“I didn’t want to be the one to ruin things for you.”
“Were you ever going to tell me?”
“I don’t know.I needed time to think about things.To think about us.”
“And now your mom knows about us.”I look at her expectantly.
“She trusts my judgment.”
“She’s okay with it?”
“I told her you were nothing like your father.”
“I still can’t believe he went to your apartment.That’s why he sent me to Boston, so that he could deal with you knowing I wasn’t around.”
“I’m sorry for bringing up your mom like that.He made me so mad.”
I stroke her face, knowing how strong she is, and how hard it must have been.“It’s okay.I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you, not that you need protecting,” I add quickly.
“I was scared, but I handled him.”
“You did.You were never scared of the Knights, that’s why I didn’t fully understand you initial reasons for not wanting to come to the party.”
“I was scared of your father.I didn’t want to see him again, ever.”
I intertwine my fingers with hers.“I understand why now.”I inhale a deep breath.“I’m done.I’m done caring about him.I’m done being there for him.”
I stand abruptly.
“Where are you going?”she asks.
“To his office.He can’t hide from this much longer.”
She grabs my hand, looking up at me.She stands slowly, and the rush of tenderness I feel nearly floors me.I feel so much love and gratitude for this woman that it’s almost painful, like my chest can’t hold it all.“I’ll understand if you don’t want anything to do with me.I don’t blame you for hating the Knights.I’m just surprised you were able to separate me from him.”
She traces the outline of my mouth with her thumb.“I choose you, despite everything that’s happened.That was in the past, and it has nothing to do with you, or us, and now.”
I feel the same surge of happiness I felt when I was standing with Maya by my side on the night of my party, before my father appeared.I felt then as if we were at the start of something good and meaningful.A new forever.
I feel that now.
“You really mean that?”I ask, grabbing her fingers and kissing them lightly.
“With all my heart.”
Chapter 38
ZACH
Maya and I go our separate ways.
I tell her I won’t be returning to the Stella offices later.Not today, because I have something important I need to take care of.
I drive straight to the Knight Enterprises offices, fragments of the phone call, my father’s threat and coercion, settling inside me like debris from something blown wide apart.
I’ve clung to him, ever since my mom died.I believed in him, despite his flaws.I told myself I had a parent.I had someone who would be there for me.I believed this even though my father showed me at every turn that he wasn’t there for me, or for any of my brothers.His life revolved around building the Knight legacy.Hoarding more wealth than he could ever use in a hundred lifetimes.
Money continues to be his one true love.
