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Max holds my hand in his as we make the short drive to Kroydon Hills. I think he tells me to wait for him once we get there. I might even agree. But when Luka pulls the Range Rover to a stop in Dixon’s driveway, I’m out of the car before the engine turns off.
Max catches up to me after a few steps. “Hey.” He wraps his arms around my waist and picks me up from behind. “Slow down. Take a breath.”
“Put me down. Now.” I’m not ready to play around.
Max’s arms grow tighter. “I need you to keep it together. Never show someone you’re upset. It gives them power. I want you to breathe in and out a few times. We’re going in there together. Got it?”
“Fuck.” I wiggle in his arms to get down. “I really hate it when you’re right. You know that?” After a few deep breaths, he finally sets me on my feet but links his fingers through mine.
“Ready?” Concern laces the corner of his eyes. “You don’t have to see him if you don’t want to. We can always leave it to the police.”
“No. I want to see him.” I steel my spine. “Let’s get this over with.”
Maddie meets us at the front door and pulls me in for a hug. “Oh my God, D. Brandon has your dad sitting on a chair in the dining room.”
I push past her with Max hot on my heels but stop dead in my tracks when my dad comes into view. He’s sitting at the table with Dixon standing next to him, massive arms crossed over his chest, and rage is rolling off him in waves.
Dix doesn’t even turn to look at me. “He was trying to break into your window, D.”
What the hell? I take a step back, right into Max. His hands cup my shoulders. “What are you doing here, Dad?” The look in his eyes is a mix of misery and hatred. Although, I can’t tell if it’s directed at me or himself. “What do you want?”
“I wanted to see you, Daphne.” He looks tired. Heavy bags line his red eyes, colliding with his ruddy cheeks. “Can we go somewhere to talk?”
“Absolutely not.” Max doesn’t give me a chance to answer. Instead, he moves me behind him and stalks closer to my father. “You left her here, completely in the dark, with nothing. Not a clue of what kind of man her father is. No idea who you owed money to or that she could be in fucking danger.” Max’s entire body is vibrating with unleashed fury. “What if they went after her?’” He steps forward and grips my father’s shirt, pulling him to his feet.
“Max. Stop.” I pull at his arms. “He’s not worth it.”
“But you are.” His deep blue eyes hold mine, promising me everything.
I step in front of him. “Did you pay Sam Beneventi back the money you owed him?”
“That’s why I need those rings, Daphne. There’s nothing left, and people are after me.” His face perks up. “I need them so I can keep you safe—”
“The fuck you do,” Max interrupts. “She doesn’t need anything from you. She’s safe. I made sure your shit will never touch her.”
Dad deflates before my eyes. And I make up my mind without ever realizing I’d even considered the action. I walk out of the room, with everyone calling after me, and go upstairs into my bedroom.
Moments later, when I’ve returned, and everyone is staring at me like I’m a bomb that’s about to explode, I finally tell my father all the things that have kept me up at night since he left.
“I’m so mad at you, I want to cry. Not because I’m sad, but because I’m so angry, my emotions are simmering. For selling the team Grandpa loved. For selling the house I grew up in and not warning me or letting me take any of my memories before you did it. For making such horrifically awful decisions that you put us both at risk.” I try to keep my composure and push through my emotions, but the red-hot tears are burning behind my eyelids. “I hate that you made me feel like I was unloved. That our relationship was a lie, and it was easy to toss me aside.”
“Daphne—”
“No. You don’t get to speak. Not this time.” I reach out and place the rings on the table.
Maddie gasps, and Max and Dixon both call out to me, but I ignore them all. “Take them, Dad. Take them and leave. Pay off whatever debt you have and leave Philly. Don’t come back. Don’t call. Don’t think there is any chance of you ever being involved in my life or my children’s lives.”
“Daph...” Dad picks up both rings and places them on his pinky finger. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” I turn around and grab Max’s hand. “Can you call Sam and find out exactly who he owes money to?”
“I don’t have to.” Max pulls me against him. “Sam bought his debt.”
Now it’s my turn to gasp. “Why would he do that?”
“Because he wouldn’t let me when I wanted to.”
This man is so much more than I ever hoped to have. “Could we ask Luka to take him to Sam’s?”
