Page 97 of The Prodigal

But in order to honor the father who saved me, I would have to forgive the one who tried to kill me, and I can’t.

Not yet.

The termdadstill belongs to Tooney, who I hate—who ruined the heroism of the word.

I don’t have a dad.

I have a father with many nicknames. A father who has been patient, who endures my ribbing and slips of me addressing Ramsey as Mom.

But he’s never asked or seemed expectant of the title.

He simply waits, and it fucking kills me.

“Remington,” Duke tries again, this time more confident. “We’re going to get Albrecht. Your uncle Vance and I are working on it. Why do you think we came to Georgia with you?”

Because they’re fucking nosy, and they knew I was up to something.

“Don’t try lying to me, Dr. Depressing. I know your tells.”

Anytime Duke is lying, he gets more aggressive and alpha-sounding, like he is the boss and not the bitchiest brother.

“Fine,” he admits like a pussy—marriage has ruined him. “Vance and I came to Georgia to open the new plastic surgery office and help Halle with the foundation. But we also hoped you’d learn to trust us and reach out. We can help, Remington. I know you’re used to doing things on your own, but you don’t need to anymore.”

He pauses, giving me an opportunity to open up.

And like the asshole I am, I don’t.

Duke has been through enough. The last thing he and my mother need is to know why I desperately crave revenge against Albrecht. It would kill them to learn what Tooney did to me. I can’t add another reason for them to feel guilty. They deserve a fresh start.

They deserve a happily ever after.

“Maybe next time, Pops.”

And then I hang up.

Eden

Why me?

I tried to be a good person, a better daughter, and the best partner.

And yet, I still ended up alone with a carton full of fries.

I thought maybe, just this once, I found someone who appreciated me.

Maybe that was just me and my wishful thinking, though.

Remington was upfront about who he was from the beginning.

He said he was the villain.

I should have believed him, but I hoped he was different.

And he wasn’t.

He was just like Gerald and my mother—he needed something from me, and he had a plan to get it.

Remington’s betrayal hurts worse than finding out Albrecht is my birth father.

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