Page 203 of Sin Bin

“FUCK YOU!” Logan thundered. “I don’t need you to be proud of me! I worked my ass off to get where I am! You had nothing to do with it, you understand? You don’t deserve a single ounce of credit for anything I’ve accomplished!” He threw the check at Lucien. “Now take the money and get the fuck out!”

The check fluttered to the floor, untouched.

Logan glared at his father, jaw clenched tight. “Take it and go.”

A muscle ticked in Lucien’s temple as he stared back at Logan. After another moment, he lowered himself into an elegant crouch, picked up the check and slowly stood. Lifting his eyes to Logan’s, he deliberately ripped up the check and dropped the pieces on the table next to him.

“I don’t need or want your money, Logan,” he said in a quiet tone.

Logan narrowed his eyes menacingly. “Then what the hell do you want?”

Lucien met his gaze straight on. “I want to get to know my son.”

“Your son,” Logan spat the words at him. “You’ve denied my existence for twenty-five years. Fuck you. I’m not your son, and you damn sure aren’t my father.”

Lucien’s nostrils flared with anger. “I had a paternity test done when you were born. I assure you, Logan, you are very much my son—”

“But you’re not my father! Don’t you get it? Being a father takes more than donating DNA! Santino Tavárez and I don’t share a drop of blood, but he’s been more of a father to me than you will ever be!”

Lucien flinched at his words. “There are things you don’t understand. I was engaged to someone else when I met your mother. I would have lost my inheritance if I’d broken the engagement. And then what good would I have been to—”

“ENOUGH!” Logan erupted with deadly fury. “Not another fucking word, or so help me God I will kill you with my bare hands.”

Lucien swallowed nervously.

Seething with rage, Logan stalked over to the windows and glared outside at the deceptively bright day. The happiness he’d felt just half an hour ago was crumbling around him. He should have known it wouldn’t last. Nothing good ever did.

Lucien said quietly, “There must be some part of you that wants to connect with your fam—”

“There isn’t.”

“I don’t think that’s true.” Lucien paused. “I know you came to see me that day.”

Logan immediately tensed.

“You were seventeen years old, the junior hockey sensation of Canada. Everyone in Toronto was raving about you and praying that you would be drafted by the Maple Leafs. I watched all of your games, didn’t miss a single one. I know you don’t want to hear this, but I was proud of you. Fiercely proud. You had beaten the odds with the same iron will and fortitude that brought your great-grandfather from the shores of Belgium to Canada. I watched you, Logan, and there was no mistaking that you’re a Brassard through and through.”

Lucien paused, his voice quieting. “I was in a meeting the day you showed up to see me. I came out of my office just in time to watch you walk out the door. I can’t tell you how many times I had envisioned the day when we would finally meet face to face. Unfortunately, when that day came, I found myself paralyzed with indecision. I didn’t know whether to run after you or let you go.” He paused and audibly swallowed. “Ultimately, I decided it was best for me to stay out of your life. You see, Logan, you were seizing your destiny. You were on a path to greatness, and I didn’t want to get in your way.”

When Lucien finished speaking, Logan turned very slowly from the window, lifted his hands and did a slow clap.

Lucien looked startled.

“Bravo. That was beautiful. Really touching. Truly. I’m almost in tears over here.” A derisive smirk curled Logan’s lips. “Is this the part where I’m supposed to rush into your arms, call you ‘Dad’ and tell you all is forgiven? Is that what you were expecting?”

Lucien’s mouth tightened, humiliation flaring in his eyes.

“Oh wow. That is what you were expecting.” Logan shook his head, his expression hardening with contempt. “I’ve got news for you, old man. It’s gonna take a hell of a lot more than a pretty speech to make me forgive and forget what an unconscionable, scum-sucking bastard you were to my mother and me.”

Lucien rubbed an unsteady hand over his jaw and nodded slowly. “I don’t expect you to forgive—”

“Bullshit. You wouldn’t be here if you weren’t seeking forgiveness.”

Lucien stared at him for a long moment without speaking.

Logan waited, leaning back against the window with his arms folded across his chest.

“When I learned that your mother had…given you up—”

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