“I agree with Karlyn,” I said.
King stood and paced the room, rubbing the back of his neck. I knew he was struggling with this. He’d had his whole worldflipped upside down, and he’d tumbled right along with it for months.
“You need time. Both of you,” I announced. Nothing would be solved today as far as Darcy and her children were concerned. “You need to get to know her. But...” I looked at King and then Jackson. “I think you should also get to know your fathers.”
Jackson shook his head, and King stared at me.
“He didn’t know, King. He isn’t to blame, and if you want to have a relationship with your mother, then he deserves a shot too.”
“He’s the reason she ran. He runs the fucking Mob, Grace.”
“And you’re an upstanding citizen?” Jackson snorted.
King spun around and glared at his brother. “Fuck you, Jackson. What about your father? You gonna give him a fucking chance?”
Jackson growled. “He fucking left. He knew, and he fucking left.”
“I need to talk to Uncle Stephen,” I announced, changing the subject before these two hotheads came to blows. I didn’t think they’d ever give their fathers a chance, and it was sad. Because they both had strong men in their lives who wanted them. Men who were fighting for them.
I needed to know whether Uncle Stephen had fought for me. I walked toward the double doors.
“Grace.”
I looked over my shoulder at King.
“I want to come with you.”
I smiled and nodded. Jackson and Karlyn stood. “I can tell him to come in here if you want some privacy,” Jackson offered.
“Thank you.”
I wanted to hug him. I wanted to hug them both—him and Karlyn. They both looked so sad. So broken. But I didn’t reach out. Instead, I moved back to where King stood. And I waited.
“You okay?” he asked.
“No.” I chuckled. “I’m caught somewhere between happy and pissed off. Only, I’m not sure who to be mad at.”
“As long as it’s not me,” he said and put his arms around me from behind. My body locked up when Uncle Stephen walked in. He didn’t sit down. He walked straight toward me and grabbed my hand.
“Let me hug you, baby girl.”
King’s arms loosened but didn’t let go until I took a step toward my father. He pulled me into his arms, and I broke down. All the memories hit me at once. All the happiness there was when he was around, followed by the sadness when he left.
“Why did you leave?” I sobbed against his chest. “Why didn’t you take me with you?”
“I couldn’t, Stephanie. I couldn’t take you away from her. I couldn’t let anyone know you were mine.”
“Why?” I asked, pulling back. “Why is that the standard answer for long-lost parents?” I stepped back and bumped into King. I was angry now. I loved Uncle Stephen, but I swear to God, if he told me he was trying to protect me, I might just kick him in the balls again.
“Stephanie,” he began.
“It’s Grace now. I haven’t been Stephanie for ten years.” Uncle Stephen nodded. “Why couldn’t you be my father?”
Uncle Stephen rubbed his hands over his face and pulled out a chair. He sank into it and spread his hands on the table, staring at the emblem carved into the center.
“George Stone was my best friend. When I joined the club, we had big plans. Plans to take over the world.” He scoffed. “I didn’t realize he was actually trying to take over the fucking world.”
King pulled out the chair next to Uncle Stephen and sat down, pulling me down on his lap. He wrapped his arms around my middle as we listened.
