Page 113 of Ruthless Reign

The man who masqueraded as my father for my entire life didn’t dare step more than one foot over the threshold.

Aodhán eyed him warily, and even though Damien was deep in discussion with my guys, hunched over the table, I could feel all of their eyes flitting to me every few seconds.

At least all of the other Saints were too busy loading up now to notice anything.

“What are you doing here?”

Gregory had the audacity to look hurt at the question and my stomach had no right to turn and hollow with guilt.

I wasn’t the guilty one here.

Maybe I should’ve called him back, but I wasn’t ready. I still wasn’t ready.

“I’ve been trying to call for days, Rebecca. The real question is what the hell are you doing with these people?”

He got everyone’s attention with that biting remark, but no one said a damn thing and honestly? That was almost more terrifying than if they’d started yelling.

“I think you should go.”

“I’d like nothing more,” he said right back. “Get your things and we can be on our way.”

My eyes pricked and I hated them for it. I fought to blink back the sting and lifted my chin. “I’m not going anywhere.”

The desperate worry in his eyes shifted and whatever I felt aching in my stomach evaporated in an instant as I was faced with a man I better recognized. Gregory the negotiator. Gregory, the winner.

“For Christ’s sake, Rebecca, your roommate was just killed. Would you like to be next? Hang around these people a few days longer and I’ll be picking out your casket instead of paying off that boy’s family to erase your name from any statements.”

His mention of Toby is a slap to the face, and I feel my jaw crack with the effort of holding back a thousand curses I’d rather be spitting at his feet.

“I didn’t ask you to do that.”

“You didn’t have to. You’re my daughter.”

“I’m not. I never have been.”

Gregory’s eyes slid to Damien across the room and back to me. As much an admission as I would ever get.

“What did you tell her?” Gregory growled between clenched teeth at Damien’s back.

“Only the truth. And only because it became necessary,” he said as he turned around, his steely gaze shifting to me. “You’re welcome to leave with him if you choose.”

“Fucking bastard,” Gregory muttered.

Damien stiffened but didn’t retaliate.

“But you’ll need to decide now. We have to leave. I can’t linger here much longer.”

“This isn’t her choice!” Gregory shouted, his throaty voice echoing in the room. “Rebecca, get your things, now.”

My skin bristled at the command and a low, poisonous laugh came from Aodhán on the couch beside me as he moved to rise to his feet, his green eyes alighting on Gregory as if he were a wolf eyeing a rabbit.

“Don’t,” I blurted, and Aodhán paused, but held his position beside me. “It isn’t worth it.”

“Might be. Only one way to find out.”

“Aodhán,” I hissed.

“Who’s this?”

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