His pupils are still dilated when he meets my gaze, but he’s not gripping the knife as tightly. “I was just trying to do the right thing.”
“I know you are, and I know we’ve been through a lot the past few months. I know none of this is easy for you…”
“I should’ve come sooner.”
“You came.” My breath hitches slightly. “That’s what matters. I want you to give me the knife, okay?”
My father’s eyes move to Mason, and then back to me. “It’s my job to protect you.”
“I’m not in danger.” I muster a small smile. “See?”
My mother comes to stand next to me. “Please, Berrett. Let’s all walk out of here.”
His gaze swings between us, his breathing still labored.
He stiffens when I reach for the knife, and no one in the room breathes. Then, just as suddenly, his grip on the knife slackens, and I gingerly hold it away from me. My eyes don’t leave his face as I take a few steps backward and let the knife fall onto the deskwith a clatter. As soon as it does, I walk back to my dad and throw my arms around him.
My mother chokes back a sob and throws her arms around us.
We sink to the floor, and I don’t realize I’m crying until my mother strokes my face. In silence, I squeeze my eyes shut and hold on for dear life until the tightness in my chest eases.
Fuck.
That was too close.
How many more people will be put in the line of fire before you realize what you’ve done? You could have lost your parents tonight.
I draw back to look at them, lingering on their gaunt, tired faces longer than necessary. My mom does her best to hold my gaze and offer me a half smile, but my dad is looking anywhere but at me.
I can’t blame him when I spent months trying to hide all of this from him.
It takes several deep breaths for me to steady my nerves. When I finally do, I stand up and help my parents do the same. My mom accepts my help without question, but my dad inches away from me like I’m contagious.
I want to throw myself at their mercy, curl up into their laps, and let them take charge.
Life was so much simpler when you could still do those things. Now, they can barely look at you, their precious golden daughter, fallen from grace.
“I appreciate the fact that you came,” I begin, “but like I said, there was no need. If you had answered your phones, you’d know.”
My mother shakes her head and reaches for my hand. “Let us take care of this, sweetheart. We’ll figure something out.”
I frown. “I’m not a child anymore, Mom. I don’t need you to agree with my choices, but you can at least respect them.”
Especially when it comes to things they don’t understand.
Neither of them can know that my contract—the reason I set foot in this place in a desperate attempt to make a deal to save my father—no longer exists.
They wouldn’t get it, and they wouldn’t leave without causing more problems.
How are you going to get them to walk away? Your parents haven’t seen eye to eye on anything in years. Doesn’t the fact that they’re both here, in the lion’s den, mean anything to you?
My chest swells with emotion as I look at them.
I open my mouth, ready to spill my guts, but think better of it.
It’ll break their hearts if they find out the truth. In time, they might learn to accept that you’re here, but if you tell them you’re pregnant…
They’ll think Mason did it on purpose, a sick attempt to keep me chained to him.