“Did you know where Hailey was when you cuffed me?”
He stares at a picture of himself in some dark alleyway, arm-in-arm with Octavius Grey and... Blaze Noretto. Seconds tick by as Vaughn pales further, covering his mouth with a clammy hand.
“Did you?” I repeat. “Did you send Noretto after Matthews’ daughter, so he’d take Hailey there?”
“I... I couldn’t hide her from your father without help,” he squeaks. Every word boils my blood further. “When Matthews called to say he was bringing Hailey home, thatyouhad been at Lakeside with her the whole time—”
He falls silent when I jump to my feet, pull my gun out and aim it between his eyes. “I should fucking shoot you,” I grit out. “Do you have any idea what you put her through? How fucking scared she was when I got there?”
He hides his face in both hands, a powerful shudder shaking his shoulders. “I swear... I didn’t deal with Noretto. I asked Octavius for help but I had no idea Hailey was with Blaze until we found Matthews... I—”
“Shut up,” I clip, my insides shaking like an uncoiled spring. “Hailey deserves to hear this from you. And I fucking hope she doesn’t find it in her to forgive you.”
I holster my gun, shepherding the wrath burning my veins as I climb the stairs and enter the bedroom. She’s still asleep, a veil of her hair scattered across the pillow, framing her calm face.
She won’t stay this calm much longer.
I spent hours watching her sleep at Lakeside when I broke into her room in the dead of night, and many more hours on the monitors at the safe house. She’s fascinating no matter what she does. Even comatose, she’s absolutely breathtaking.
I crouch by the bed, running a gentle hand across her cheek. “Hailey... wake up, pretty girl.”
It takes a few tries before her eyes flutter. “Hey,” she whispers on a soft sigh, untangling herself from the comforter as she sits up. “Is he here?”
“He is.” I grip her wrist, pulling her hand to my lips. “I found something while you were sleeping. You should hear what Vaughn has to say but remember I’m always here for you. I’ll get you through this.”
Her brows furrow and her pulse quickens under my thumb. “How bad is it?” she whispers, tucking her hair behind one ear.
This is one of those moments where a lie would come in handy, but I’ve lied enough. She deserves better.
“It’s bad. So bad that I’ll only let him live if you tell me I can’t fucking kill him. Whatever you decide, I’ve got you, Hailey. I’ll make sure you’re okay.”
Her chin wobbles but she curls her lips into a small smile. “You can’t kill my dad, Carter.”
“You haven’t heard what he’s done.”
She cups my face, stamping a cute, soft kiss on my head. “It doesn’t matter. If you want me to be okay, you can’t kill him.”
I catch her lips with mine, soothing her mind the only way I know how. It’s temporary. The calmness won’t last longer than a few seconds, but those few seconds are important.
“Come on, he’s waiting downstairs.”
She scrambles out of bed, pulling my hoodie over her head, and follows me as we descend the stairs. Vaughn watches her every move, tears springing to his eyes, shoulders visibly shaking.
“Hailey...” He rises to his feet, stepping forward, but I grab my gun, halting him in place.
“Don’t,” I snap. “She won’t let me kill you, but I can wound you. If you even think about going anywhere near her, I will pull the trigger.”
He balls his fists, looking at his daughter like he expects her to defend him.
The fucking audacity.
Hailey does nothing, putting all her trust inmenot her father. The only indication she’s not happy with my threat is the way she tenses beside me. But she doesn’t stop me.
“You don’t get to act like a concerned father,” I continue. “Not after the hell you put her through.Sitandtalk. You have one chance to tell her exactly what happened from start to finish.”
I almost hear the frustration screaming inside his head. Heaving out a breath, he settles back into the armchair, grinding his molars. “I’m so sorry,” he begins. “I hope you believe that, Hailey, because I truly am sorry. It’s no excuse, but...” He inhales deeply, finding a shred of courage to look her in the eye. “When your mother got sick, I lost my way. My salary didn’t cover her medical bills and I was desperate to save her.”
“So you made a deal with Octavius,” Hailey says, crossing her arms. “You did the one thing you swore you’d never do.”
