Total pages in book: 215
Estimated words: 217988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1090(@200wpm)___ 872(@250wpm)___ 727(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 217988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1090(@200wpm)___ 872(@250wpm)___ 727(@300wpm)
“Why did you never say anything?”
“Because I learned early on that you weren’t the sort of man to have an eight-year-old beaten, let alone your half-brother.”
Markovich ran a shaking hand over his face. “I wouldn’t have.”
“You were doing all that you could to find your daughter. To stop other women and girls from being trafficked. I know who you are.”
“But you still never said anything?”
“What would have been the point?” the Fox countered.
“Because we’re family.”
“My family is the two people waiting for me at home.”
The other man nodded. “I get why you’d think that. But the fact is that we are blood. I was never close to Pavel, but I never thought he could do this. As for Galina . . .” He looked away. “I never had any inkling she was alive. I mourned her as much as I did the loss of my daughter. What a fool I was. They went behind my back. They did things I could never condone. My family is my daughter and Dahlia. Gray, and maybe Reyes. But if you ever decide you want a brother, or you need anything, you know where I am.”
The Fox didn’t say anything and Markovich turned away.
“You ever need anyone to disappear, I’d be happy to do it.”
Markovich turned back. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“I suppose I could have your back.”
“Appreciate that too,” Markovich said in a softer voice.
“I have to go.” He couldn’t figure out what this emotion was he was feeling, but he wanted it to stop.
He drove straight home, walking out into the living area to find his Pup and Bunny sitting on the sofa. Bunny was curled up into Pup’s lap. When they saw them, she jumped up and tripped in the blanket she’d had wrapped around her.
“Bunny!”
“Tutu!”
Both men reached for her. Brody got her first, grabbing hold of her before she could faceplant. Then the Fox took her, putting her on his hip.
“Why aren’t the two of you in bed?” he asked as he held her. She looked like she’d been crying. “Bunny, what’s wrong?”
“I was worried about you.”
“We heard what you said,” Brody explained. “There was no way we could sleep until you got home.”
“We needed to see you,” Autumn added.
“There was no need to worry about me. Or get upset for me. I’m fine.”
“Really?” Brody asked, looking doubtful.
“You don’t have to be the big, tough, macho guy with us, Daddy,” she said.
“Is that so?” he drawled.
“You can cry if you need to,” she said. “A good cry can make you feel much better. And if it helps, Brody and I will smack your butt until you cry. We volunteer.”
“Nice try. Never happening.” He settled on the sofa with Autumn on his lap and Brody resting against him. “I am okay. I feel like something has been lifted off my chest.”
“Everything came out. You confronted the person who treated you so horribly,” Brody said.
“I didn’t get to kill him, though. That was a bummer.”
Autumn cupped his face between her hands. “You can always tell us the truth.”
“Sometimes I don’t know what is an act and what is the truth.”
They both nodded. He sighed. But he owed them something. “I apologize for not telling you before. I wasn’t sure if Mr. A was Pavel. I didn’t intend for all of that to come out like it did. I guess I lost control.”
It was so unlike him and he didn’t like it.
“We all lose control,” Brody told him. “You’re human like the rest of us.”
“Sometimes you’ll make mistakes, do the wrong thing. You can let yourself be ruled by emotion. It’s okay, Daddy, because we’ll always be here to catch you.”
He gathered them both close. “I don’t deserve the two of you, but I’ll never give you up.”
A few hours later, he held them as they lay in bed. Both of them had their heads on his chest. Like he’d promised Brody, he’d taken his ass while he ate out their girl. Then Brody had fucked their girl while the Fox played with her ass.
Now they were all exhausted, but his mind was still going.
“Do you want to talk about your life in the orphanage? With that Devil guy?” Autumn asked.
“No,” he said. “It’s the past. It doesn’t matter. And you need to forget you ever heard his name.”
“Why?” Brody asked.
“Because it’s safer that way. I should never have told as many people as I did.”
Especially the ones he didn’t know. Like Cara. He’d have to keep an eye on her. Make sure she never betrayed what she’d heard.
Autumn and Brody shared a look. “Because he’s still alive?” Autumn asked.
“That is definitely a question you shouldn’t ask.” He didn’t want to scare them, but he needed them to obey him on this.
“It’s really all over now?” Autumn asked. “We’re safe? You’re safe? Emme and Dahlia are safe? Even if poor Markovich and Emme have a bit to go through.”