“No!” His explosive answer had her looking up at him warily, but he didn’t care because there was nothing further from the truth. “I wanted to know what made you unique. You intrigued me, Dani. I couldn’t get you out of my mind.”

Something flickered in her eyes, an emotion he couldn’t identify. He hoped it was a positive one.

“Thank you. You’re in the minority. A lot of people were intrigued, but not in a good way. Jim was one of those people. He thought Mom never should have had kids, because the syndrome is hereditary. He said she got off lucky with me and Deacon because we could at least hear, even though we were ‘freaks.’”

Diesel couldn’t control the growl that escaped his throat. “He said that? In front of you?”

“All the time. Especially when we went to live with him after our biological dad died. Both Deacon and I had dark hair and a white streak in the front. And, of course, the eyes.”

Diesel couldn’t help it. He reached out and skimmed his thumb across her cheeks, under her eyes. “Beautiful,” he whispered fiercely.

One side of her mouth lifted. “Where were you when I was a kid getting made fun of every day?” She shook her head. “Anyway, Mom married Bruce and we moved out of Jim and Tammy’s house. Jim told Bruce to make sure he didn’t make any more freaks with my mom, that statistically she was due for the ‘mother lode of deformity.’”

Diesel closed his eyes, needing a moment to control the absolute rage that flamed through him. “Your uncle is a fucking SOB.”

“Yeah, he is. He was worse when Greg was born, because he had all the same issues Deacon and I did, but he was a hundred percent deaf. And then Mom and Bruce died. Jim was so angry. He said he was going to have to clean up Mom’s mistakes again.”

Diesel realized he’d balled his hands into fists, visualizing slamming them into Jim Kimble’s face. “Greg is not a mistake. He’s bright and funny and he loves you.”

That made her eyes well up. “I know. But thanks.” She blinked and scrubbed the tears from her face with her sleeves. “Deacon was determined that Jim wouldn’t take custody of Greg. He figured if he got married, we could live in Bruce’s house and the state couldn’t take Greg away. Or the house, for that matter.”

Diesel’s brows lifted. “I’m thinking that didn’t work.”