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“He wanted you. All three of you,” she says slowly, her gaze sweeping over me and my siblings.
“He did?” This question comes from Tyson.
She turns to look at him. She just nods.
My heart thuds.
Once.
Twice.
Then it starts sprinting at a breakneck pace.
I didn’t realize how badly I’d needed to hear those words until she said them. Since I discovered he’d left, I’ve woken up every day wondering how my father could walk away from his children. It’s been the thing that has kept me from being able to feel any joy in finding him.
“Your grandfather was not going to let him have you. He had poured all of his hopes into you, Remi. So, I tried to mold you in his image because I didn’t want him to think you were a disappointment, too. I’d seen what he’d done to his other disappointment.”
“You’re saying he would have killed me?”
“I don’t know. But I didn’t want to take the chance. And you are so much like Lucas. This hard exterior you’ve developed to protect your soft inside. I knew you’d fuck up and then, he’d decide to clear the way for Tyson.” She sounds sad, but not apologetic at all.
“Good God.” I run a hand over my face and try to let that settle.
“I never told him what I found. Keep your enemies close—as I’ve always told you. In this case, I moved in with mine. But it was what I thought was best,” she says.
“Best? For us to live with the man who tried to kill your husband?”
“I always did what I thought was best.” She repeats.
“And you just let him get away with the attempted murder of his son?” Regan shouts and stands up. Tyson is glaring at her, his dark eyes full of malice.
“Yes.” She nods as if to reaffirm how obvious the answer should be. “Everything has a price. For your lives, nothing was too much to pay. And he was good to you. You’ve achieved so much. All of you.”
“We’re all miserable,” Tyson says quietly. “We are all miserable and our lives are a fucking lie. But look how much we achieved.” He stands up on th
at last word, his voice gets louder. “Why are none of you losing your shit?” he asks the room collectively. His eyes wide with disbelief.
“I lost my shit, Tyson. I’ve had six months to process it,” I remind him, trying to keep my voice gentle.
“But you just found out, right now that Pops tried to kill our father. His son. Pops.” He shakes his hands like he’s trying to rearrange the air around us. Create a whole new reality.
“Tyson—” Regan tries to calm him but he cuts her off flinging an arm in her direction.
“And she’s been calm about everything. You’ve had months to let it all sink in, but she found out when I did. And she’s sitting there like she’s watching a fucking play.”
“Who says I’m not losing my shit?” she asks, her voice rich with her grievance at his statement. She stands up and faces him. “Just because I’m not screaming like the rest of you?” She flings her arms wide. “I’m thinking about my own fucking children, Tyson. Something you don’t have to consider.”
I step in between them. “Hey. We should not be fighting with each other,” I say gently and try to appear calm, although it is the very last thing I am.
“Guess what, Legend, you are the only people I want to fight with right now. I’m done with this little circus you put on tonight.” His gaze sweeps the room once before he turns and stalks out. I don’t try to stop him. I know how he’s feeling and I know it will take time to process and come to terms with all of this.
Everything slows and I sit down heavily in the chair across from them. My mind is reeling and I just want this night to end, but I have a feeling the nightmare is just beginning. I stare between the two of them.
“I found him,” I add, and Gigi’s eyes fly open, her hand covering her mouth as she watches me wide-eyed.
“You didn’t,” my mother says.
“He’s here.” I watch her face.
