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There’s a sad look in his eyes.
“She’s my oldest. I never raised a child before her, so I thought it was growing pains. Needing to assert her independence. When she told us she was moving to New York after college, I was happy for her. But I hated it. I always assumed she’d come back home after college.”
You and me both.
He shakes his head. “But Sandra told me that our girl needed to go off and find herself. She said that when she was ready, she would come back home. I know it’s selfish of me, but I want to have all of my kids close by. When she told us she was getting married to that artist in New York, I almost lost faith.”
My body tenses. I don’t like to be reminded that she was engaged to someone else. That was a low point in my life. Probably even worse than after my arrest and subsequent punishment. Deep down, I knew her marrying someone else would result in a change in our relationship. Even more so than her living so far away.
“But, the truth is, I never saw her ending up with him. He was ...” Uncle Damon rolls his eyes. “Maybe he was what she needed at the time. I’ve got strong instincts though. They’ve kept me alive this long.
“I knew it wouldn’t last with him. Not for very long.”
He meets my eyes. “I asked you if my daughter is safe with you, but I already know the answer to that. I would’ve never allowed you to be around her this long if I believed otherwise.”
“All due respect, Uncle Damon, even you couldn’t have kept me away from her.” I say the words without thinking. I know for damn sure there isn’t hell or highwater that could’ve kept me from her. No one and nothing.
He chuckles again. “You know what they say about thatall due respectshit, right?”
I return his laugh. “Just telling you my truth.”
“I expect nothing less,” he quickly replies. “Anyway, I’m not the one that needs convincing.”
He pauses, allowing me to figure out the meaning behind his words. He’s right.
“I saw that look on her face when you mentioned marriage,” her father says. “You’re sure, but my baby girl will need some convincing.”
“I’m certain enough for the both of us,” I reply.
Monique still has doubts, I can see it in her eyes, but there’s nothing I’m more sure of in my life.
“You’ve got your work cut out for you,” he finishes, and then wraps his arms around my shoulders. “If I know you—and I have since you were a little boy—I know you’ll figure it out.”
I nod. “I don’t have a choice,” I reply. “She’s my entire world.”
That’s the truth.
“If you ever forget to treat her like it, just remember I keep my two guns nearby. And that’s not the only way I know how to kill a man. I haven’t been down to the gym in quite some time, but my hands are still lethal.”
He looks me directly in the eye. Uncle Damon hasn’t been a part of it for years, but he was also once a part of the underground gym.
“I’ll remember that.”
“See that you do.”
“Damon, babe,” Monique’s mother knocks and enters the room. “Good, you haven’t hurt him.”
He tightens his arm around my neck. “Not yet.”
I grunt and step out of his fake headlock. “Monique?” I ask her mother.
“She’s in the bathroom monitoring her numbers before dinner. How about we head to the dining room?”
I follow them out of the room but not before checking Monique’s numbers on my phone. I’m relieved to see they’re in a safe range.
The relief is short-lived, when I think about her father’s words. She still isn’t convinced, which means I have more work to do.
CHAPTER21
