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“Yes. They’re my family.” I didn’t back off on it even when she cringed. “If you let them, they might be your family someday too." I wouldn’t sugarcoat or lie to her about this. “Trust takes time.”
With a light hand, she cupped my cheek. “And forgiveness?”
“We’re not there yet,” I said, trying to be honest. “I want to get there, however. So maybe that will take time too.”
“Take all the time you need, Baby. If you need something from me, say the word. I’ll do it.”
I believed her. “I wish we’d been able to talk like this before…”
“Me too,” she admitted. “You’ve always been the strong one, though. For all that I hate for them, I can’t regret having you in my life.”
I wasn’t there yet either, but maybe soon. Maybe never. I hugged her again, then pulled away. “I may be gone for a bit. We’ll make sure you’re looked after.”
When all was said and done, I’d look into getting her a place and setting her up.
“I’ll be fine. You look afteryou.”
When the Sharpes were gone. When we erased them from the board, we would have some breathing room. Then we could deal with Julius King. But my guys were getting their future, and Mom…she deserved one too. A future and time for me to forgive her so we could build that relationship.
I wanted to say more, but the words just weren’t there. Only Milo was waiting when I let myself out. He locked the door and then gave me a rough hug.
“You okay?” he asked in a gruff voice that was somehow comforting in its abrasive bluntness. Or maybe I was just used to him.
“No,” I said, with a slow shake of my head. “But I’m getting there.” I peeked back at the locked door.
“She’s tough,” he said. “I wasn’t sure until she walked into the fridge. But she can handle this—even the ugly stuff.”
I didn’t snort, because I thought that too. “I don’t know if I can ever forgive her.” I wanted to—maybe that was enough?
“Ivy, she’s not going to ever forgive herself. Even if you somehow manage it. I want to hate her on your behalf. For a little while there…I did.” He stared at the door for a long moment. “She left a defenseless child with her rapist. No excuse will ever justify that to me. None.”
I swallowed.
“But that woman also loves you and wants to fight for you—and that’s worth so much. We didn’t win the lottery with our parents, biological or adoptive.”
“You think there’s hope for her?” I studied him, and he lifted his shoulders in a shrug.
“I think she cares. That’s a start. Everything else, we’ll tackle as we go along. I got you. We all do.”
A smile pulled at my mouth. “You’re a big ol’ teddy bear. You know that?” A teddy bear with teeth and a ferocious temper, but a teddy bear nonetheless.
“That’s our secret.” He booped my nose. “Now, let’s go settle all your boyfriends down because none of them wanted to wait downstairs.”
My boyfriends.
“I love our family,” I told him, and he gave me a one-armed hug before pressing a kiss to the top of my head.
“Me too—but that’s our secret too.”
I mimed zipping my lips, and he winked.
* * *
Despite gettingthe info we wanted, finding the yacht named the Hans Sachs took a lot of work. I’d forgotten about the damn boat. Even so, I’d put it out of my mind. I’d only ever been on it once.
For my birthday, when he decided I was ready formore. Just the name of it sent ice shivering over my skin. I couldn’t focus on that part. Liam made calls to his security people, his investigators, and finally, his attorneys.
He had people. A lot of them. None of it seemed to settle him down. Jasper and Vaughn played pool, but the game was more like something for them to do with their hands as conversation circled in the room.
