Page 190 of Perfect Pitch

I focus on his words. He continues. “It’s a hard lifestyle to live if someone you care for is in tremendous danger. That means when it’s possible to take action, you do. You do whatever you must to protect them from even the slightest harm.”

Beckett moves a few steps away. “Just do what you’re best at, Mitch. Make certain Austyn’s safe and loved. The rest will work itself out.”

I straighten. “I’ll protect her with my life.”

He nods. “I’m holding you to that. Her mother doesn’t know you’re here. I don’t plan on telling her until we’re back in New York.” With that, he turns and weaves his way out of the bar leaving me more desperate to wrap my arms around the tiny dynamo who invaded my life.

Even if it’s for her to kick me out of hers.

* * *

CHAPTER NINETY-THREE

Sometimes you’re left with only blaming yourself and that makes forgiveness a lot harder.

—The Fireside Psychologist

My forehead presses against the cool glass of the window in the suite my parents requested at the Ritz-Carlton on the Biltmore Estate in Asheville. We’re due to fly back to New York in the morning and I can’t.

I just can’t.

I need time to come to terms with what happened to me on my own before I face the rest of my life.

My eyes drift shut, hot tears falling. My hand presses against my abdomen. Hard. “Why? Can’t someone tell me why? Why was I targeted? Did someone find out I’m Beckett Miller’s daughter?”

Her perfume hits my senses before I shift imperceptibly to let her know I welcome her approach. My mother wraps her arm around my shoulders. I shed my armor for now. I know the time is coming when I’ll have to wear it constantly. “Not yet, sweetheart.”

“Then why, Mama?” My voice comes out as a whimper.

She turns me into her, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “That’s part of the reason why your father is on the phone with the Hudson team. He wants a full investigation to be run. Kane recommended it.”

Kane. Just hearing my father’s lead bodyguard’s name reminds me of Mitch. He’ll be back in your sphere the very second you step foot back in the city, my mind taunts me. My heart rate accelerates so much I become woozy.

“Austyn!” my mother cries frantically. Seconds later, my father bursts out of their bedroom, panic etched on every feature.

“I got dizzy. That’s all.” I lift a shaking hand to my forehead and shove my straggly hair back off my forehead.

My father doesn’t stop barreling toward us until he reaches me. Bending down, he catches me beneath the knees and lifts me high on his chest. I don’t have the mental wherewithal to argue with him. I just wrap my arms around his neck. My voice is small when I whisper, “Thanks, Dad.”

He brushes a kiss against the top of my head as he places me on the sofa. “Anytime, kid. I have twenty years of skinned knees and piggyback rides to make up for.”

Behind him, my mother’s hand is hovering over her mouth uncertain if she should berate my father for declaring what I went through as a skinned knee or hug him for being so sweet. I take the choice out of her hands when I wrap my arms around him and pull him close for a brief hug.

As I let him go, Charlie pops his head out from the study. “Beckett, they want you.”

My father’s about to turn away, and I decide, why not? If I don’t ask, the answer’s certain to be no. I blurt out, “I want to stay here for a few more days.”

My mother’s already shaking her head and my father’s face takes on an incredulous cast. “Are you kidding, Austyn? We need to get you home.”

“I need to deal with this on my own first. I need to feel...” I swallow hard. “The loss of her before I try to pick up the shards of my life. I need to come to grips with who and what I am.”

My mother moves to sit next to me on the couch. “And who is that?”

“I don’t know. I was so certain, so confident.”

“We’ll help you find her again,” Charlie’s vow is reiterated by my parents’ fierce nods.

I love them all, but I know none of them can dig down deep enough to reconnect the parts of me ripped out when I saw Mitch with another woman. My eyes find Charlie’s.

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