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“Why did you do it then?” Ryland couldn’t hide the bitterness in his voice and wondered what had trumped him and Addie.
“It’s a long story, but suffice it to say, I had reached a point in my military career where I needed more. When they offered it to me, I took it.”
“Who’s they?”
“The government,” he said carefully.
Almost too easily?Ryland wondered. He shook his head in disgust, his anger and confusion building. “So you chose a job over your kids. Makes complete sense.”
Fuck, he was mad. Curling his fingers into the sand, he squeezed hard and the grains slid through his white knuckles.
“Is that my necklace?” his dad asked, eyes on the silver cross around Ryland’s neck.
Ryland tucked it back into his shirt. “Yeah. I’ve worn it since the day they delivered your ashes.”
Cross had the decency to look chagrined, but he didn’t comment. “And Addison? How is she?”
“Oh, Addie’s terrific. You know, just continuing Mom’s legacy—stealing antiquities and selling them off to rich assholes. You’d be proud.”
“I never approved of your mother’s occupation.”
“You knowingly married a thief, Dad. Don’t play innocent.”
“I’m not perfect, Ryland, and I’m the first to admit I’ve made some questionable decisions. You better than anyone should understand that.”
“What the fuck’s that supposed to mean?” he snapped.
“Watch your tone.”
Ryland let out a sharp bark of laughter. “Don’t you dare try to act like a father now. You gave up that right when you left us thinking you were dead.”
“Ryland—”
No, he’d had enough. “Just stop,” Ryland gritted out and stood up. “I need to walk away now before I say something I’ll regret.”
Cross looked like he was going to comment further, but then shut his mouth. “Understood.”
Stalking back across the beach, Ryland tried to get his emotions under control, but they were all over the place. His father wasn’t answering his questions—not really—and he didn’t think the man regretted any choice he’d made.
Including the shitty decision to leave him and Addie.
Truthfully, the only thing Ryland wanted was an apology. A “sorry, kid, for choosing my career over you and letting you all think I was dead for the past ten years.”
But, no, he didn’t get that. And, as far as he could tell, he wasn’t going to, either.
???
When Ryland returned to the bungalow, Harper could feel the intense anger rolling off him. He was seriously pissed and had every right to be angry at his father, but there was nothing she or his team could do. He’d have to make peace with his father on his own terms. Or maybe he never would. That was a decision only he could make.
But she could support him through it.
When he came over, she patted the place on the couch beside her. Without a word, he sat and ran a hand through his wild hair. His telltale move that told her he was frustrated.
A makeshift command center had already been set up and Banshee was typing furiously on his laptop. These guys did not mess around and were already working hard and digging for answers.
Crossing her legs, she silently thanked Bruja for the wardrobe assistance. The badass woman was really growing on her. It didn’t escape Harper’s notice that her fellow male teammates respected her and treated her like an equal. At the same time, Harper also couldn’t help but envy the woman’s inherent beauty. Small but curvy, with thick, dark waves and light caramel eyes, she reminded her a little of a young Salma Hayek. She seemed like someone who could fit in anywhere. If this situation dragged out much longer, Harper hoped she could find a friend in the woman she was quickly coming to admire.
Thinking of women she admired, Harper still had to call Savannah, though she had no idea what she was allowed to say.Sorry, Savvy, I’m on the run with a bunch of former military guys turned assassins and there’s some secret group trying to kill us all. So, we’ll be off grid for the foreseeable future.
