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He blinked. “You have?”
“Yes. I’ve got a picture.” I walked to my purse and pulled out my wallet, removing the picture I’d held onto and never understood its importance. Until now. “This is my Uncle Derek—”
“That’s me and my dad—”
Woah.
We locked eyes.
“That’s my father. Austin Derek Holmes, Sr.”
“But he’s my Uncle Derek,” I whispered. “He used to come and see me every other weekend. We went to the zoo.”
My legs wobbled, and two sets of arms shot out.
Crow glared at Talon as he led me to the couch. I sat, too numb to speak.
“That must have been his way of keeping you safe.”
“Why?” I asked, gutted by the fact that my father never wanted me to know his real identity. Tears filled my eyes, and I hated crying. I couldn’t help it.
“Hey,” Crow choked, “none of that.”
A few tears slipped down my cheeks.
“Come here.” He reached for me, and I didn’t hesitate to wrap my arms around him, sniffling as he cleared his throat and hugged me back. “I’m sorry, Gail. I didn’t know about you. I never did.”
“What’s this picture then?” I asked.
“I’ve never seen it.”
“You haven’t?”
“No. But it’s me, my dad, I meanourdad, and a little girl I assume is you.”
“It’s one of my happiest childhood memories. I thought you were a friend from school. We went to the zoo that day, and Uncle Derek bought me a stuffed elephant because I told him how much I loved it. We had ice cream. I knocked yours out of your hand. You don’t remember?”
Crow frowned. “No. I wish I did.”
“I thought my dad died when I was a baby.”
“He must have believed you were in danger to hide the truth from both of us. It’s the only conclusion that makes sense.”
“He hid the truth from everyone, Gail. I’m sorry.”
I looked up, noticing the other men in the room for the first time. The one who spoke, an older guy with a graying beard and bald head, gave me an apologetic smile.
“I’m Raven. The V.P. of the Devil’s Murder. Rook was my best friend.”
Rook. Uncle Derek. My father. So many identities for the same man.
“You’re Talon’s uncle.”
“Yes. That’s Hawk.” He pointed to the guy with all the piercings and facial tattoos. “And that’s Carrion.”
The last guy dressed all in black. He stayed quiet and hovered on the edge of the room as if he felt more at home in the shadows as night descended and the room darkened.
“Hi,” responded awkwardly to Hawk and then Carrion. Hawk ticked his chin my way in greeting.
