He only stares into my eyes with no emotion at all.
“Coward. Answer me.” I press my forearm into his neck. “Why? Goddamnit! Why did you hurt my mother? Why’d you kill her? I saw it all!”
“She was a whore, Nathan. She was sleeping with my own brother.” He glares at Mac. “She wanted to leave and take you away from me. The only thing I ever loved. I couldn’t let that happen. You’re my son. I love you. What I did, I did in the name of love.” “That’s not love you bastard.”
I shake my head. “You’re a sick fuck, you pathetic excuse for a human being.” After reaching for the rope he used on Bryer, I tie his hands and secure him to a beam. “Mark my words, I’m going to make sure you never hurt another living soul, if it’s the last thing that I do.”
I go to Bryer. “Baby, you’re safe now. Help’s on the way.” I pick her up and cradle her in my arms. She rests her head on my shoulder while going in and out of consciousness. “Baby, I love you.”
Her sweet eyes open and she whispers back, “I love you too. Please get me out of here.”
I could kill my father with my bare hands. The only thing stopping me is the fact I want him to suffer in prison. Evil will compensate evil.
Hearing the faint sounds of sirens, I breathe in relief, knowing they’re just minutes away. Glancing over at Uncle Mac, I’m worried. Clayton is holding him up, but he’s very pale.
After the police arrive, I give them all the details. I watch as my father is taken away in handcuffs. Then two stretchers arrive, and my girl is swept away from my arms and my uncle receives attention. Three men work on him then load him into the second ambulance and we rush to the hospital.
Minutes after the ambulances arrive, I’m forced into the waiting room. “It might as well be a fucking jail.”
“I know it’s hard Nathan. She’ll be all right.”
“Will she?”
For almost two hours, I pace the floor, until finally the doctor walks up to me.
“Nathan?”
“Tell me.”
“She’s going to be fine. They only gave her a sedative, and the head wound is superficial. Although I’ll be sending you home with some instructions, just in case. The rope burns will sting for a few days.”
“Fucking rope burns,” I growl. This is a living nightmare.
“The police want to talk to her, but I don’t see any reason why she can’t leave.”
“They can talk to her at home. My home. Thank God! Thank you. Can I see her?”
“Follow me,” he says, then leads me to her room.
“Hey baby. You had me worried.” I say, smiling while I attempt to cradle her in my arms.
“I’m fine, Nathan. The police want to talk to me.”
“We can do that at home. Please don’t worry.”
“I heard that they want to charge your dad with kidnapping and more,” she tells me.
“Yes, and they should.” Anger fills my voice. “Damnit, I’m so sorry I wasn’t there to protect you, baby. I died a thousand deaths when I couldn’t find you.” I touch her face gently.
“Don’t blame yourself for his actions. He’s a sick man,” she says softly. “You found me, you saved me. I never knew my capacity to love until you.”
“I need to see my uncle. Are you up to joining me?” I ask.
“Of course. I want to know how he’s doing too.”
I find a wheelchair. We’re told he’s in ICU and they allow both of us to go in, which is unusual. That doesn’t seem like a good sign.
Leaning over the bed rail, I take his hand, trying to make sense of it all. His eyes are closed, but that doesn’t stop me. “Uncle Mac, I’m so sorry for getting you involved. I know you weren’t up to it. Please forgive me.” As I rest my head on my arm, I wonder if today was a figment of my imagination.
“What’s all this?” His frail fingers touch me. “They’ll be none of that, Nathan. I’m so proud of you.”
I raise my head and meet his milky eyes. His skin is so pale. He’s a skeleton of the man I once knew, and my heart breaks while sorrow consumes me.
“I have always loved you Uncle Mac. I still look up to you.”
Bryer stands close and rubs my back, comforting me.
“My sweet boy. How can I bare my soul?” His breathing is weak. “But we each deserve peace.” He gasps and I feel defeated. “I had to protect you from the truth. I’ve lied to you.” After he clears his throat, he attempts to go on.
“Do you need water?”
Uncle Mac nods and I bend the straw so he can sip.
