Page 69 of Secret Baby Daddies
Jace swallowed so loud that I heard it from across the room.
“We were going to back out of the deal until we talked with him.”
“But you didn’t back out of the deal.” I could feel the crack growing deeper and wider, pieces of my heart dropping into a black hole waiting below to suck it up. “So, you’re in business with him. And you think you know what happened.”
“We have the court paperwork, Harley. It wasn’t pretty. There are things you don’t know that would change everything foryou.” Maddox stood up and paced on the opposite side of the room as me. “I know what you were told happened. I know you believe that and it crushed you. What if it wasn’t true, though? Wouldn’t you want to know? Wouldn’t you want to have your father if you could?”
“How long have you known he was my father?” I had to have all the facts. I needed to gather everything I could and tuck it away so when I was alone I could make sense of it.
“Since the beginning.” Luc gripped his hands together between his knees and blew out a harsh breath. “For me, anyway. I recognized you from the beginning. Jace and Maddox didn’t know until after the auction.”
A shiver traveled up my spine.
“You knew I was his daughter and you still slept with me? Why? Was it for your business?”
“Fuck no.” Luc shot up from the couch and marched towards me. “No, Harley. It had nothing to do with business. Or him. It was all you.”
I felt sick. They were on my father’s side. Of course, they were. Whatever business deal they’d made would probably be worth millions. For that sort of money they could believe anything my dad said. It was always money. My dad destroyed my mom for it andwithit. They were the same. They’d ignore the sins of my father if it meant making more money. How had I missed it? How had I been so blind and stupid? They’d forced me into their house and said everything I wanted to hear but was any of it real? If at the end of the day they could decide my father was a broken man and deserved a second chance, I couldn’t trust a thing they said. They weren’t on my side. They were on money’s side.
“Harley. Whatever you’re thinking, baby, it’s not that. I promise. We wouldn’t have touched him with a ten-foot pole if we believed he really did those things to your mother. Just lookat the stuff we found. Your mom had multiple stays in a mental hospital. The judge was a friend of your dad’s, yes, but the transcripts from court show that your mom wasn’t well. There’s even a report—”
“Did your research prove he wasn’t actually an absentee father, too? Did it show that he didn’t leave me with his horrible wife, all alone, so she could starve me and ridicule me?” I wrapped my arms around myself and looked down at my stomach. I was permanently tied to men who’d purposefully tied themselves to my father. After working for so long to be on my own, away from that man, they’d brought him right back into my life.
“No, Harley, of course not. It—”
I blew out a deep sigh.
“But those things weren’t enough to stop your business deal?”
The room grew painfully silent. They didn’t want to answer me because the truth was ugly. My abandonment and abuse weren’t enough to stop a multi-million-dollar business deal. Not for them.
I had to get away from them. It didn’t matter that my stupid heart wanted them for the rest of its life. I couldn’t be with men who cared more about money than they did me. They were already so wildly wealthy. They’d made the business deal not because they needed it but because it was a disease of greed. They just had to have more. They’d take and take and take until I was a husk of a woman, just like my mother. They’d use their power just like my dad had.
“Harley…it’s not—”
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I had to be smart. I couldn’t just walk out. They’d chase me down to get me back where they wanted me.
“I guess I understand. I need to sleep on it. Maybe I can look at everything tomorrow night? It’s been a long day and all I want to do right now is sleep.”
“You’re upset.” Jace stood up and moved closer. “How can we fix this, Harley?”
I held my breath and kissed him on the cheek.
“I’m just shocked by everything. It’s all so much. I’m not upset with y’all. Not really. Just give me tonight to think about everything. Tomorrow will be better.”
“You’re okay?” Maddox came over and gently pushed my hair behind my ear. “If you’re mad at us, give us hell. That’s how this works. If we fucked up, tell us. Scream at us. Fight us. Do whatever you have to do to feel better.”
I was going to shatter into a million little pieces if I didn’t get away from them. I felt like a truck was resting on my chest and I couldn’t get a full breath.
“I’m okay. I’m not mad at you. I’m just overwhelmed.”
I gave them each a kiss on the cheek and dug my nails into my palms to stay calm. Looking at them hurt. The way they looked back at me with something I’d mistaken for love was burying me slowly.
I had to say goodbye. Once our child was born I’d figure out how to handle handoffs without having to see them. If they didn’t try to convince the world that I was crazy like my father did to my mom. I couldn’t leave them without telling them the truth about my feelings. When I was gone I wanted them to know that I’d been serious. I’d gone all in for them.
I looked at each of them and forced a smile.
“I love each of you. I just want you to know that.”
