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“Of course.”
“I know it’s crazy, but I was starting to suspect Xavier was my father.”
My mouth fell open, my brows raised high, completely floored by her words.
“Ridiculous, right?”
“What gave you that idea?” I asked.
She shook her head again. “It’s nothing, Rhett. Really. It’s impossible, so just forget I said anything.”
“Samara.”She took in my set jaw and narrowed eyes, swallowing hard.“Answer the question.”
She ground her teeth for a moment, hesitating. Eventually, she said, “When we were at the house, when Phantom learned Cindy was dead, Xavier cried out something in what I believe was Italian. I don’t remember what he said, but something about hisaccent sounded familiar to me. I don’t know how, but in some weird, freaky way, his voice reminded me of my father’s.”
My throat tightened. I partially remember hearing Father spurt outsomethingamidst Phantom’s abuse, but I’d never thought twice about it because for one, my ears were ringing at the time, and two, my sole focus was on preventing Phantom from pummeling our father to death. I also didn’t speak or understand Italian.
But her father?
Samara seriously suspected Xavier Michaelson was her birth father?
“Fucking Hell, Samara. Thatiscrazy.” She blinked at me and scooted away like I’d offended her. “Shit. I’m sorry. That came out wrong.” I reached out for her hands, internally sighing with relief when she didn’t yank them away when my fingers tangled with hers. “What I mean is that you’re right—it’s impossible. Your father didn’t have any siblings. Xavier has a younger sister.”
“Wait,” Samara started, her brows crumpling like she was confused. “Are you talking about Finn’s mother?”
“Yes. Her name is Valerie King. My brothers and I call her Aunt Val. Finn’s full name is Griffin Cornelius King.”
“Oh.”Instant relief swept over her flawless face. “God, I’m such a fucking idiot.”
“You’re not an idiot,” I sweetly promised her. “You’re confused, stressed, and all you want is answers that I’m sorry to say, I can’t provide. The decision is yours, but I really think you should reach out to my father about it. He was there when all that shit went down between your family. If anyone has the answers you seek, it's him.”
I wasn’t expecting her to smile at me, much less move closer to plant a deep kiss on my lips that had my dick twitching to life. A moment later, she jerked away and rushed to her feet. Once sheregained her composure, she said, “That was just a thank you kiss. You know, for coming over and being here for me.”
My hungry gaze swept up her body as I stood tall and approached her. She didn’t back away and willingly let me wrap my hand around her nape and pull her sexy body against me.
“There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you, Samara. You know that, right?” I swallowed, terrified to say the words as Samara’s breath shuddered, her hot breath raking over my face as she stared up at me. It was a horrible idea, but it was what it was and I didn’t want to hide my real feelings for her anymore. Maybe if she knew, then she’d stay. Be with me, my brothers, and yes, even Jace, too. We’d love and protect her until our hearts stopped beating. I suspected Samara felt the same about us even though I knew she wasn’t ready to admit it yet. That was okay. I could wait. My brothers could, too.
Butthiscouldn’t.
“I love you, Samara.”
Her plump lips parted, and still, she didn’t back away. She just gazed up at me with another dam ready to pour down her face.
“You don’t have to say anything,” I whispered as I brought my free hand up and knuckled around her swollen eyelids, kissing her cheek. “Take as much time as you need to process it. Either way, I’ll be here when you’re ready to talk about whatever thisthingis between us and my brothers.”
I kissed her lips then pulled away and headed for the door, pausing to look back at her when I had my hand wrapped around the knob.
“A word of advice, though.Ifyou do feel the same, then you’re gonna have to put your foot down with Isaac and figure out some miraculous way to get him to open up to you about his trauma. Isaac is the way he is for a reason. It’s not my story to tell, but it’s honestly not his fault. His mind has been poisoned since hewas a child, and I truly believe that you, Samara Campbell, are his antidote.”
She opened her mouth, gasping, but I didn’t give her time to speak. I opened the door and closed it behind me, walking until I made it down to the elevators. The last thing I saw before the doors closed around me was Samara bursting out of her room and into the hall with tears streaming down her cheeks, staring at me with her chest heaving.
Isaac
6
My body furiously shook side to side in bed as an angry, distorted voice roared out my name, startling me awake.
“Isaac,” Phantom screeched again, making me sit up fast and pant hard, my lungs burning. “Get up. Sharkey called. It’s an emergency.”
