My throat tightened painfully.
No.
He was trying to save me.
Rook moved beside the darkened window carefully. “You recognize them.”
“Yes.”
The word barely came out.
Hersh was beside me instantly now.
One arm sliding protectively around my waist.
Grounding me before my knees could give out.
“Talk to me.”
I swallowed hard.
“That was my father’s security convoy.”
The room went dead silent again.
Wolf frowned. “Private security?”
I nodded shakily.
“He hired them years ago.” My eyes stayed locked on theheadlights outside. “But after a while… Dad stopped letting me near them.”
Trigger’s expression shifted.
“Why?”
The answer hit me with brutal clarity now.
Because he knew.
My chest hurt so badly I could barely breathe.
“He didn’t want me around anyone connected to Mercer.”
Hersh went still beside me.
Not confused anymore.
Understanding.
Painful understanding.
I looked up at him slowly.
“All those years…” My voice cracked. “You thought my father hated you.”
Hersh’s jaw tightened.
“He did.”
