Page 13 of Forget

“Better get used to calling him your dad,” he says, his hand heavy on my back as he leads me away. “My car is just up here. While Sullivan is a hardass, he really has been broken up about finding you. I wouldn’t be surprised if his bitch of a wife finds herself a shallow grave very soon.”

Shivering at the threat, I force my feet to take one step in front of the other. I committed to meeting my father, there’s nothing else to do but follow through now.

Chapter 3

Aisling

Sitting in the car next to Hayes, I gaze at the mansion in front of me. It should look gaudy and over the top, but instead has a regal appearance.

“Your family has a long line of made men within it,” Hayes rumbles. “Your grandparents live in a wing in this home, and you have a fairly large family nearby as well.”

It all feels so overwhelming as I nod, struggling to keep my composure. The perfect, placid mask Caleb and Mr. Lars would immediately jump all over me for is sliding over my features to protect me from all of the uncomfortable emotions I’m feeling.

I’ve protected myself from a lot of things over the past few years this way, but having a whole ass family is throwing me for a loop. Silence is the only thing I can give Hayes right now.

“Alright then,” he mutters. “I’ll get your things for you.”

Not that he really let me pack much.Hayes huffed and puffed while I tried to get my things together, so I only packed my essentials and sentimental items. My heart hurts as I think about everything I left behind.

I feel displaced and unsettled again, which is making my inner omega really pissed off. I’m irritable as fuck.

Hayes wrinkles his nose as if I’m offending him, and I roll my eyes as I get out of his car. When I’m angry, I tend to fill the air with a burned sugar cookie scent. It’s not something I can control, which really fucks with my ability to hide from people.

There are so many things I love and hate about being an omega. If I’m staying in this house, I can only hope that I’ll be able to make a small part of it my own. My anxiety is ramping up, so I cling to this to remind myself this could be a good move.

“Let’s go, Aisling,” Hayes says, sounding exasperated as he gestures for me to move forward.

My things look so small in his hands. I hope he grabbed everything. I’m not going to offer to take anything from him, because he already looks irrationally upset at me. Forcing my feet to move, I walk toward the front door, almost stumbling when it opens.

“He’s not going to bite,” Hayes mutters under his breath.

“Is it too late to kill you and call it a day?” I ask, my intrusive thoughts winning at the moment. He simply snorts in amusement as he follows me. I’m capable of it, even if he doesn’t believe I am.

“Please don’t kill him. He’s fairly useful to me,” says the man at the door with a smirk. He has dark auburn hair, hazel eyes, he’s in his mid-fifties, and is wearing a navy-blue suit as he gazes at me, amused. “Hello, Aisling.”

“Hi,” I say softly, stopping in front of him.

“You’re even more beautiful than the photo Hayes snapped earlier today,” he says softly. “I’m Cian Sullivan, your father. I know it may be a stretch to ask to be called ‘Dad’, but I’m hoping you’ll be open to it.”

I nod, because I can’t stop drinking in every detail about him. I don’t know what he smells like due to the alpha scent blockinggel, but I bet it’s something dark yet comforting. He seems as if he could easily be two sides of the same coin, depending on the situation.

I’ve been dreaming about what he’d look like, if he existed, and why my mom would keep him a secret from me.

“Throw the man a bone, Aisling,” Hayes hisses in my ear, making me flinch. Tired of his crap, I stomp back on his foot, glad I’m wearing my shit kickers. Maybe it’s not mature, but he’s manhandled, yelled, and belittled me since the moment I met him.

I’m done.

My dad chuckles under his breath, stepping aside so I can walk inside of the house.

“Your mom didn’t take anyone’s shit either,” he mutters. “Hayes, behave.”

My lips twitch unbidden as he and Hayes follow behind me.

“Are you hungry?” my father asks. Unfortunately, my stomach chooses that moment to complain, making me wince in embarrassment. “Well, I’m glad I asked.”

“I was interrupted on my way home from shopping,” I murmur, glaring at Hayes. “I was planning to eat.”

“Yeah, or fuck yourself stupid with your sex toys,” Hayes says. “Is there somewhere I can put her things?”

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