Simona’s voice is barely above a whisper, but we’re so close it doesn’t matter. “I hate her so much. How could she call and not tell me anything about him? She knows how much he means to me. Wren was always jealous of our relationship.”
Her breathing hitches when she takes a shaky inhale. “But I don’t know him anymore. He changed after his first heart attack. And then, even when he was well enough to speak, he didn’t object to their atrocious behaviour. He jumped on board with them. I hated him for it. I hated my own father. How bad is that? But where was he when I needed him the most? He never questioned their motivations. Only mine. And then he started pushing the pack arrangement with renewed determination.”
Simona quietens, but it’s clear she still has a lot to say. We wait, infusing her with as much of our love and support as we can by any means possible—our scent, our touches, our presence and our bond spilling over.
After a slower inhale, Simona shares more of her thoughts with us. “I wish I didn’t love him; it would be easier. But I also can’t forgive him, or any of them for what they have done to me. I will go to the hospital, but I was coming for Heidi. Today is such an important day for her, and I will be there to congratulate her and to tell her face to facehow much I love her. I can’t let my family take anything else from me. Please tell me if I’m wrong or if I’m making a huge mistake.”
“I’m so proud of you.”Ryder’s voice is full of as much anguish as hers.
Understandable because her pain and distress feels magnified to me. I am sure it does to him and Dominic too.
“Sin, what about we call the hospital to triple check he’s being admitted. It might be another ploy, baby. But to answer your other question, I think you’re doing exactly the right thing. You’re putting yourself first. Wren thinks you’re coming from Unity which means you have hours to make a decision. My vote will always go to you, but I agree, seeing Heidi is a priority.”
“I know,” she agrees. “Dominic?”
“He should have been there for you. You’re not punishing him because he wasn’t there, you’re putting yourself first after they’ve shown you consistently your welfare is not their concern. I think you should see Heidi too.”
“Thank you.” She turns, giving me a watery smile, and a chance to see she’s regaining her footing after being thrown. “Hen?”
“Let’s get you to Verdune, sweetheart, and then you decide if you even want to go see your father.”
“Dom, would you go and see yours?”
Her question relates directly to the awful history they share. Dominic’s father is the scum of the earth who brutalised his son for wanting a different future than the one he had planned out for him. And when he found out Dominic and I were in a relationship, he threw him out of the house after beating Dominic within an inch of his life.
If it were up to me, I would have killed his father years ago, but it’s not my decision. Just like Simona’s quandary isn’t either. It guts me that I can’t save her from thisheartache, but I will do everything in my power to ensure she has a safe place to make her decision.
Dominic moves deliberately slowly, using his fingers under her chin so he can see her beautiful eyes. And while he uses the pile of tissues Ryder presses into his hands to clean our Omega up, he answers her question. “No. I would not go see my father. There is no circumstance that would get me to walk into the house where I grew up. I feel no regret for my decision to cut him from my life and never will. He doesn’t deserve me, sweetheart.”
She tries to swallow her distress at hearing Dominic’s pain but her tears take over and her cries get louder. But it’s different now. In her pain and anguish, she knows we’re with her.
Leaning against my chest, she keeps her eyes closed as Dom and Ryder wipe her face and help her feel better. Once done, they sit back to give her a bit of space but don’t stop their gentle spoiling, and she doesn’t let them either. When she’s ready, she makes sure to look at each of us as she speaks. “Heidi first. And then Lawson. I don’t want to see Brody, Wren, or anyone from Brody’s family. And if you are with me, I’d really appreciate it.”
“Of course,” we say. Our words overlap as one.
Chapter
Forty-Seven
SIMONA
Hendrix uses a hand under my chin to keep himself steady as he draws on my lip liner. I find it hard not to smile at his concentration. Every time my lip twitches, he gives me a mock glare. My Alpha is working overtime to keep things light and full of love.
I’ve spent a lot of time since speaking with Wren, soaking in the comfort my pack keeps providing. The little touches, packed with so much meaning, are combined with their encouragement. They’ve helped me remember what I am capable of.
“Mio,” Dominic calls out. “Is that Tristan?”
I freeze like a deer, not moving a muscle in case she looks this way. But even across the traffic I would recognise that wild mane of blonde hair. Except the woman in the car, who is clearly Tristan, lacks all the energy and vibrancy of my girl.
My mind is dragged immediately back to the memory of our recent Scorned Girls conversation. I knew something was up with Tris. I should have pushed her harder for answers, butI was so caught up in my own life. And now I’m looking at a pale imitation of my super-model bestie.
Then the strangest thing happens—her whole face transforms as a man who I have never seen crowds close, and he kisses her. And it’s no peck on the cheek, it’s one of those kisses you see in the movie that makes you whoop with delight. He pulls back, brushing the hair off her face, talking with her, and she’s agreeing with everything he says. Tristan’s arms go up, and his go around her whole body. She disappears from view.
“Holy shit,” I whisper. Shocked. With a growing list of questions I need answered.
“Sin!” Ryder laughs.
Ryder calling me out makes sense though, it usually means something when I swear.
