Page 68 of Bishop

“I told you, they had no clue. Nothing ever happened in public. Apart from flirting. And that night was hectic. My father threw an early birthday party at our house. People were everywhere. Mainly business associates. Wealthy men and their trophy wives. Remy and Salvatore have always done their best to show their faces as little as possible at those types of events while I did the opposite.”

I still remember the reflection that stared back at me from my bedroom mirror. The subtle makeup. The thick braid of my hair that hung over one shoulder. And the pristine white lace dress with a high neckline and a thick ribbon that acted like a belt around my waist with its large bow tied at my middle.

I was innocence personified.

Ripe for the picking.

“I’m certain my dad auctioned off my virginity.” I add steel to my tone, owning my mistakes. “I slept with a twenty-eight-year-old stockbroker, unaware that my father was recording the festivities until weeks later when I overheard my parents talking about how they could use the footage to their benefit.”

Bishop turns away, his posture stiff. “I want names. Places. Dates.” Vehemence drips from his tone. “I need information on every asshole who’s laid hands on you since this started.”

I give a pained smile.

God, what would my life have been like if I’d had Bishop by my side all those years ago?

“I was willing,” I repeat. “Those men were the victims of my manipulations as much as I was of my father’s.”

“You were a fucking child.”

“I was of legal age.” I breathe in his disgust, the noxious air thickening in my already tortured lungs. He might think his rage is aimed at my father, but neither of us can deny part of it should be directed toward me.

My naivety.

My pathetic, shameful hunger for attention.

“I’m not spending any more time in the past.” The future is hard enough to face. “Thank you for all you’ve done for me. For the food and shelter. And also for guiding me out of the panic attacks and not using the weakness against me. But it’s time I go. I can’t stay here any longer.”

He stiffens, yet still keeps staring out the windows toward the sweeping hills.

“Can I have my car fob?” I step closer, hoping he has it in his pocket. “I can drop you off somewhere if—”

“We’re not done here,” he grates under his breath. “You need to tell me about your daughter.”

My gut does a sweeping roll, this roller coaster taking another dive. It’s hard enough thinking about her. Dreaming about her. “There’s not much to tell. I don’t know where she is or who has her. The most recent photo I have is months old and she changes so fast.”

“You have no clue who’s raising her?”

“No. And my mother is the only person I can think of that might know where she is. The only solace I have is that Emmanuel always told me she’s with loving parents. The photos and videos have been proof of that. She’s a happy child. Healthy and bright.”

“Fuck your mother.” He swings around to face me, his expression drawn with exhaustion. He looks like he’s aged five years in the last ten minutes. “I won’t let you leave. I don’t care where you want to be or what your plans are, you’re not doing this alone.”

My eyes burn, but I refuse to tear up. Not again. “Please give me the key to my car.”

“And have Langston kill me for letting you disappear? Fuck no. He thought you were in deep enough shit already. He’s going to be homicidal once he hears about this.”

“No. He’s not going to hear anything. It’s none of his business.”

“Like hell it’s not.”

The panic returns, one spark igniting wildfire. “Bishop, you can’t tell him.” I rush the few steps toward him. “Please.”

He peers down at me, brows pinched. “Why?”

Because I’m ashamed. Guilt-ridden. But that’s not the worst of it. “I need to tread carefully. I don’t know what my mother will do to her.”

“You think she’d hurt her own grandchild?”

“When she’s despised my daughter’s existence from the moment of conception?” I nod. “Yes. She never wanted me to go through with the pregnancy. It was always a point of contention between my parents. She hates that my carelessness led to an illegitimate child and has never once spoken Tilly’s name. She pretends she doesn’t exist. She even takes pleasure in nagging me to settle down and have children in front of her friends because she knows how much playing along hurts me.”

---