Page 67 of Golden Atonement

She blinked a few times while I slowly removed my hand and whispered, “I need your help.”

“Is he with you?”

I nodded.

Flinging back the covers, she hurriedly got out of bed, reaching for her robe. “Where is he?”

“Out back. He refuses to come inside.”

“Take me to him.”

It took some doing, but Sunny finally got the big bastard to move. I thought for sure someone was going to shoot his ass but, in the end, the big guy gave in and did exactly what his Sunshine said.

As for me, when the two of them walked off, I headed back inside.

Standing in the doorway, watching my daughter sleep was a sight I never thought I’d see again. I’d lost so much time, all because I put my trust in two men when I should have gone with my gut. I should have just told her everything.

She would have understood.

Hell, she would have stood beside me and helped if I had just let her.

Instead, I once again kept something from her.

Something that wasn’t my secret to keep.

I should have told her about her father.

She had a right to know.

She had a right to know about everything.

Gently closing the door, I walked across the hall and opened the door to my son’s room. Stepping in, I carefully sat on his bed, running my hand over his mop of curly blond hair. He looked so much like his mother, it hurt to look at him.

He’d gotten so big since I last saw him.

I wondered if he would even remember me.

Would he forgive me?

Grabbing his blanket, I covered him up, then quietly left, walking down the hall to our bedroom.

Mine and hers.

I knew she wasn’t in there.

She wouldn’t make it that easy for me, but what I didn’t expect was to feel and smell her everywhere when I opened the door and walked in. My emotions damn near brought me to my knees. Everything was just like she left it. Bed unmade, dresser drawers open, clothes strewn everywhere. Even a glass of water sat half empty on her nightstand.

It was just like time froze when she left.

And maybe it had.

“She’s not here, brother,” Bullseye said from behind me.

“I know.”

“You home for good?”

I nodded. “My kids are here. I’m not going anywhere.”

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