“I’m not thrilled about it either,” he admitted.“That woman… technically has nothing to do with our lives. But—”
He rubbed his face wearily.
“If you want to know the woman who gave birth to you,” he continued, voice low,“I won’t stand in your way. As a person… she’s not bad. And she has her own issues to deal with.”
Lynn lowered her head, her hair hiding her face. He couldn’t tell whether she was crying or furious. But he could guess.
“It’s hard to accept,” she said quietly, her voice strained to the breaking point.
Jasper nodded slowly. It wasn’t easy for him either.
She lifted her eyes—full of pain, confusion, resentment.
“Why didn’t you tell me all these years?” she whispered.
His fingers tightened around the armrest.
“Because I didn’t want you to feel abandoned or unwanted,” he said hoarsely.“It was better if you thought she was gone.”
Lynn rested her chin on her knees. The slight trembling of her shoulders told him how hard she was holding herself together.
“We were doing fine,” he went on.“She never came. Lived her life, and we lived ours. Her showing up now… it’s a coincidence. No one planned this.”
A few heavy seconds passed.
“It still hurts,” Lynn said.
He stayed silent. There were no words capable of making it easier.
“Are you mad at me about Nolan?” she asked quietly.
Jasper let out a short, humorless breath.
“I’ll talk to him myself,” he said, his voice hard.
Lynn shifted nervously.
“Dad, please…” she whispered, twisting her fingers.“He’s good. He loves me. I think—”
“I know Nolan,” Jasper cut her off. His voice came out rougher than he intended.“Better than you think. Believe me, sweetheart—right now you need to stay away from him.”
Lynn dropped her head again. Her hair hid her face, but Jasper could still see it—she was hurt, conflicted, torn between love and loyalty.
He exhaled through clenched teeth and set his cup down.
“I don’t want you crying because of someone like him,” he said quietly.“And I won’t let anyone hurt you. Not even myself, if it comes to that.”
Lynn lifted her eyes.
“I love you, Dad,” she whispered almost inaudibly.
He moved to her, sat beside her, and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She leaned into him—the same way she had when she was little. Nothing else mattered. She was his daughter. And he would do anything to keep her safe.
***
Sitting in his car, Jasper tapped his fingers lightly against the steering wheel.
Five men. One in plain clothes, four in tactical armor. Clean, precise, silent. They grabbed Frank at the main entrance. He didn’t even have time to understand what was happening. Questions, takedown, handcuffs. Face pressed to the hood.
