Joseph hunched his shoulders.“What else can I do?I was just hoping she’d never manifest the powers.”
“Surely you knew that wasn’t possible?It’s half her soul, dammit.Just shoving it away in a dark corner was never going to work.”
“What the hell else could I have done?The only paranormal I knew was Jessa, and she didn’t exactly introduce me to her fucking family.
“The entire time we were together, we were sneaking around.Not just because of Annabel and my family, but because that was what Jessa wanted too.
“She knew that if I started divorce proceedings, it would cause unwanted attention in the media.She wanted to keep our relationship a secret.I didn’t like it, but I didn’t have much say in the matter.”His jaw clenched in remembered irritation.“If I’d known someone who could have helped, I’d have gone to them.It’s not like I could put out feelers for someone who turns furry at will, for God’s sake.”
Ryan scowled at the man.Though he knew Joseph wasn’t wrong, neither was he right.
They were at a severe disadvantage because of his idiocy.
“What about the kidnapping attempts throughout her life?Are they related to your money or to her real identity?”
Joseph frowned.“What do you mean?Of course the threats are to do with the money.My father’s will made sure that was going to happen.”Anger sparked in Joseph’s eyes, but he banked it as he sat forward, leaning into the conversation once more.“Do you mean to tell me she might have been in danger because of her heritage?”
It calmed both man and beast to see that the notion had never crossed Joseph’s mind.At least that particular sin couldn’t be laid at his door.
Ryan murmured, “It’s a distinct possibility.”
“But why?Nobody ever knew.Seriously, I paid my men to cover up our relationship and they did a good job of it.
“Have you ever seen even the slightest gossip that might suggest Annabel isn’t El’s mother?”He didn’t wait for an answer.“No.Of course not.I went to great lengths to protect that side of her history.”
El worked her jaw.“Well, it’s looking like someone knew.Because, let’s face it, I was under threat from being young, and that was before granddad’s will was enforced.”
“All the kids were under threat.Hell, someone targeted Daniel before you came along!It’s part and parcel of life for us, you know that.”
Ryan conceded that with a grimace.“Well, it’s a route we’re investigating.”
Joseph scowled.“Keep me in the loop on this, okay?”
“What?Like you kept El in the loop?”Ryan scoffed.“If you love your mate so much, and you want the daughter of your heart—because she’s the child of a mate bond, don’t even deny that’s not the case—to be safe, you’ll provide us with full cooperation and all the information you have.”
Joseph narrowed his eyes.“Of course.Have your people liaise with Shawn.I’ll have someone bring him up to speed.”His nostrils flared.“And I don’t deny it.She is and always has been the priority; it’s just never been enough.”
“You cared about the money.That’s all you ever cared about,” El spat, apparently unable to hold the words back.She was brimming with outrage once more, and Ryan wished like hell he could spare her that.
“No.I didn’t.I cared about the power play.My father put you in danger because he was pissed at me.I was the heir, and I was the one who’d been prepared for that role all my life.For him to take it away from me, someone who was ready to lead, was the most selfish act imaginable.Just because he didn’t like me didn’t mean he couldn’t respect my achievements and my experience.
“Instead, he fucked us all over by putting you in danger when you were still a child.When you still had all your life to lead, and so much to learn.
“Money doesn’t matter, El.Jesus Christ, the petty cash on this place would cover the mortgages of ten thousand people.What he did when he labelled you as his heir was fuck us all over.I’ll never forgive him for that.”
She blinked at him, but Ryan saw her relax a little.“I never did anything to encourage him to do what he did.You always seemed to think I was involved.I wasn’t.I never wanted it.Ever.”
“You think I don’t know that?My father was the most obstinate man I’ve ever known.You think I’m bad?Hell, you never saw the real him.The real man and the real shitty father he was.I’m a fucking great dad in comparison.
“He manipulated us all and it worked.There’s no going back from that, even though I’ve tried to get the lawyers and the courts to overturn it.”He grimaced.“My father was as sane the day he died as the day he was born, but I’d have slandered his good name to hell and back if it meant keeping you safe.
“Another reason for Jessa to hate me—I’ve failed you so badly and in so many ways.”
He grunted out a breath as he bowed his head.“Look, I’ll have my people liaise with Shawn like I said.But please, keep me in the loop.Don’t punish me this way for the shitty job I’ve done.”
Ryan shot El a look, saw the distress on her face, the hurt and the worry and the confusion.He wanted to make Joseph pay for that, but the trouble was, Ryan could empathize.
To lose a mate was…
