“Don’t feel guilty.Even though we know why now, that man still put you through a hellish ordeal, and knowing the reason doesn’t change the reality you endured.You owe him nothing.”
“I met his parents for the first time last night.”
“Doesn’t that tell you everything you need to know about how you were always fighting a force bigger than you?”
“I guess so, but it’s still so shocking and devastating that he’s going to die.Like he’s actually going todie.”
“I’m so sorry for all of you.It’s a terrible tragedy, but Isla, I want you to hear me on this.He let this happen to himself by ignoring everyone who pleaded with him to get help.Even I did once.”
“You did?You never told me.”
“Because it went in one ear and out the other, but I begged him to think of you and the kids and do whatever it took to get well for you guys.”
“What did he say?”
“That he was fine and didn’t know what I was talking about.Then he said it would be best if I minded my own business.”
“Ugh,” Isla said with a grunt of dismay.“I’m sorry he spoke to you that way.He knew what you mean to me and the kids.”
“Did he, though?Who knows what he understood or didn’t understand?”
“That’s true.”She released a deep sigh.“Thank you so much for coming.I feel much better now that you’re here.”
“I’ll stay for as long as you need me.”
“That’s apt to be a minute.”
“Luckily, all my minutes are mine to do with as I please, and right now, I want to be right here with you and our babies.”
“Love you,” Isla whispered.
“Love you more.”
ChapterSeventeen
Griffin shifted his schedule for Friday to his brother Ethan, who was his associate, to give himself an unexpected day off.
To meet his daughter.
He ran a trembling hand through hair that was already standing straight up and tried to calm himself as he stepped into the shower.
Ethan had been pissed with the last-minute disruption to Griffin’s schedule that would make for a hell day for Ethan, but hopefully, he’d understand when he found out the real reason Griffin had taken the day off.
Not once in his entire life had he ever imagined what it might be like to have kids, because he’d never expected to have them.He had no freaking clue what to even do with a kid since he’d rarely been around them once his younger siblings had grown up.
What the hell was he going to do with a little girl?
The thought of being responsible for her made him weak in the knees as he combed wet hair before getting dressed in jeans and a Henley pullover.What did a guy wear to meet his kid for the first time, anyway?
His phone rang with a call from Julian.
“Hey.”
“How’re you holding up?”
“I’m spinning.”
“Take a breath and calm down.It’s going to be fine.It’s a baby, not a bomb.”
