Page 76 of At the Edge of Surrender

“Just this random chick I met at Kane’s.” I grunted out what was only partially a lie.

Disbelief deepened the lines on Otto’s forehead. “Some random chick? Can’t imagine siftin’ through a stack that high. And you remember this one from what…close to five years ago?”

I hiked an indifferent shoulder. “What can I say…I have a good memory.”

Which was why I was sure Emery had felt so familiar. No, they weren’t indistinguishable or some shit like that. But there was a likeness. And you could say there was something sketchy aboutEmmaleethat had left a mark.

“Fuck, Kane.” He paused, eyes hunting around his living room like in it he was gonna find a clue. His voice dredged in the direction of disturbed when he continued, “How’d you find out?”

“Her sister came looking for me.”

“And what did?—?”

“I met her earlier today.” I cut him off before his question was fully out. Needing him to understand. Sure the tone of my voice would tell him everything he needed to know.

It did because he blew out a strained sigh, and he barely nodded his head. “I can only imagine what that might be like.”

“Changes your life in an instant.” It rolled out of me as a claim.

“That what this is? A complete change?” he hedged.

“Yup.” My insides rattled when I said it.

He chuckled out a low sound. “Daddy Kane. Can’t fuckin’ believe it.”

“Not a joke, man.” I blinked through the disorder. “Don’t know how the fuck to bring a little girl into this world. My life is…” I trailed off, unable to say it.

Otto leaned in close, any of the teasing he’d possessed evaporating as he curled a hand around my shoulder. “Don’t, Kane. Don’t question who you are or whether you’ve got the right. You’re a good man, and you’re going to be a good father.”

The sharp blade of a scoff ripped out. “A good man? You forget the things we get up to?”

And there was no way in hell I could go back on either of the jobs I had planned. Not the one my crew knew about or the one I kept in secret.

This was getting messy.

Really fucking messy.

Maci’s little laugh threaded through my mind, meeting with Nolan’s as he came skipping around the island and into the kitchen.

“Time out! I gotta get some water because I’m super thirsty, and it’s really smart to stay hydrated,” he hollered.

“Look at him, Kane.” Otto lowered his voice further. “That kid is happy as fuck, just like my kids are gonna be when I get lucky enough to have them, just like your daughter is going to be. We take care of them. Protect them. Love the hell out of them. You can count on that. Don’t try to convince yourself you don’t deserve this when there’s obviously a child here, needing you.”

Nolan went skating back out, slipping and sliding on his socks, holding an overflowing glass of water in two hands and trying to balance it as he shouted, “Dance party unpaused!”

The chairs on the opposite side of the table suddenly screeched, and Theo and River each plopped onto a seat.

“What’s goin’ on over here?” River asked, concern in that dark, knowing gaze.

“Seems our boy Kane here has some news,” Otto supplied.

Interest piqued in Theo right as River asked, “Yeah, what’s that?”

Found no point in keeping it secret. This was it. My reality.

So, I grunted, “I have a little girl, and I’m going to raise her.”

NINETEEN

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