“What are you doing here?” I snap, having found my voice in the wreckage of rage I still live in everyday because of this man.
He takes a step. “Dascha, I’m—”
“Close enough, asshole.” Joy pulls her Glock, aiming it at my father’s head. She peeks at me. “This is really your pops?”
I nod slowly. “Yea… The one who dipped out on me when I was fifteen.”
Everyone goes back to glaring. Felix is practically snarling, gripping the handle of his knife with white knuckles.Super cute.
“I want to explain, Dascha,” my father mumbles calmly and with little emotion.
He still soundsexactlythe same. Looks almost exactly the same, save for some more gray at his temples, and a couple more lines around his eyes. Other than that, he’s still my father.
Mydad. The man I used to idolize, like he was larger than life. So much of who I am is because of him… The good,andthe bad. Really there are only two things I got from my mother…
Her hair, and this fucking wound in my brain.
“It’s a little late for explanations,” I grunt. “You’ve had ten years to call and catch up.” Stepping forward, I cock my head. “So I’ll ask again…Whatare you doing here?”
Despite his being a goddamn rock, his faceisetched with some guilt, but it’s mostly just annoying me. I don’t know what he thought would happen when he sprung up on me out of nowhere, on the island where I was a prisoner. But if he thought I’d run into his arms and he’d swing me around like when I was a little boy, well…he’s sorely mistaken.
“I followed you here,” my father tells me. A gust of surprised air flies from between my lips. “From the dock… when you picked up Kellan’s ex-wife’s boat.” He finally pries his eyes off me to glance at my man, his lips twisting at their corner. “I am Alexander, by the way,” he says to Kel, coming closer with his hand out. “It is good to finally meet you.”
“I wish I could say the same,” Kemper grumbles, his tone both sharp and growly.
He’s clearly trying to hold back his hostility for my sake, though the hostility itself isalsofor my sake.
I smack my dad’s hand away from him. “This isn’t ameet-the-fiancéthing. You’re saying youfollowedme from New York to this goddamn wasteland…” My brows jump. “Why??”
My father swallows, some kind of disappointment settling over his features. “You are going to be married…?”
“Yea. Surprise, dad! I’m bisexual.” I roll my eyes. “And I’m about to be one pissed off bisexual if you don’t stop fucking around and tell mewhythefuckyou followed us here!”
My fuming almost drowns out Joy’s and Rook’s chuckles.
“Dascha, I do not care that you like men,” my dad rumbles. I can’t be sure if he’s being entirely honest, but Ireallydon’t give a fuck. “In fact, I already know about Kellan. I have known for some time now… Well, at least that he was in your life to some extent.”
Bewilderment is coming off me in waves. “What the…hellare you talking about?” My lashes flutter. “Are you saying you’ve… kept tabs on me? All this time??”
My father’s eyes shine with an admission of something I strictlyneverlet myself think about. If I had, it would’ve given me hope, and hope makes you weak.
“I never stopped watching, moy dorogoy syn,” he utters softly.
And now I’m on the verge of a major freak-out.
Son of a bitch, what the fuck…
“I hate to break up… whatever the hell this is,” Joy speaks up. “But we have to go. We’re supposed to be going to get Lem, and it’s not safe to linger in one spot for too long.”
“Right.” I sniff, glancing at Felix. “I’m sorry. Your man’s more important.” I aim one last withering glare at my dad. “I can’t deal with this broken family bullshit right now anyway…”
Grabbing Kellan by the hand, I tug him along. Joy and Rook jaunt ahead of us, though I don’t miss how uneasy they look. It’s embarrassing, and I can feel the heat rising up my neck into my face from having to deal with this nonsense in front of my friends, whom I haven’t seen in like six months.
“What do we do with him?” Rook whispers.
“Who cares?” I grunt. “Throw him out there and use him as bait.”
“Baby…” Kemper, runs his fingers along the nape of my neck. That spot like a button he uses to calm me down when he feels like I might start to spiral.
