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Every word he said was months too late, but hearing them now gave me a sense of peace. I was finally recognized for who I was. I was finally given the apology that was long overdue.
He paused as he stared at me. “Griffin, I hope you accept my apology.”
I could be bitter about what happened, but that would be pointless. I took a bullet for this man, and he’d finally dropped his pride and bitterness and owned up to his mistakes. That was the most I could ask for. “I accept it.”
He pulled his right hand out of his pocket and extended it to me, offering me a handshake.
When I’d first tried to shake his hand, he’d looked at my gesture as a threat. He’d seemed like he wanted to spit on my palm rather than greet me like a man. Now, I stared at his offering, unsure if I was really seeing it because it seemed so mythical.
“You’re a good man, Griffin.”
I finally moved my hand into his and shook his hand—shook the hand of Crow Barsetti.
“And my daughter is lucky to have you.”
Seven
Vanessa
“Vanessa?” Father stepped into Conway’s hospital room.
I’d just gotten there after hitting a hotel, getting some sleep, and taking a shower. My brother was scheduled to be in the hospital for a few days. Right now, Conway was asleep, his face so black and blue he was hardly recognizable.
Sapphire was supposed to be there that morning, and I couldn’t wait to see her.
I looked at my father, seeing him stand in the doorway. “What’s up?”
He nodded to the lobby, telling me to join him where we could talk.
I followed him into the waiting room, which was empty. People hadn’t arrived yet, still getting ready for the day. “What’s going on?”
He stood with his hands in the pockets of his jeans, an exhausted expression in his eyes. Even though everyone was okay, he seemed just as stressed out. “There’s something I need to talk to you about. It’s going to be a lot to take in.”
“Okay…you’re scaring me.”
“Nothing to be scared about.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, my arms bubbling with goose bumps. “Then what is it?”
He sighed before he spoke, like he was trying to find the right words before he answered my question. “When your uncle and I saved Conway, we were in the middle of pandemonium. We were outnumbered, and when they took Conway away in the car, I didn’t have any other choice. I exposed myself to shoot out the driver. I didn’t get very far before a man pushed me down and pointed a gun in my face.”
My eyes watered immediately. “Father, please don’t. I don’t want to—”
“The reason I survived was because of Griffin.”
I hadn’t heard my father speak his name in months. I hadn’t heard anyone mention him in a while. My shoulders stiffened as I soaked up his words like a sponge, taking everything in but without processing it. “What?”
“The guy shot me, but Griffin took the bullet. Then Griffin proceeded to kill everyone in our vicinity…and save all of us.”
Speechless, my jaw dropped and I stopped breathing. “I…what?”
“He was the one who told me about the hit in the first place. Without him, I wouldn’t have even known about it. His men got Sapphire out before she could be taken. He saved your brother and your uncle. We’d all be dead if it weren’t for him.” Emotion entered his eyes, a look I’d only once seen my father express. The day I moved out, he was heartbroken, and that same sorrow came into his eyes now. “He saved my son…and I’ll never be able to repay him for that.”
“Oh my god…is he okay?”
“I got him and Conway to the hospital, and after surgery, he was fine. He’s in his room recovering.”
My heart started to pound. “He’s here?”
“Yes. We had a conversation. I thanked him for everything he did. I apologized to him for the way I treated him in the past. And when I told him he could ask me for anything, there was only one thing he wanted.”
Me.
I knew it was me.
My eyes watered, and my fingertips dug into my arms.
“I shook his hand and told him you would be lucky to have him.” My father’s eyes mirrored my own. “I’m sorry I kept him from you, tesoro. I’m sorry I caused you all this pain. I’m sorry…I couldn’t look past my hatred. I thought Griffin wasn’t a good enough man for you…but I was the man who wasn’t good enough for you.”
“Father…” The moisture formed tears that streaked down my cheeks. “That’s not true. That’ll never be true.”
He moved his hands to my arms and squeezed me gently. “I’ve never wanted to let you go. Watching you move out of my house was hard enough. Giving you to another man is even harder. But if I have to let you go…Griffin is the best man I can give you to. I know he’ll protect you, love you, and treasure you for how wonderful you are. A truly strong man wants a strong woman, and he’s never been intimidated by your strength. He put up with my bullshit for months. He listened to me insult him, and he never gave up on you. And then when he could have looked the other way and left me to my fate, he didn’t. He’s a much bigger man than I am.”
