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“My fucking heart broke in that moment when I realized Etta was dead. But it was also healed because she had given me a daughter. One exactly like her mother if she had managed to reel in the fucking Devil himself. I started searching then, asking questions. I got pictures, and the moment I saw you, I knew. You were Etta’s, but you were also mine. Because although you have her beauty, that smile is mine.”
I sat back, wrapping my arms around my waist as I thought about all he’d lost and gone through. He hadn’t abandoned my mother. She had died, thinking he was a danger to us. My chest ached that she never knew how much he had loved her. That she had settled for someone like Luke when she could have had Liam. I could have been raised with a real father.
“He isn’t the Devil,” I said finally, not wanting the man who should have raised me to think of the man I loved in such a negative way.
Liam gave me a sad smile. “Yes, he is. But now that I’ve spoken to him, I don’t think there is another human alive who could give you the world while keeping you safe the way he can. Yes, I was able to take you out from under his nose, but that was because Tex had worked his magic on that Gina woman. We had watched until we found a weak link. Gina was more than willing to offer you up and do it so that you weren’t harmed. I don’t know why she did it, and I do hope she doesn’t die for it.”
I shook my head. “She won’t. I think I understand why she did, and I won’t let them kill her,” I said with conviction.
Liam chuckled. “I’m willing to bet you can do just that too. Before I’d heard how insane Hughes sounded over you on the phone, I wouldn’t have thought you could. But that man’s weakness seems to truly be in the form of my daughter”—he nodded his head toward my stomach—“and my grandchild.”
“I won’t let you hurt him,” I warned Liam.
If there was a side to pick and I was forced, I would choose Blaise. He needed to know that.
Liam laughed. “I risked my life when I had them take you. I wasn’t sure I’d see another birthday, but I wanted to know my daughter. I’d lived this shit life without Etta, and by God, if there was a part of her—of us—walking this earth, then I was willing to risk it to meet you. You don’t hurt the Devil, Madeline. The Devil destroys you.”
I scowled, not liking Blaise being referred to as the Devil.
Liam just shook his head with amusement twinkling in his eyes. “You’ll see one day. I’m not lying about your man. I’m telling you the truth because if that is the world you want to live in, then you need to know. Those enemies of his I warned you about? They’re stupid fuckers who think they can beat him. They’ll all die, trying. Hundreds already have. I thought I could keep you here, offer you a more average life. A good life. But I saw your face on the phone when you spoke to him, and I heard the agony in his voice when I spoke to him. I understand that kind of love, but I wasn’t as powerful as he is. I wasn’t able to keep mine.”
Hundreds? No, that was an exaggeration.
Liam leaned forward, holding out a phone to me. “Call him before he snaps and comes after more of my men.”
I took the phone and realized this phone was different than the last one he gave me. Blaise had known they’d change out their phones, but I doubted he was ever wrong. I dialed his number.
“Madeline.” He said my name before the first ring finished.
“Yes,” I replied, unable not to smile at the sound of his voice.
“Are you okay? Feel okay? Have you been sick? I’m ready for you to come home. I can’t do two more days.”
I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing at the urgency in his voice. This was not a monster or the Devil. Liam had bought into the lies that the family, I was sure, had created. The more powerful they seemed, the safer they were.
“I’m good. I got a little sick this morning, but I had a delicious breakfast. I miss you too,” I told him.
“Let me get you today,” he pleaded.
I looked across at my father and decided it was time to play my hand. “I’ll come back to you today, if you allow me to see Liam whenever I want to. I understand safety. You can decide how that is done, but if I walk out of here today, I want to know I can see him again.”
