* 76%
countertops. He picks one up and moves over to my dad who hasn’t even tried to glance in my direction
“Where are the pictures of Phoebe?” he asks him. Is she not your blood?”
“She’s not mine,” Melissa growls at him. The sound sends a chill down my back and I try not to look in her direction. It’s been years since my skin crawled like this.
“I wasn’t talking to you, street cat, he growls at her. “Disgusting breed of animal
“My mate comes first my father answers him.
“If I were to kill these children, would your mate be enough for you still?” he grins.
“Don’t I panic “We should just go. They have nothing to do with this or me. The only thing that links us is our blood. I don‘ I know them and they don’t know us,”
“You hear that, you cowardly cat, he leans into my dad so they’re inches away from one another. “You and your pathetic. litter get to live another day because of her kindness, Is there anything you wish to tell her before I let you go?”
“Nothing” my father says tightly
“Pack it up, boys,” Arnold straightens up. “Give my love to your mother, Nate, and thank her for keeping it nice and tight for me,” he smirks at Knightly. “Make sure your stepfather hears,”
I try not to but my laugh breaks through. Knightly looks over at me with the same bemused smirk his father has on his face. Ayrie laughs too, but not for the same reason, obviously. He’s such an asshole. I may be terrified of him, but I see what Maria tried to tell me when she said I’d understand why she stayed with him if I ever met him.
“Laters, Nate,” Cory says. “Take care of them,” he looks over at us. He touches Aizen’s arm and pats Ayrie’s head. She doesn t stop him. “They’re beautiful”
“Thank you,” I nod
“I didn’t get to meet them the last time we worked togther, Desmond approaches. “Hey, pups. I’m your uncle, Des.”
How did I not make the connection when I met him in Millan? Standing here next to Knightly, they’re almost identical. They look just like Mr. Knightly. Both brothers.
“Be a good girl and listen to Nathan,” Arnold says looking down at the three of us. “What do they like?”
“Ayrie likes photography and waterpainting. Aizen likes calligraphy and animals,”
“And you?”
“I’m-” I try to tell him not to worry about me, but Knightly cuts me off.
“She designs clothes. The suit you’re wearing was her,”
“Yes, I heard you were good with your hands, he smiles at me and it makes me feel a little uneasy. Is he approving of me? He runs his hand over his suit with a smirk. “We’ll see what we can do about the predicament you find yourself in.” “It’s okay. I can take care of myself,” I tell him.
“I’m sure you can, little human,” he tips my chin like Knight. “I thank you for taking care of my grandchildren. They’re strong and perfect. My son can be an imbecile. Don’t let him get to you,”
“My pleasure,” I say ignoring the last part.
“Welcome to the Knightly family. For your sake, I hope you turn when he marks you,” with that, he leaves taking Knightly’s brothers with him.
“Oh, my god,” I breathe out relieved, and look up at him. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m so sorry you had to see that,” he nods. “We should go.”
“Go with Daddy,” I tell Ayrie.
“No,” she curls into me.
Aizen slips off my lap and goes to him. We both stare at one another for a second before he lifts him. He never wants to ga with him, but as soon as he’s up in his arms he wraps them around Knightly tightly. I smile as I stand to fix Ayrie in my arms.
“You should tell him your mother’s maiden name,” my father says when we get to the stairs. “You should have changed it a long time ago,”
A
I take his hand and get us the hell out of here
his house. I hate him and I hate her Knightly can tell. He doesn’t say anything as we get the hell out of this place His hand reaches out for mine once we’re on the highway It’s only then that I let tears fall. He didn’t even try to look at me That has been my entire life with him. In front of her, he shows nothing but contempt
That evil man wanted to meet my kids and his son’s mate so badly that he did the only thing he could think of to get us here. He showed concern in the only way he knew how and my father couldn’t even look at me
“Rizen, I whisper. He stiffens
“What did you say?”
“My mother’s maiden name. It was Rizen. Her name was Anastasia Rizen,
“Are you sure?” he asks. I nod taking a tissue from my purse.
“Mommy. Fruit snacks” Ayrie says. That happens every time I reach for my purse.
“Yes, please,” Aizen laughs, I take a couple of baggies and open them up for the two of them. I reach back with them in my hand. Ayrie takes one and pats my hand. Aizen does the same.
“Thank you, Mommy, they both giggle.
“I got Princess,” Ayrie tells him.
“I got Paw Patrol,” he holds up his. “I trade you my reds for your blues,”
“Okay,” she agrees immediately. Knightly grins and I almost jump out of my skin when the earpiece in my ear goes off.
“You did very good, Phoebe,” Mr. Blake’s voice says gently.
“Are you okay?” Knightly asks glancing at me worriedly.
“I forgot that was there, I admit. They both laugh at me.
“Head back to the airport, son. Take them home,”
“Yes, sir,” he says squeezing my hand. I take the earpiece out of my ear and turn it off. I set it in the center console
“Do you guys have to potty?” I ask..
“Mmm, in a little,” Ayrie says still chewing her snacks. Now that it’s over with, my body trembles as the adrenaline fades
“He’s wrong, you know,” I say looking up at Knightly. “I don’t think your dad made you weak, I think he made you stronger Showing compassion is not a weakness. Forcing the pain that was forced upon us upon others is the ultimate form of weakness. I’m sorry you had to suffer that as a child. I want you to know that I’d never think of you less because of his ugly
words,”
The muscles along his jaw tighten when he pulls away. He swallows hard and nods without meeting my eyes. That man tried to humiliate him and I’m willing to bet that he got exactly what he wanted out of our encounter. My dad stood by and watched when his mate did that to me growing up.
He put that ugly thought in Knightly’s head. I reach out to place my hand where his father tried to push him down into submission. His body jerks, but he doesn’t ask me to stop. I edge my nails lightly into his skin. It takes him a bit to relax and when he finally does he’s trembling just as hard as I had been moments ago.
Fucked up childhood, I understand, Melissa made my life a living hell growing up. Maybe things would have been different if my father had been hard on me, but his indifference was far worse.
Arnold is a brute. His heartlessness is more than obvious. I can’t even imagine what it took to make him that way, but it’s obvious that he loves his children in his own sick twisted way. It’s more than I can say about mine.
I used to think that he hated me because I was born a girl. But he has two daughters now and they clung to him and his sons in a way that I was never allowed to. He never showed concern for me. He never stopped the beatings. He never stopped her from destroying my things. He never apologized for locking me in that moldy basement for days without making sure I had anything to eat, I wish them well and pray that they never try to contact me again.
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