Page 119 of Power of Shadow

My father looks distressed and overwhelmed. He may think about me every day, but that won’t make up for my lost childhood, the hunger, or the blood I had to shed to keep myself and Zoe afloat. He may truly regret the past, but the future doesn’t look any brighter.

“You’re right; it’s not the end,” Ryker replies.

My throat tightens with emotion despite everything.

I hope not.

“See you, Dad.”

Chapter 28

Ryker

There’s a deafening silence in the car as I take Ash from the warehouse straight to my apartment. We both have things on our minds that are tormenting us and swirling around.

Something has been going on between us lately. All the things we haven’t talked about are becoming like a wall that’s driving us apart. I fucking hate it. It’s suffocating me, and I know we need to have a serious talk.

We enter the house, and I head straight for the table with several bottles on it.

“What are you poisoning yourself with today?” I ask without looking at my girl.

“Whatever will do.”

I laugh because she’s absolutely right. On days like this, it doesn’t matter what numbs you, as long as it works and clears your head.

I take two glasses and some tequila, which isn’t usually my first choice. Before sitting down opposite her on the couch, I pour us each a drink.

Looking straight into her mesmerizing eyes, I down my shot, and when she does the same, I pour us another round.

“I have to tell you something, Ryker,” Ash starts.

“We both have something to say, my Little Killer. I’m sorry I didn’t mention earlier that your father contacted me.”

“You wanted to get him without me?”

My head jerks back like she’d just slapped me. “No. It’s not that. I didn’t know what to expect from him, and if he turned out to be a worthless piece of shit, I didn’t want him to break your heart again.”

Ash slumps back but doesn’t break eye contact. “He didn’t break my heart.”

“Bullshit. Every father who’s absent from his daughter’s life is the first man to break her heart. You were no exception, even if you don’t want to admit it out loud.”

Avoiding eye contact, she falls into thought. Shadow or Ash, it doesn’t matter; she’s a damn tough woman. I love that about her. Except that inside, she’s still a little girl who has been hurt by life and people.

“I wanted to protect you,” I add, and her gaze returns to me. It’s not a kind expression at all.

“What now? Do you guys breathe this stuff in the air? That’s all I need—a man in my life who knows better and will protect me like a porcelain doll. What’s wrong with you people?”

Ash’s outburst is perfectly understandable. One sentence is enough to make her nerves slip, her eyes soften, shoulders drop. Her hands tremble slightly.

“We care.”

She hisses, drawing in air. It wasn’t what she’d expected to hear from me.

“I’m sorry I doubted you,” she confesses after a moment. “Everything—it started the day I was attacked.”

Yes, I know. I saw the subtle change in her behavior, even though she tried to hide it from me.

“That evening, someone called me. It was a woman. She said—she said her name was Aisling Elliot.”