Page 66 of Forbidden Confessions: Vol. 2
Tears fall then. I’m not sure if it’s the ebb of my adrenaline or the sincerity of his words, but I bury my face in his neck and cling to him. Rush brings me closer, his arms tightening around me, as he rocks back and forth, doing his best to settle me.
“What’s going on here?” barks a deep voice I’d know anywhere.
I raise my head and look over Rush’s shoulder. “Daddy?”
He’s standing in the threshold of my bedroom, dressed in head-to-toe black, clutching a gun and wearing a forbidding glower.
“You’re back,” I breathe as I scramble to my feet and right my robe.
He takes in the scene, then his stare lands on Rush, who’s already on his feet, hovering protectively beside me.
“Sit rep?” Daddy snaps.
“I put a bullet in Dunne’s head after he threatened to rape and kill Vanessa.”
“Good riddance.” Then he turns to me with a gentler expression. “You okay, baby?”
“Thanks to Rush.” I take his hand in mine and squeeze.
“Just before that, Vanessa shot Russell in the foot when he tried to break in through the slider back there.” Rush gestures with his thumb over his shoulder. “I zip-tied him to the post of the patio cover.”
“Good, but I gathered that already. I meant you two.” Daddy points to us. “You’re in love?”
“Yes.” I clutch Rush’s hand even tighter.
“Garrison?”
Beside me, Rush tenses. “Yes, sir?”
“You’re in love with my daughter?”
“Yes, sir. And I know you told me never to touch her, but?—”
“But you did. I heard something about unauthorized sexual contact. Explain.”
“Daddy!” I’m mortified. “Stop. I love him.”
“I know. I heard you the first time, baby. Right now, I’m talking to him.” He points at Rush. “What do you have to say?”
“Vanessa is mine in every way, and I don’t regret a thing. She may, even now, be pregnant. I didn’t do a damn thing to prevent it because I intend to marry her if she’ll have me. I don’t need your consent, sir…but I’d like it.”
Daddy is quiet for a long, almost painful moment. Rush is nervous. I can tell when he slips an arm around me and brings me closer, like he’s afraid I’ll slip away. And I’m holding my breath, wondering what my father will say.
“So you’re taking full responsibility for her?”
Rush nods. “For the rest of my life.”
Suddenly, a big smile breaks out across Daddy’s face. “It’s about damn time.”
“What?” Rush explodes in a surge of breath.
Daddy’s smile becomes a laugh. “After that prom, I knew Vanessa was in love with you. She talked about you all the time—for years. She kept tabs on you through friends and social media, just like a good spy.” He winks. “When you were first promoted up to my team, I put you through hell to see what you were made of. To see if you were good enough for my daughter. Then I put you in charge of protecting her and I watched you. Honestly, I didn’t think you’d last a single day without putting your hands on her.”
If there’s a word to describe being more than mortified, I’m that right now. “Daddy!”
“Seven months, sir,” Rush growls. “Seven long, agonizing months. And you’re telling me all this time you not only approved but you wanted me to be with Vanessa?”
He shrugs. “I’m not going to live forever. Hell, I’m probably already too old for spy games now, but the idea of teaching recruits gives me hives and I’m not quite ready to quit doing what I love. Besides, it’s possible younger and stronger will get the jump on me first. I’ll go out in a blaze of glory, in service to my country and all that good stuff. But, either way, I wanted to make sure Vanessa was in good hands first.”