“Meredith and I made the toughest decision of our lives when you were born.” My eyes meet his and he has my full attention. “Whether to live a lie and keep you both safe, or risk everything to be together. There was no right answer, because it didn’t keep her safe and I lost both of you. True love has no ending. I told her that. We let you believe it only to save you. I wanted to run away with you both, but your mother knew if he found out you would be in danger. We all would’ve been, Nathan.” Tears run down his face. “He’s not your biological father.” With a shaky hand, he wipes his face. “I am.”
I pause to absorb the words, the meaning.
I’ve always felt so close to him. It makes sense. Leaning down, I look him in the eye and say,
“Thank God.”
The monitors go off as he struggles to breathe. A nurse appears to check him over and says, “I need to call the doctor.”
“Never live life unnoticed, my son,” he whispers with his eyes closed.
He’s shutting down, and I’m losing the only man I have ever truly respected. And he was my father.
Jesus.
We stand back as several people work on him. Bryer is in my arms, crying, but I have no tears. I believe he’s going to join my mother, where he belongs, and he fades away as we watch. I’m proud of his sacrifice, and now that I know the truth, it frees me.
Epilogue
WEEKS LATER, AFTER we got through the funeral, I’m coming to terms with who I am, where I came from, and where I want my life to go. My past has finally caught up to my present and I’m not alone.
The police want several more statements. My father was denied bail, but I know that won’t last long. This isn’t over by a long shot, but he’ll never get away with hurting either of us again. I’ve arranged to have security around the clock.
Uncle Mac’s company is thriving. It just so happens that I love this new job. Somehow he knew that.
Bryer has agreed to move in with me. I’m thrilled to have my hell-cat under my roof. I couldn’t be happier, and I’m glad I let her slip through the cracks of my heart. I want a future with her.
The best news is that my nightmares have disappeared.
As I walk out onto the patio, I see her on the two-man lounger on her phone. “I didn’t say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.”
The conversation sounds funny as hell.
“That’s not the point, Clayton.” Oh, it all makes sense now. “If she said no, let it go.” She’s obviously losing patience, but she looks up and smiles at me. “We’re done, Clayton.”
“Lunch?” I say.
“Is that your famous grilled cheese?” She laughs as I sit the tray down on the lounger. “Yum. Here, put my phone on the table.”
“Lemonade too.”
“Is that right?”
“I know. Can you imagine? I spoil you.”
I join her and we eat while looking out over the beautiful garden. After the tray is moved, she snuggles in my arms. I seal my mouth over hers, pulling her closer. I plan on getting intimately acquainted with my undeniably sexy girlfriend, right here, right now.
Her phone rings.
Moaning in frustration, I answer it. “Bryer’s phone.”
“Who the fuck is this?”
“Let’s start with who the fuck is this, smart ass?”
“Just put her on the phone.”
“Oh, and why’s that? I don’t even know who t
his is.”
Bryer sits up watches me, curious about this odd exchange.
“It’s Cash,” the voice on the phone says.
I freeze. This is her fucking ex.
“It’s Cash.” I say, pissed off.
Our eyes meet.
Bryer takes the phone, trembling.
“How did you find me?”
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Find out what happens next in book two of The Forgotten Series coming soon from Virginia Wine!
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Acknowledgements
My first book, I never knew what an undertaking this would be. But without the wonderful people involved it would have never happened.
A huge shout out to thank my publicist, Jenn Watson, with Social Butterfly PR. I worship you, and your mad skills. Not to mention, you have the heart of a lion!
Editor Louise Bohmer whose brilliant skills, and nurturing style taught me so much about what it means to be an Author. I can only hope I made you proud.
To the special team over at Books and Beyond Fifty Shades. Diana Cardonita, who was always in my corner. Copy editors And Beta readers Marla Brown and Ann Purnell Medrano, Alexis Faulkner Ceule, and for encouraging this project. Supporters, Susan Morris, Michelle Henderson McMullen.
Authors, Vanessa Fewings, Louise Bay, Jodi Ellen Malpas, Beverly Preston, Ashli Rose, Authors I aspire to be like! Masters of the universe in my eyes: For their insight shared with grace and experience.
Family: After the shock wears off, I hope you don’t disown me. But seriously, I would like to express my gratitude to the many who saw me through this book; to all those who provided support, talked things over, read, wrote, offered comments, and for being there when I needed you most.
Thank you all,
Virginia
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