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I was afraid of this. He won’t be upset about Howie and me having a marriage arrangement but rather about what his father did. Ayden’s bigger now, stronger, and older. He could easily hurt his dad if he wanted to and that’s what scares me.
Mr. Carson would get Ayden arrested in a heartbeat if he touched him.
ChapterEleven
Ayden
Ican barely think straight as we pull into the driveway. Serena’s bouncing in the back seat with a sugar high as she talks about a boy named Sawyer Beck. We saw his family at the ice cream parlor, and apparently, the kids had a spat in school a few months ago. Laney assured me she handled it, which I have no doubt she did, but I was ready to tell that little boy to keep his hands off or it’d be the last time he used them.
Being a girl dad suddenly brings out a rage I thought was only fueled by my parents. Turns out it’s also brought on by little nine-year-old boys who dare to push my daughter and make her bleed.
My anger wouldn’t be so high if it weren’t for what Laney told me. Howie’s secret life, him having a partner, helping with my daughter, and now, husband to my high school girlfriend.
Though I’m not mad about them being married.
I’m upset theyhadto.
And enraged my father threatened her and she didn’t tell me about it sooner.
I didn’t plan to see him while I was here—fucking prayed I wouldn’t—but there’s a sudden urge to change that. He deserves some payback for the black eyes and broken ribs he gave me.
Once we’re inside, Serena takes her shopping bags to her room and starts organizing the new things I bought her. Laney said I shouldn’t spoil her, but I can’t help it. I have nine years’ worth of spoiling to do. If my daughter wants it, her daddy’s getting it for her.
“Ayden?” Laney murmurs in the doorway of her bedroom as I sit on the mattress.
“I need a moment,” I tell her honestly. My brain is still playing catch-up.
After a minute of silence, she speaks up. “I loved Howie as my closest friend. Nothin’ more.”
“I’m not upset about that, Lane.” Tilting my head, I meet her gaze. “You came to me over three weeks ago and told me I had a daughter. Then you neglected to tell me details about the lives you three shared after sayin’ you wanted me here. You said you were gonna tell me, but then why didn’t ya? Why keep it a secret?”
She frowns, inching closer. “I did try a couple times. We either got interrupted or I chickened out. I was scared I’d lose you again.”
Her soft, nervous voice has me furrowing my brow, and I stand. “Why would you think that?”
“If I’d told you those things—that your father threatened me, and Howie and I were married for five years—I was scared you wouldn’t want this.Us. I didn’t know what to expect or how you’d act when I saw you for the first time in ten years. I worried all this baggage upfront would be too much to handle. Your dad’s the reason you left in the first place. I thought anything involvin’ him would make you pause at comin’ here.” She takes a deep breath, her eyes downcast as she bites her lower lip. “So I waited to tell you because I selfishly wanted you here. I wanted you to meet our daughter and show you the possibility of what we could have. As a family.”
The pain in her voice has me closing the gap between us, and when I tilt up her chin, tears fall down her cheeks.
“I’m sorry you felt like you couldn’t tell me, Laney. I’ll do whatever it takes to rebuild that trust so you know that I’ll be here for you and Serena no matter what. I don’t care how big or small. If it involves either of you, I wanna know. I’m not goin’ anywhere. I promise.”
“I’m sorry. You deserved to know sooner.”
I cup her face, wiping away her tears with my thumb. Unable to resist, I lean in and softly press my lips to hers.
Slow and hesitant, she moves her tongue with mine, and I tease her mouth with mine. Tasting, giving, taking. I want to claim her.
Laney Bennett has always been mine, even miles apart and a decade later.
She always will be.
“Please tell me what my father did to you...” I murmur, pulling back just enough to lean my forehead against hers. My thoughts immediately go to what he did to Gabby, and I’ll kill him if he touched Laney. I’ve seen him do shady shit my entire life, so he’ll pay for whatever he’s done.
She nods. We sit on the bed and face each other.
“A few months after I found out I was pregnant, your dad came to the store while I was working and asked if what he heard about me was true. I pretended not to know what he was talkin’ about, but he could see my little baby bump and said he’d be takin’ me to court for full custody.”
“Full custody? That’s fuckin’ crazy.”
