“And?” Draco had fully expected the man to learn everything about the man he was trusting to care for his daughter.
Marsh still faced the window as he spoke. “You’re good at what you do.”
Draco nodded. “I try.”
Cate’s father turned to Draco, his face set in stone, his gray eyes cold. “You left her.”
A heavy weight dropped to the pit of Draco’s belly.
He didn’t break eye contact, and he didn’t try to explain away his actions by reminding him that his job had required him to relocate, that neither he nor Cate had made any promises to each other, or that she’d never asked him to stay.
Though all of it was true...it was bullshit.
“Yes, sir,” Draco said. “I did.”
For a long moment, Marsh stared at him as if he hadn’t expected Draco’s response. As if he’d hoped for an argument, something he could use to justify being angry with the man who’d walked out on his daughter.
Draco braced for the anger.
It didn’t come. He could have handled the anger. What Marsh said hurt more.
“She didn’t tell me that you’d gone,” Marsh said. “When we spoke on the phone, she didn’t say where you’d been to eat, the game you’d taken her to see, the weekend you two spent at the beach. She stopped mentioning your name.” He shoved a hand through his hair. “She came to my house because I promised to cook dinner for her. She barely spoke and didn’t eat a single bite in the two hours she was there. When I asked her what was wrong, she said nothing.”
Marsh’s words were like a knife wedged between Draco’s ribs.
“You might not know this, because I’m sure Cate has never told anyone, but that girl has been left. By her mother when she was only thirteen. Not that Helen had a choice against pancreatic cancer. By me, too many times to count, every time my job with the government required me to board a plane to other parts of the world. Now by you.”
The man didn’t have to raise his voice to get his message across. Draco heard him loud and clear. If anything, the man’s voice grew softer, the words no less penetrating.
“Cate’s spent her life alone, refusing to rely on any one person.” Marsh drew in a breath and let it out slowly. “It’s a lonely life, and it breaks my heart to watch.”
It was breaking Draco’s heart knowing what he’d done to solidify Cate’s desire to remain autonomous.
“I thought all that had changed when she’d met you.” Marsh shook his head. “I was wrong.”
Draco opened his mouth to tell Cate’s father that he’d been wrong to leave.
Before he could, Marsh moved closer, his eyes narrowing. “If you’re going to be her shadow for however long it takes to find this Calloway fellow, you’d better be ready.”
Draco frowned. “Ready for what?”
“When this mission is over, you’d better be ready to stay at her side.” Marsh swallowed as if dislodging something stuck in his throat. “Cate’s one of the strongest women I know. She survived a kidnapping. She’ll survive being hunted, and I’m sure she’d even survive torture.” His voice grew quieter, breaking. “I don’t think she’d survive being left by you again. At the very least, let it be her decision if she chooses to let you stay.”
Silence filled the corridor. A silence so loud it screamed in Draco’s mind.
Draco lifted his chin and met Devon Marsh’s stare without blinking. “Sir, I’ve spent the last six months regretting the decision I made in less than a week. I’m not making that mistake again.”
Marsh searched his face for a long moment, his back stiff, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. Then his shoulders relaxed a little, and he flexed his fingers. “See that you do,” he said. “Then bring her home.”
Cate’s father left Draco in the hallway and joined the others in the private room.
Draco stood for a long time, letting the cool breeze from the open window wash over him until his hands were steady.
Hammer led the others out of the room, his gaze shooting to Draco. “You good?” he asked as he passed.
Draco nodded. “I’m good.” He waited until Cate emerged with Marta at her side.
Cate’s gaze met his briefly as if wondering why he was standing in the hall by himself. She didn’t say anything as she passed him on her way out of the restaurant.
