Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 87155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Numb and lost, I drove around for several hours, piecing together all the clues I’d missed over the years. I didn’t have my cell phone, which was probably a blessing of sorts. I couldn’t decide if I’d be more pissed that they had the balls to be blowing up my phone with calls and texts or if I’d be heartbroken that they weren’t.
It didn’t matter; I was already pissed and heartbroken enough to last a lifetime.
When I finally pulled into my dad’s driveway, he was sitting out front, waiting on me. His face was gentle, but his shoulders sagged with relief.
Nora must have called. Fucking Nora. She was such a huge part of my life that there was no escaping her, not even at my own father’s house.
I shuffled barefoot up the sidewalk.
He met me halfway. “I had to rearrange all of Misty’s sewing supplies, but I made the bed up in your old room. You can stay here as long as you want.”
My nose stung as I peered up at him. “Did you know?”
He didn’t even look sheepish when he answered, “Yeah.”
Of course he knew. I was the only fool in this equation.
Jesus, my own father. Just slather on another layer of deceit, why don’t ya.
“How long have you known?”
He sucked in a deep breath. “Since Nora tried to kill herself while you were in Australia.”
My whole body jerked and I felt like I’d been hit by a freight train. “What?”
He tossed an arm around my shoulders and attempted to pull me in for a hug, but I was in no mood for comfort. I didn’t even recognize my own life anymore.
I’d spent two months in Australia when I was twenty. It was one of the countries Ramsey and I had made plans to visit, but they didn’t allow felons. So I went without him, drinking in every morsel of culture and history so that I could one day share that with him.
And while I was there, Nora tried to kill herself, and apparently no one had thought it was necessary to tell me.
Lies. All the fucking lies.
I stumbled on the edge of the sidewalk as I tried to get away from him. “What the hell is happening right now? I mean, seriously, Dad. What the fuck?”
My father watched me closely. “Nora’s always looked up to you, Thea. There was a lot she never wanted you to know.”
“Fuck Nora. You are my father.” I stabbed a finger in his direction. “You are supposed to look out for me!”
He shoved a hand into his pocket and showed exactly zero remorse. “That’s exactly what I was doing.”
I laughed without humor. “My entire life has been a lie. How is that looking out for me?”
He smiled. “Because lies or not, you lived. You smiled and laughed. You traveled the world. You created a successful business. And you were hell-bent on taking over the whole damn world that had wronged you. Those were all the things I did not do when I lost your mother. My job is not to be your friend. My job is not to make sure you have all the facts of a troubled girl’s life. My job is to protect you. So I did whatever was necessary to shield you from the pain so that you could live. l have no regrets, Thea. None.”
I bit my bottom lip when he flashed me a smile. I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs until it disappeared from his face.
But he had a point. And I hated that he had a point.
The hurt and betrayal were still a wildfire raging inside me, but when he wrapped his arms around me for a hug, I didn’t back away.
“You are a fierce and passionate force of nature, just like your mother. And I’m so damn proud of you for everything you have accomplished in the face of adversity. I know you’re going to be angry for a while, and I’ll give you that time. But whenever you’re ready, I’ll tell you everything you want to know.” He kissed me on the top of my head. “But I’m going to need you to get in my house and do your wallowing in Misty’s sewing room. She decided to make another pot roast for dinner when I told her you were coming over and I cannot face that abomination alone.”
I choked on a laugh as the tears fell from my eyes. “Does she know too?”
He shook his head. “No one else knows, baby. She thinks you and Ramsey got into a fight. It might be best if you ignore the mountain of relationship books she put on the nightstand for you.”
“There probably isn’t a section on how to handle it when your boyfriend gets out of prison for killing a man he didn’t really kill and your entire family has spent the last twelve years lying to you about it.”