Page 53 of Come to Head

“I didn’t know, but Izzy. I love him. I’m in love with him. All three of them. But that’s crazy isn’t it?” she whispered, the machine hooked up to her began to beat more rapidly as her heart rate sped up.

“Yeah … You know that I have my own harem now, I guess. Is this what it’s like when you’re a boss ass bitch?” I cackled, trying to pull the lightness back into our conversation. “And I’m not mad at you Yara. You didn’t know. But as long as you two don’t hurt each other. I won’t be able to side with either of you.”

She carefully sat back up on her hospital bed, her hand finding mine. She met my eyes. “I love you Izzy and I promise not to hurt him. And fuck if he and I don’t work out for whatever reason, you’re not going to lose me as a best friend. I promise.”

I smiled at her. “Agreed. Alright baby cakes, my side is done. Now it’s time for you to tell me your story. The whole thing.”

“Fuck, alright so it started one night at a comedy club…”

Chapter 30

Izzy

Ileaned down to hug Yara carefully. “I’ll see you soon,” I promised, reeling from everything she had told me. “Get some rest.”

My poor best friend had gone through so much, but never again. Not if I could make sure of it.

Stepping into the hallway, my dad stood against the wall.

A sentinel.

For me? Or forYara?

“Do you love her?” I asked, staring into him.

His lips quirked at the corners, the crease between his brow smoothed out, and his eyes softened.

I had my answer.

“I do,” he confirmed.

“Okay, I love you dad, but don’t hurt her. She deserves the world. And listen…I’m sorry. I’m sorry I believed mom and never looked for you,” I rasped out.

“Sweetheart, it wasn’t you. And I know you’re all grown now, and that this situation is a bitdifferent, but I will be here for you from here on out. I won’t question your choices, you always did have a strong sense of character. But even still, if you ever need to escape, I can make it happen, no questions asked.” He opened hisarms for me.

I didn’t hesitate, I fell into his familiar embrace. He always smelled like the air after it rained and that was present even now. The nostalgia pulled forth a plethora of memories.

My dad and I had been close before my mother snatched me away. She stole years from us. It was hard to not be angry with her, but she was dead now. I couldn’t scream at her, I couldn’t question her choices. I simply had to accept it.

For a few moments we just stood like that. “I missed you, too.” I sobbed into his shoulder.

And I had. But now that he was here, I felt a piece of myself healing.

“I think a part of me always knew you were alive. I never accepted your death.” It was true, it was partially why I never looked for him. I didn’t want confirmation he was dead. It felt like I could play pretend without seeing the obituary. But now all I felt was regret.

“I failed you. I should have seen the signs that your mother wasn’t mentally stable. I just never expected her to take you from me.” He shook as he held me.

We stood like that for a few more moments in silence. Soaking up over a decade of loss, of a thousand missed events. My graduation, my company, my first boyfriend, mymarriage.

“I got married…to Emilio.” I had almost forgotten in the chaos of the last few weeks.

My dad stiffened before dropping his arms around me and stepping back. He reached up, cupping my face carefully. “If he hurts you, I will kill him. Cartel boss or not.”

I cracked a smile. “I know.”

“Ellie!” Maddox’s voice came from my left downthe hallway.

“Go join your men. I’ll be here when you need me. I’m not going anywhere, and from what Yara has said, it seems we might all be moving here.”

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