Page 75 of At the Edge of Surrender

Battle going down inside me, I took a sip from my tumbler as I let my attention drift out the window toward the lake.

Every time that little girl’s face passed through my mind, I was stunned all over again.

Couldn’t shake the expression that had been written on Emery’s face, either.

The agony that had cut through her middle when I’d told her that I wanted to raise Maci. The way she couldn’t form a response even though it was clear in her eyes she had plenty to say.

My Little Warrior was going to give me a fight, but it wasn’t like I was just going to rip the child from everything she knew, either.

Blowing out the strain, I tried to force my focus back to my family. To play this thing the way I always did. But apparently, I wasn’t fooling anyone considering a minute later Otto came sauntering my way with a smirk written all over his face. Didn’t mean it wasn’t obvious he was on a mission.

I couldn’t even bring myself to acknowledge him, knowing I was likely to bust apart if I even opened my mouth.

I winced when the toe of his boot pushed into my calf, his voice held in a whisper as he demanded, “What the hell is up with you, man?”

“Nothin’.” Could barely force it out, and I took another swig to try to wet the drought I couldn’t quench in my throat.

“Nothin’? You’ve been sitting over here acting like a broody fucker for the whole day when you’re normally over there instigating the shenanigans.”

Otto pointed a finger at Charleigh, Raven, and Nolan who were currently skipping around in a circle, holding each other’s hands.

Anxiety billowed through.

Didn’t know how to lie to my best friend point blank. My brother who knew me better than anyone.

I skimmed a shaking hand over my hair and cocked my head to the side, trying to swallow as I fully looked Otto in the face.

True concern had taken hold of his features. No question, he had caught up to the fact that whatever was going down with me was big.

And I couldn’t hold it.

Couldn’t contain it.

The blunt confession came spilling out.

“Seems I have a kid. And her mother is dead.”

Dude’s eyes doubled in size, rounding as he rocked back in his chair like he was the one who’d been delivered the blow. “What the fuck?”

He probably said it a little too loud since it caused Theo to dart us a questioning glance from where he was relaxed back on the couch.

Otto shifted forward again, lowering his voice and repeating the same damned thing like I hadn’t heard him the first time. “What the fuck, man?”

Agitated, I took another sip.

“Got a kid. A little girl.”

“How old?”

“Four.”

“Are you sure she’s yours?” Speculation filled his tone.

“She looks just like me.” I hesitated before I admitted, “And I remember her mom.”

“Who was she?”

My head shook as the memories swarmed. Memories that weren’t necessarily good. Way I’d caught her snooping around in my office at the back of Kane’s after we’d hooked up.

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