Page 115 of Scars Run Deep

“Dealing with the broader scope of the situation.”

I winced.

“It has to be done. These fuckers are dangerous and they’ve only grown more so.”

Well, I didn’t disagree there.

“Nothing fatal, right?”

“No. Not on home territory. It’ll alert Carson and warrant his interference. The last thing we need right now with what we’re doing.”

I took all of that in, then pulled away from him.

In the next moment, I was getting my phone out.

The urge to do it now had just overtaken me, and I had to get it off my chest.

“Aurora?” he said, off the nervous look that had to be all over me right about now.

I scrolled to the text messages in question, then looked out at him. “There’s something I need to tell you—and show you.”

He tensed. “Okay.”

“I know how you are with secrets, so you’ll need to brace yourself.”

I could see his jaw working but he managed to force a smile for me. “I'm listening.”

I sucked in a breath then revealed, “I have an uncle.”

I handed him my phone and watched as he took it and scanned the messages.

His expression didn’t change. There was nothing to work with. I couldn’t tell how he was taking it at all.

When he actually did speak again, I startled.

“On your father’s side?”

I swallowed hard and managed to utter an unsteady, “Yeah.”

“Huh.”

“He’s my dad’s older brother.”

“I can’t believe this.”

“I know. It was a lie by omission, but still keeping a secret from you. Just like you hate Asher doing.”

He looked up from my phone, frowning. “What? No. I meant, I can’t believe you’re trusting me with this.”

“You… really?”

He gently pushed my phone back into my hand, the corner of his mouth turning up with what was definitely amusement. “Why do you look so scared, darlin’?”

I stowed my phone away. “Because… secrets… you…”

“I’m not upset or mad.”

“Why not?”

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