Page 95 of Love Bleeds Red
He exhales slowly. “I may have been a bit brash last night.”
The smell. The smudges. He doesn’t have to say it.
“What did you do? What did you burn down?”
Something scratches against the closed bedroom door, drawing our attention. I step back and he drops his hand.
“It’s probably just Havoc,” he says, his voice still thick with sleep.
“Havoc?”
“Yeah. She’s a little hellion of a tabby kitten. Jasper brought her home with her sister, Mayhem. Mayhem’s a little sweetie though, despite her name.”
I open the door and a small blur of fluff darts between my legs yowling like a demon before settling under the bed. “She’s not going to give me rabies, is she?”
He gets to his knees and pulls the kitten out from under the bed. She squirms at first, but then snuggles up against his chest. It’s actually really adorable.
“Of course not. Falin made sure they’re all vaccinated and healthy, despite Jasper’s worry about the shots hurting them.” He’s smirking and it makes my chest pang.
I reach out and give Havoc a scratch under the chin. “Sounds like Falin’s got him under control,” I say, managing a smile. “I’m glad he’s been okay. I was worried about him… about everyone.”
His eyes burn into mine. “You worried about us?”
“Of course. I know losing me that way must have been hard on them,” I swallow and meet his gaze. “On you too.”
He sets Havoc down on the bed and takes my hands in his, his thumbs tracing gentle circles across my knuckles. “Of course it was difficult, but what we went through is nothing compared to what happened to you. We have a lot to talk about and I may have complicated things further last night. Fuck, I’m an idiot.” He brings my hand to his mouth and kisses it. “I love you, Bailey. I’ve never stopped loving you. Take however long you need, I’ll be here. I’m not going anywhere.”
Hearing my name from his lips, it’s like I’m in a dream. I want him to hold me, to kiss me and I’ll close my eyes and pretend it’s summer, that nothing’s changed. I open my mouth to say the words back. I love you too. I know I do… That hasn’t changed. But it feels wrong. He has no idea who I am anymore and saying those words will do nothing more than give him hope that we’re alright. That everything can go back to normal. I can’t do that to him.
“Leon,” I start, but he shakes his head.
“Before you say anything else, there’s something I need to tell you. Something I should have told you last night, but I was afraid.”
His grip on my hands tightens slightly. “What is it?”
He looks at me with a pained expression. “The man who had you... his name is Alfred Colter.”
I understand his words, but refuse to believe them. “No.”
“Alfred Colter is my father,” Leon says, his voice cracking. “My biological father.”
That can’t be right. I pull my hands free and step back, my mind reeling. Alfred... Sir... is a Colter. Leon’s father.
“I didn’t know,” Leon continues desperately. “I had no idea he was involved with any of this until we started tracking downleads. When we found out you were at his estate...” His voice breaks. “Bailey, I’m so fucking sorry.”
I can’t breathe. Can’t look at him.
The man that kept me locked up. That used me like a pet. Manipulated every aspect of my life. That evil man shares Leon’s blood.
“You have the same eyes,” I say, barely able to get the words out. “I should have seen it earlier.”
“Bailey, please. I know how this sounds, but you have to believe me… I had nothing to do with what he did to you. I’ve hated him my entire life. I left England to get away from him. Remember our conversations all summer? I never once mentioned him, because he was never a part of my life.”
My legs feel weak. Trembling, I sink down onto the edge of the bed, trying to process this information. To line it up with what I already know. “He talked about you. About preparing me for someone important. About his son, who was being stubborn.” The pieces fall into place like a twisted puzzle. I meet Leon’s gaze again. “He was preparing me foryou.”
“Fuck. What do you mean? Bailey… I had no idea. No part in his plans?—”
“He said you’d come around eventually. That you’d accept your destiny.” I hesitate a moment, struggling to look at those eyes that are the spitting image of Sir’s. “That’s why he let us go, isn’t it? At the estate. He saw you and he just... let us walk away.”
