?” There was an edge to Braeden Walker’s voice.
“I know most or all of the story,” Autumn said in wooden tones. She heard a flurry of activity in the background. Where was he?
“I can’t do this over the phone, sweetheart. There are things Lilli and I need to explain.” Was that desperation in his tone?
Autumn shook her head as if he were in the cab with her. “No. Don’t call me. I’ll block your number if I see it.”
“Autumn, come back to me,mia cara.”
Autumn blinked Nico back into the present.
