Page 173 of Delilah In Discretion

I shushed her softly and rubbed my hand on Melanie’s back as she lay her head on my lap, watching TV.

“Juli... I’m fine. I promise, honey.”

She nodded, and I grabbed her hand to have her sit beside me. Killian was arranging for Eugene to get out of holding at the police station, and Juliet was extremely grateful... almost too grateful. But I couldn’t blame her. My brother was out for days at a time, which probably worried her tremendously. Melanie also missed her father.

I didn’t bother to explain all of the details to Juliet, not wanting to bother her any more than she’d already been.

We sat silently for a moment before the door opened, and Eugene walked in. Melanie was the first to see him, and she gasped as she jumped up and ran over to him.

“DADDY!!” she yelled, and I smiled as Juliet did her best to contain her excitement as she went over to him as well. He caught Melanie in his arms and wrapped one around Juli as he placed a kiss on both of their heads.

I felt my heart clench slightly, as the last time I saw him, he was being arrested, and the time before, he made me cry... but hey,what are older brothers for?

I looked down at my sweater as I played with its edge, and after speaking with them for a minute, Eugene cleared his throat.

“Melanie, baby... it’s getting late. Mommy’s gonna tuck you in for the night, and I’ll be up in a few minutes, okay?”

I heard footsteps going up the stairs and other footsteps approaching me slowly. I looked over to Eugene as he sat beside me.

“Hi, Eugene,” I said softly.

He didn’t respond. I flinched slightly as he embraced me in a hug and buried his head in my neck. I hugged him back, and I could feel his labored breaths as if he couldn’t catch his breath. I shushed him softly as I ran my fingers through his hair.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, and I nodded as a tear left my eye.

“Thank you, Eugene,” I whispered back.

He looked puzzled for a moment as he pulled away. “For making you cry, worry, and hate me?” he asked, confused.

I laughed as I wiped away a tear. “No, silly... for keeping us safe… For everything you’ve done. I know you’re working with the ‘devil,’ Calvin, and although I want to know your reasons, I know it’s probably to keep us safe...”

He grabbed my hand in his and looked at me with such love and protectiveness. “Brielle... for the longest time, I couldn’t keep my family safe. Now that I can... I will do anything to keep you safe…anything.”

I nodded slowly as I caressed the side of his face. “I understand… but nokilling.It’s not good for your sanity, honey,” I whispered.

He sighed. “I’ll try, okay? And I will explain everything. Just know that I’m sorry,” he replied sincerely.

I nodded as I hugged him once again. My brother loved his family… in his own crazy way, but that’s what I love about him, what I’ll always love about him. He would do anything for us, and despite our constant fights and bickering, I loved him with everything in me.

“I knew you were pregnant too,” he muttered, and I hit his back as he hissed, “SEE! These kids make you want to hurt me even more... and you don’t hit softly either.”

I rolled my eyes at him as we continued talking, and soon, we both went upstairs to help tuck Melanie in for bed.

Present

“If this is how you treat me... how you treat us, your children, then I don’t want to be your little girl anymore, because you’re not even my realfather!!!”

I stood in shock as Delilah left the room with Archer hot on her tail. It was silent as they left the home, and my tears continued down my face. Killian hadn’t looked at me once as he ran his hand down his face, walked over to his desk, and leaned against it.

What just happened?

I went from talking to Maia and spending a little time with the kids to Ivory running over to get me to leave, only to come home for Delilah and Killian to have one of the biggest arguments I’ve ever witnessed between them. I would blame Archer, but how could I? This was more than just a boy coming into her life. It was the doing of a controlling and overbearing father who didn’t want to understand that his daughter was growing up and making her own decisions.

I looked at him in pure anger as I walked over to him.

“Why don’t you ever listen?” I seethed, and he didn’t say anything. “I told you to be nicer… to be more open, caring, and understanding. Do you even care how distraught Delilah is?” I whispered as tears continued falling.

He remained silent.

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