Page 87 of Play With Me

“In the bedroom,” Kate replied. She was sitting awkwardly on the couch, but all I could concentrate on at the moment was that child, and so I rushed past Kate and headed straight for the bedroom Brook had disappeared into.

“Thank God,” I heard him breathe out.

As soon as I saw Sophie in Brook’s arms and took a deeper inhale, the smell of wet fur made me gag. Boo, along with what looked like a wildcat, was waiting beside Brook as he knelt in front of her and took her in his arms.

“I was so worried. I can’t believe how brave you were,” He brushed his hand over her head. “You found the cabin.”

“Gramps helped. He kept me safe.”

“Gramps?”

“Yeah, he’s with Kate, and he’s hurt.”

“Areyouhurt, Sophie? Did anyone hurt you, baby girl?”

“I’m all right, Daddy. I was scared, but Boo was with me the whole time. Gramps saved my life. I’m sorry I scared you, Daddy.”

As her words slowly sank in, I gasped, although I didn’t quite realize that I had. I watched as Brook slowly turned around. His face fell when he saw me, and my heart broke in half. He looked like in an instant, he’d just lost everything he ever wanted, and I couldn’t understand why.

“She’s okay?” I asked.

“Yeah, she’s okay. I don’t know how I missed him, but apparently Xavier’s alive and on the couch.”

“Xavier?”

“It’s got to be him. He’s got to be the one who saved Sophie.”

“He is the one, Daddy. I know he’s the one.”

Sophie’s words jolted me again, and I watched Brook’s face turn white all over again.

Daddy.

“The police and ambulance are on their way,” he said, but I couldn’t move.

Daddy? Sophie’s his?

He lied to me about his daughter? But why? Why had he denied having a wonderful little girl like Sophie who was looking at me with fear in her eyes, as if she’d done something wrong?

“If Xavier is hurt, we need to get him to the hospital,” I said, throwing my brain and body into automatic mode, trying to manage the outside while I was falling apart on the inside. Wasn’t I good enough to deserve the truth?

“Right, we will. The ambulance is on its way. Cameron’s at the hospital. We can’t go with Xavier. We can’t put Kate in danger and—”

“I know, I know. We can’t draw attention. Cortez is still on the run, and Kate needs peace.”

“She does. So do you. Listen, Lola—”

“I can hear the sirens, Brook. Come on. Let’s confirm that Gramps is Xavier, okay?”

He wanted to do this now? Right now we had other things to worry about, and making sure that Sophie was okay with her father’s lies was on top of my list. Did he not realize the damage he could have done to his own child by lying this way?

“Lola, you need to hear this.”

“Not now, Brook. You had months to talk to me. I’m sure a few more hours won’t make a difference now. Let’s go. If that’s Xavier in that room, then we’re finally done.”

This time it was he who jolted back. I never meant for my words to act like daggers, but it felt oddly satisfying. But the feeling passed as soon as I saw Sophie’s tear filled eyes.

“I’m sorry,” she sobbed. “It’s all my fault.”

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