Page 129 of When We Break

I look back at my girl and see her arguing with Mik, then I nod at Patrick. “I could use one.”

He grins, and we walk side by side out of the large ballroom that Mik and Skyla have taken over at the London Gallagher Hotel for their rehearsal space and down the long hallway to the hotel bar.

This property is opulent. There’s no other way to describe it. I know that Gallagher Resorts and Hotels has a reputation for being fancy. Luxurious.

And this one is no different.

Our suite is bigger than an average house, and it’s not even the biggest on the property. I’m pretty sure that Patrick and Maeve are in that one.

As they should be.

The dark pub has a long, polished bar and gold-and-navy wallpaper. The pillows and cushions are also in golds and blues, and look comfortable.

“Two glasses of the Macallan,” Patrick says to the bartender as we pass by and take a table in the back corner.

This man should intimidate the fuck out of me. He’s powerful, wealthy, and he’s the father of the woman I love more than anything.

But he doesn’t scare me.

I’ve already faced my biggest fear and made it out to the other side.

My girl, at gunpoint, with a fucking monster holding on to her.

It’ll be in my nightmares for the rest of my life.

Patrick and I take our seats, and seconds later, the bartender delivers our drinks, and we take a sip.

“Do you think they’re ready for tomorrow, then?” he asks.

“Yes. I think they’re over-rehearsing at this point, but what do I know? They’ll be amazing.”

He nods, eyeing me.

“I’m not a man who beats around the bush, Beckett.”

“Neither am I, sir.”

He nods, then sips again. “I got the full report on what happened last week, but I want to hear from you how she’s doing since you seem to be closest to her. She puts on a brave face for us. Always has. She doesn’t like to be a burden even though we’re her family.”

“She’s handling it far better than she did LA,” I reply with a sigh. “I think it’s because it’s over. He’s gone. She doesn’t have to look over her shoulder or worry that he could pop up somewhere. Yeah, it was scary as hell, and it’s a moment that I never want to relive. But I’m glad it happened, and he’s done. Otherwise, I would have taken him out myself.”

His eyes narrow on me as he examines me, and then he blows out a breath and leans back in his chair.

“I’ve had plenty of frustrating moments in my life. In business, of course. In my marriage. With my babies.” He clears his throat. I expected Patrick Gallagher to be ruthless and cold, so I wasn’t expecting this family man. Right now, he’s a father concerned about his daughter.

And I don’t think I’ve ever respected him more.

“But,” he continues, “I don’t think I’ve ever been more fecking frustrated than I was in LA.”

I nod as I turn my glass in a circle. “I can only imagine. I didn’t realize before that night that Skyla hadn’t told you about him.”

“Did you know?” he asks.

With my gaze on his, I say, “Yes, sir.”

“Stubborn kids,” he mutters, shaking his head.

“Had I realized that youdidn’tknow, I would have encouraged her to tell you,” I continue. “Because you shouldn’t have been in the dark on that.”

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