AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“And that is why I wanted so much to be a part of this family,” Zach said quietly. “They are still fucked up. All people are. We all have our secret pains, and great parenting can’t fix some of the horrors the world will visit upon each of us, but that deep core of strength she has… She’s a woman who will fight beside you. Who will try hard to never let someone she loves down. Is your shame worth more than the life you could have together?”
He was being misunderstood. “It’s not about shame. Why should I feel ashamed? I think we’re talking about pride, and I have very little of that left.”
“But pride and shame feed each other,” Zach insisted. “I’m not talking about the pride you feel that you accomplished something or looking at your friends and being proud to know them. That’s the problem with the word. When pride is active it’s a good thing. When it’s passive, it’s nothing but a mask for shame. Think about that, Dare. When you’re sitting there telling yourself she hurt your pride, what she did was prick your shame—a thing she would say is not merely useless but harmful.”
He wasn’t listening to a bunch of therapeutic crap meant to manipulate him. “I already said I would do the mission. That’s all you people are getting out of me. And honestly, she’s the one who should be ashamed, but you’ve already pointed out she won’t feel that, so no harm, no fucking foul, man.”
“Oh, she’ll feel it. She’ll feel all of it and it will hurt, and she’ll try to show you she loves you. I’ve done what I could to help her. Now I’ll sit back and watch you make the biggest mistake of your life, and when you’ve decimated her, I’ll be there to put her back together, and I will not make the same mistake. Enjoy your life, Dare Nash. You’re going to get what you really want. Revenge on your father. It’s going to be hollow as hell when you’re alone.”
The door came open and Tasha entered, her eyes widening as she caught sight of him.
Damn, but she was beautiful, even with red eyes and a puffy face. She’d cried off all her makeup. Or had she faked it?
That was a dumb fucking thing to think.
Why would she pretend to cry? He was doing the job. She had nothing else to get from him.
If she was crying, it was because she needed to cry.
Her mom walked in, followed by her father.
“Well at least you’re on time, dumbass,” Ian Taggart said with a frown as he looked Zach’s way.
Zach stood, his body practically going to attention. “That sounds like an excellent reason to not fire me, sir. Always on time.”
Ian shook his head as he pulled out a chair for his wife. “If I fired all the dumbasses in my life, I’d have to do everything on my own. But that doesn’t mean I won’t kick your ass, Zach. Do not pull this crap again.”
A sigh of relief went through the man. “I won’t, sir.” He pulled out the chair next to him. “Tash, have a seat. Can I get you something? A water?”
Asshole. That wasn’t his fucking place. “Tasha, come sit beside me.”
She practically tripped over her feet to get to his side of the table. She sank into the chair beside him.
He reached over and took her hand, some insane instinct leading him on. “We have to look like a couple. I think we should keep the cover as long as we’re in public. This is practice. Nothing more.”
Her fingers curled around his. “Of course. That seems like a smart thing to do.”
The door came open again, and the rest of the team seemed to be streaming in. Ian took a place at the head of the table, his brow rising as he looked at the two of them and then Zach. He huffed and then opened the folder in front of him.
Ben sat next to the one Zach had pointed out as Tasha’s cousin TJ, who seemed to try to catch Lou’s eye. She didn’t seem to notice and sat down next to the murdery twin. Kala. He should get those names straight.
Tasha’s ex took a seat next to Zach and stared at their joined hands.
“Well, that didn’t take long,” Whittington said with a shake of his head. “I guess she’s…”
“Finish that sentence at your peril,” Tasha’s mother said. “Chet, you’re alive because I’ve kept this team on a leash. Finish that sentence and the leash will be off.”
Taggart smiled, but it was a toothy thing, a show of fangs and the hunger of a real predator. “Please finish the sentence.”
“Please,” her sister begged, looking every bit as hungry as her dad.
“I guess she’s really in love this time,” Whittington said with a huff. “Good for you, Tash.”
