Page 39 of No Love Lost

His father spotted him first, eyebrows winging up and then down into a frown. Definitely not a fan of surprises. His mother reacted with a slight smile, and when she spoke, there was a hint of rebuke in her voice. “Heath. We weren’t expecting you.”

No shit. “I need to know why you hid my child from me.”

His mother’s eyes showed surprise and guilt, but his father’s expression was pure annoyance. “You had a future ahead of you. We weren’t about to let that?—”

“Watch how you finish that sentence.” He took a threatening step forward, fists gripped at his side.

His father rolled his eyes. “You had a future planned, and you didn’t need the distraction.”

“My child isn’t a distraction.”

His mother’s hands fluttered. “We didn’t know that girl was expecting.”

When Heath raised his eyebrows in disbelief, she continued. “We didn’t. She came here several times looking for you. We told her you were unavailable and were looking to start fresh in your new life. She never mentioned a daughter.”

His father rolled his eyes. “You were losing your way. You needed to get your life straightened out before you were ruined.”

His gut tightened. “So you had someone alter my phone so I would think she didn’t want to see me.”

“Heath, we were doing what was best for you.” His mother’s eyes showed hurt.

“Bullshit.”

She flinched backward. “There is no need for that kind of language.”

He almost laughed and repeated the word, but he didn’t bother. “You said Addy never told you there was a child. How did you know she’s a girl?”

His mother looked at his father, who waved away the question. “It doesn’t matter. We did what needed to be done. You should be thanking us.”

Absolute rage poured through him. He’d never been a man who chose violence, but the thought of tossing his father through the window behind him held a lot of appeal. He couldn’t contain the growl, and the flicker of fear in his father’s eyes was satisfying.

Until Heath realized he couldn’t descend to that level. He wanted Addy and Nina in his life, and if he ended up in jail over this, he would lose them both. Even if he didn’t end up in prison, the shame of resorting to violence would stain his soul.

It took several deep breaths, but he kept his voice slightly below a roar. “Where are the parcels she sent?”

Again, the flicker of recognition in his mother’s eyes before the lie. “What parcels?”

“You know what parcels. The ones Addy sent on my daughter’s birthday. The ones telling me about my child’s progress through life. The ones with carefully chosen pictures and stories. The ones where she continued to give me the benefit of the doubt instead of believing I was a derelict father.”

His mother’s back straightened. “She wouldn’t dare accuse you of such a thing.”

Heath nearly laughed. “Are you serious? Because of you both, I was a derelict father. I haven’t contributed a single cent to her care. Despite that, she’s healthy and happy, living a wonderful life. She’s smart and amazing. So creative and curious, she’s going to change the world for the better.”

Which was all so true. “Addy had next to nothing while she was carrying our child. Yet, she got through college, cared for our daughter, and created a wonderful life for the two of them. She’s taught our daughter to believe the best in people until proven otherwise. Hell, she even tried to get me to believe that you’d made the choices you did because you loved me.”

When they started to speak, he held up his hand to stop them. “You’ve proven a few things to me with your lies and deception, your willingness to deceive me and to tamper with my mail, which is a felony, by the way.”

Another flicker of fear in his father’s eyes. Good.

“One. Addison Syrette is a much better human being than either of you can ever aspire to be. She’s everything I want my daughter to be. You have no idea what actually matters in life. You have nothing but appearances, and you have nothing of substance. How could you keep her from me? How could you do something that heinous to someone you’re supposed to love?”

He blew out a breath. The rage was spent, but the disgust remained. “Two. My daughter was better off without you in her life. Three. I will be better off as well because I am done with you both. You took my daughter away and now you’ve lost your son.”

Without a goodbye, he turned and strode out of the house.

Addy had switched to the driver’s seat of his vehicle and he slipped into the passenger seat. Tears streamed down her face as she put the car into gear. “I’m so sorry, Heath. I’m so sorry.”

And if he’d needed any more proof he’d chosen correctly, he had it now.

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