Page 101 of Irish Betrayal

“I’m sorry we didn’t find you sooner.”

No response.

“Detective Jeffreys has some questions for you, Kitten,” he called her by her childhood nickname. “But soon, we can all go home.”

No response.

He could feel his daughter’s body vibrating through the covers where he was sitting on the bed next to her.

Her hands were pressed together, but he could see they were shaking. Blair kept her eyes on her lap and pulled her hands apart, signing without making eye contact.

“I’m sure you guys know about Peter. The things I did with him. I’m ashamed. I should have told you. I’m sorry. I’ve caused so much trouble by not being honest. I did plan on telling you everything when I got home. Now…I guess it’s too late.”

Coll had been shot in the line of duty and lost a leg in South America. Blair’s words were worse than that. Unfathomably worse.

He felt a hand come down on his shoulder and found Daniel behind him. “Let me have her, Coll.”

Daniel wasn’t asking. His instinct was to tell him to fuck off, but Cat touched his arm and nodded. Blair missed the exchange because her eyes were still downcast and closed.

As soon as they cleared the bed, Daniel swooped in. He pulled her covers off and ignored Blair’s surprised gasp and flailing hands, scooping her into his arms before turning and taking her place leaning against the raised mattress.

Coll took several steps away from the bed and clasped Catriona’s hand. He pulled her gently against him where she could lean, and he could hold her.

Daniel cradled Coll’s precious daughter. O’Faolain didn’t speak. He simply stroked Blair’s hair and back until she finally settled against him with a sigh.

The four people in that small hospital room were grieving, but in that moment, he had hope that not all was lost.

Until Daniel said, “I want an apology.”

fifty-two

BLAIR

“I want an apology.”

Blair momentarily forgot her battered face at her surprise, her mouth dropping open and pulling at her bruises. From her peripheral vision, she saw her father step forward. Daniel ignored him.

He took his arm from around her back and made sure she was looking at him as he spoke aloud and signed.

“You’ve always been the genius in our group, Blair, but I’m beginning to question that assessment. “You’re sorry? You apologize? For what? Being preyed upon as a child? For not understanding what Samson was, how far he was willing to go?

“Your dad’s already apologized. I’m not sure for what, though. Being a neglectful father? Was he neglectful?”

Blair gasped in outrage. “My parents are the best parents in the world!” She was so pissed, she couldn’t be sure if she whispered or shouted.

“Do you think your parents appreciated your heartfelt apology? I guess if we’re all going to say we’re sorry for a predator’s behavior, then it’s my turn,” Daniel said, his cheeks flexing.

“I left you, Blair, the love of my life, in the same town as that man. And unlike your parents, I did suspect something more had happened. Not child abuse, but something. And I still left. For a goddamn fire that meant nothing compared to you. I left, and it’s killed me every second since.

“You apologizing, Blair, makes us feel ten times worse, because you are the only one person completely innocent in this.

“I love you. Do you still love your parents? Me?”

Blair was shocked. Her hands went up and down. Her mouth opened and closed. She settled for, “I should have told you or Dad the moment I learned…what he’d done to me.” Blair closed her eyes, hating that her hesitation had landed them there.

She felt Daniel’s lips on her forehead, his warm breath skate over her cheek. He tapped her arm, which was how her friends had always gotten her attention when they wanted to speak.

“We need to forgive ourselves, not each other. I need to forgive myself for putting my family before you, and⁠—”