Page 108 of Vengeful Union

It’s not that I don’t believe Lara, don’t believe Gray and Bree. But some part of me, some deep, hidden part, still loves my father. Still hopes against hope that they’re wrong, misinformed somehow.

I know that it won’t fully make sense to me until he says it. Until I hear the words coming out of his mouth.

I take a deep breath and make my way toward my father’s office. I knock lightly on the door, and he calls for me to come in.

It’s still early in the morning, but he’s always been an early riser.

When I open the door, he’s sitting behind his desk with Duncan sitting in the chair across from him.

“We need the room.” I suppose there must be conviction in my voice because Duncan stands immediately, walking out of the open door, and not questioning a thing. I don’t even bother to close the door behind him.

“Son.”

His voice is calm and even, as if he’s expected this. But he doesn’t know what I know.

He thinks I’m upset about last night, but after what I’ve discovered this morning, last night is simply a drop in the bucket.

“You tried to have me and my wife killed.”

“Boyo—”

I don’t let him finish, whirling around to face him. “You tried to have us killed, but that’s not even why I’m here. You wanted to test me. Some part of me, some twisted part that you helped foster, believes that makes sense.”

He cocks his head. “You’re not here because of last night?”

I shake my head fiercely. “No. I’m here because of something that happened alongtime ago, Dad.” I rarely ever call him Dad, only Pa or father. I know the American way irks him, and I watch his eyes widen and then turn into slits.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I think you do.” I don’t move a muscle, my shoulders stiffening as I look at him, standing there as if he doesn’t have a care in the world.

He sighs. “Whatever imagined slight you think I’ve done to you, Rory, you might as well come out with it.”

The manipulative bastard.

Imagined slight. As if he’s innocent. As if he’s always been innocent, and I’ve just blown things out of proportion.

“You have no idea what I’m talking about?” My eyes narrow. “You’ve done such heinous shit in your life that you can’t even pinpoint what I’m talking about.”

He rolls his eyes. “What is it? I ran over your puppy when you were seven?”

“You killed mymother,”I hiss, almost spitting the words at him.

He doesn’t even blink, just staring at me as if I’m the one who’s lost my mind.

“Your Ma left. She abandoned you, and you can’t handle it. So, you accuse me of... what? Killing her myself?”

I bark out a bitter laugh. “Don’t try to twist this now,Dad. I know what you did. I know that she didn’t take a single item of clothing with her. No money. Nothing.”

He shrugs. “That doesn’t prove anything.”

That doesn’t prove anything. Not, “no, of course, I didn’t do it.”

“You’ve been lying to me and Bree for years. Bree tookcareof you after, put your drunk ass to bed every night. I helped her with everything else. We basically took over for you, because we thought you were grieving. In reality, you were justguilty.”

“You have no idea what I went through when she...” He pauses, running a hand through his hair. “I think it’s best if you leave now, boyo. Cool off.”

“Remember Ivan the Russian?”

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