Page 15 of Behind the Shadows
I couldn’t stop the tug at the corners of my mouth. Mom didn’t swear often, and it always made me laugh. “Much better. I’ve missed you. I want to hear about all the things.” I tipped my nose in the air. “Hmm.”
The sound of heavy, purposeful footsteps echoed through the pristine foyer, accompanied by the smell of fresh bread and spices. A man emerged from the kitchen, his round figure obscured by a cloud of flour. He wiped his hands off on a white apron before spotting me and breaking into a wide grin.
“There’s my girl!” Dad exclaimed as he made his way over to me. “You look as beautiful as ever, but …” He tilted his head and studied me for a moment before tapping the tip of my nose with his index finger, leaving traces of flour on my skin. “You’re a bit on the thin side. I'll have to send you home with some leftovers.”
“Hi, Dad.” I couldn’t help but fling myself into his open arms. My dad was the reason I was here, in this warm and familiar place. I loved my parents dearly, but he’d saved my life in more ways than one. And for that, I would always be grateful.
Mom had tried her best to raise me to be a graceful lady, but it seemed that my rebellious nature had won out—evidenced by my tendency to swear like a sailor and engage in casual sex. Despite our differences, I couldn't deny that she had done her best to shape me into who I was today. And that was no easy feat considering what a difficult teen I’d been.
“Do you want to help?” Dad beamed at me.
“Of course.”
“You two have fun. Let me know when it’s time to eat.” Mom squeezed my shoulder and disappeared to the library, where she spent a lot of time reading.
I beamed at Dad, and he led me into the kitchen, where he nodded to the blue apron sitting on top of the black granite counter.
“How have you been?” I slipped the apron over my head and tied it behind my waist.
“Good, but I’ve been missing my girl. Grab the potatoes and start peeling.” He resumed his position near the ball of dough and began to knead it.
“I know. I miss you too. With work at the office and hospital over the last several months, I’ve barely had time to sit down.” I glanced at him as sadness flickered through his brown-eyed gaze. “I’ll do better now that life has settled down a bit.” If only.
He looked over at me, a dark brow slightly raised. “I know your mother drives you crazy, but she loves you. We both do. We have since the moment you stumbled across the mall parking lot in our direction.” His words were gentle and nonjudgmental. I’d always loved that about him. Even when the conversation was uncomfortable, he was kind … unless you fucked with his family, then all bets were off, and the man literally transitioned into a beast right in front of you.Just like someone else you know. I swore to myself I would make better choices about men moving forward, then I brushed the thoughts of Coop out of my mind and focused on the potatoes.
Dammit, how had the conversation turned dark when we were talking about Mom? I hadn’t even been here for ten minutes.
My hand froze in midair, hovering above the counter. “Dad.” My voice cracked with emotion. “Please, I don't want to talk about it.”
“Sweetie, look at me.”
Reluctantly, I turned to him, gripping the handle of the peeler and imagining I could strangle the life force out of it. He stared into me, as if he could see all the pain and fear I was desperately trying to hide.
“I know something is wrong,” he said gently. “You're like a porcupine, prickly and guarded. But you don't have to be afraid to talk to me. What is it?”
I leaned against the countertop, feeling vulnerable under his scrutiny. My tongue darted over my lower lip, and I wondered if he would accept the partial truth. “I miss Coop. That’s all.”
“I understand that. Matters of the heart aren’t easy. But I think there’s something else.” He wiped off his apron, a trail of flour following his moves. “I know I’m prying, but I feel like something is off. Father’s intuition.” He winked at me.
Maybe I could talk to Dad, and he could help me put the irrational fears back in the box I’d buried deep inside my soul a long time ago. They weren’t irrational with Draco around.
I focused on the next potato as the brown peels piled up in the sink. “It’s someone from my past,” I finally managed. My jaw clenched as I forced myself not to cry.
A beat of silence hung in the air while I waited for him to respond.
“Who?” His tone held a sharp edge, and I knew that he would do everything in his power to protect me.
That was the problem, though. My parents couldn’t protect me no matter how hard they tried, because when the monster came out of the closet, it was only for one reason—to devour you.
“I know you haven’t told us everything about what happened before we found you.” His words were like a knife twisting in my gut, reopening old wounds and dredging up experiences I wanted to forget. “But if someone has found you, then I can help.” He paused. “This would be a good time to install a security system in your home, honey. I would feel better if you did.”
Security systems made my skin crawl. The idea of a third-party company watching, logging, controlling access just like when … No, thanks. All it did was remind me of my past. I trusted myself, my aim, and my paranoia.
But looking at my dad, I felt the familiar ache in my chest. He’d already lost so much because of me, because of what had been done to me. And yet he was still here, steady, offering to shoulder a weight he didn’t even fully understand. Part of me wanted to keep carrying it alone—to keep him safe in ignorance. But another part, the tired part, craved the comfort of not being the only one holding the truth anymore.
Maybe he couldn’t protect me back then, but maybe now he deserved the chance to try. Even if it meant cracking open the past I’d buried so deep it still poisoned me in my sleep.
I nodded and rubbed my arms. “I know you would, and I understand. I can’t tell you everything, but … you might want to sit down, Dad.”
