Page 63 of Truths

Cannon smiles at her. “And we know you refused to ever go to the circus again when you learned they had clowns.”

“Is he gone?” she asks, a small smile on her face.

Nelson nods, a look on his face Cannon can't decipher. Pity? Empathy? “In the broad sense.”

“We'll take care of him,” Venom says, grabbing Nelson and pulling him from the bedroom.

Standing, Sutton walks to the doorway to see Ryan dead on the ground. “You killed him?”

“He was going to hurt you-”

“Thank you,” she says and wipes her tears. “I never should have doubted you. I'm so sorry. When I locked myself in the bathroom, there was only one person I wanted to call. I knew I could call you, even though I've been so horrible.”

“Sutton-”

“I have,” she says, fresh tears falling from her eyes. “I was so lost, but I'm not anymore. No more.”

He stands and moves to hug her against him. “I'm here. Always have been, and I always will be.”

“Ryan started talking about how he wanted to be the father I needed. The one I didn't have, and I wanted to hit him for it. Because he had no idea what kind of father I had, and I sure as hell didn't need anyone else. I have a father. A great one, and he would be nothing good. Nothing.”

“I'm always here, Sutton. No matter what. And I know you were dealing with everything. It was hard, but I never once thought of you as anything but my daughter. My little girl. And you can't get rid of me, kid. No matter how hard you try. You can tell me you hate me and want me to die, but if you called telling me you needed me, I'd be there in a heartbeat.”

“I love you, Dad.”

Holding back tears of his own, he hugs her tighter. “I love you more, kid.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Summerville

Daphne

Lying in Max's arms, Daphne pinches her skin.

“Why do you keep doing that?” Max asks, taking her hand and interlocking his fingers with hers. “Stop it. You're going to hurt yourself.”

Laughing, she looks up at him. “Caught me.”

“Yeah, but doing what?”

“Making sure this isn't some elaborate dream.”

Turning on his side, he touches his nose to hers as he looks into her eyes. “What do you mean?”

“This, here, with you. Everything about this whole thing with us feels like a dream. I keep pinching myself to make sure I'm not asleep.”

“It's all real, baby,” he murmurs, his lips pressing against hers.

Pushing him onto his back, she climbs on top of him, both still naked from earlier, and she smirks as he comes alive while she rubs her body against his. She sinks onto him, both closing their eyes in pleasure, and she grinds against him. “So real.”

“Fuck, you feel good. God, Daph, I don't think I can ever get enough of you.”

His words, the adoration behind them, make her feel like she floats above her body. Just a few months ago, she felt like her world was about to crumble and end, and now she feels like she's living in heaven. Not only does she get to keep her dad's shop as is, she has a man she's madly in love with. She just hasn't figured out the right way to tell him, but tonight will be the night. She decided it when he showed up, showering her with kisses.

Knocking at the door interrupts them, and she stills. “Who is it?”

“Don't do that,” Max hisses, his hips lifting to dive deeper inside her, making her moan.

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