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His eyes narrowed. “Father,” he corrected.
“You know the biggest lesson I learned playing in New York? Don’t boast about titles you haven’t earned.” He took the chair across from him. “Make it quick.”
“You have to help me. You cut me off and I had to go to a loan shark. Now, I need to pay him.”
Cam shook his head. “That’s none of my business. I gave you a stipend for years. I went to bat for the family after you gambled away even our house that one time. I won’t do it anymore. Lux and Chase are adults and you kept my daughter from me.”
He shrugged a shoulder. “I didn’t do that. Not technically. The Hayes girl did.”
“Arenas, and because you forced her to.”
Walter smiled. “She told you what I know?”
Cam said nothing.
“Oh. She didn’t. The apple doesn’t fall far from a tree. She’s got Fausto’s genes. Though she and her mother may just be worse than him.”
Cam scoffed. “You can’t even ask for things like a normal human being. You need me. I don’t need you. Act like it.”
“Don’t be so sure. If I revealed what I know, you’d be the one begging me for help. Your mother told me you had the kid tested. Congratulations. You’re about to learn the sacrifices a parent makes for his child.”
His stomach dropped. He couldn’t take much more of this.
“Here’s your beer, Cam.” Lauren called out a few feet away. She approached the table and placed it in front of him.
“I’ll have some water,” Walter said.
She leaned closer and smiled. “Youdon’t want me anywhere near anything you have to eat or drink.”
She walked away still smiling, her long ponytail bouncing with every step. Walter’s lip curled, making Cam chuckle.
“That girl is another piece of trash. You and your brother should be forever grateful of what your mother and I did to protect the two of you. At least you were smart enough not to bring your tail home.” He tapped the table as if to signal he finished talking.
Cam was still stewing over his implications. “First, Adrianna and Lauren are not trash. They never were. You need to leave and never come back. And don’t ever show your face anywhere near Bronwyn’s school. I will personally have you arrested if I see you again.”
“No, you won’t. Because I’m your father and I always protected you. You got to do the same for me with the loan shark. You know these people hurt those who don’t pay. You got to help your daddy.”
Cam stomach rolled this time. Daddy was a word he now loved and would work the rest of his life to always deserve. But the man in front of him would never hear it from his lips. “Leave, Walter. Go find a new cash cow. I’m done with you.”
Walter stood up. He was calm like he’d gotten what he came for. “I’ll give you until tomorrow to get me what I need. I can’t be responsible after that. Talk to Adrianna. I’m sure she’ll tell you how important it is to be there for your father.”
He walked away. Cam’s hand tightened on the beer. He needed answers.
He headed upstairs, waving to Lauren. The living room was empty and the house all quiet except for the whispers coming from Bron’s bedroom.
“Is your head hurting tonight?” his daughter asked.
“No, I think I just need some sleep.” Adri’s voice was soft but heavy.
Fucking Walter.
Cam move to the bedroom door. Adrianna lay on the bed with Bron’s face pressed against her chest.
“Your heart’s beating really fast,Mom.”
Adrianna opened her mouth but said nothing.
“It’s because I’m around,” he said, finding himself in the center of her worried gaze.
