As Rick drew within a foot’s distance, Tonya stepped to the side, revealing her daughter. Her ex’s dropped jaw advertised that he knew exactly who he was looking at. Layla had the hair color that he’d probably possessed as a child. She had his eyes. Even the shape of their faces was similar, though Layla had the younger, feminine version.

“Rick Redsell, please meet Layla Sayre, your daughter,” Tonya said.

His focus shifted from Layla’s to Tonya’s face. Though he didn’t speak, Tonya could read his thoughts from the intensity of his stare. Did she know how much he stood to lose by her revealing his identity? Did she know what she’d lose?

“Nearly dying helped me gain perspective on my life, and who I was helping and hurting with my secrets,” she explained. “Layla deserves to know who her father is, and you should pay child support—on the books. Everything needs to be aboveboard.”

“I—”

Tonya held up a hand, not wanting him to say anything that could potentially devastate her child. “I understand how this changes things, and it’s fine. We only want what you’re legally required to provide. I won’t keep quiet anymore. It’s not fair to Layla or your ex. It’s not even fair to you because you’re missing out on this wonderful person standing right in front of you. And I think, if you give her a chance, you’ll find that knowing her is worth so much more than keeping any secret.”

She met Rick’s hard stare with one of her own, one filled with what Tonya had come to understand about herself. She was more than a victim who manipulated men after the fact to regain some sort of equal footing. She was a fighter. Though she’d been gravely injured, she’d fought to be heard in that dark room banging on the pipes. She’d battled to rebuild her and Layla’s life in a different neighborhood on very little money while struggling to physically recover. She’d pushed and shoved her way into a new job that would pay enough to support her and her daughter. And she would fight Rick for what he owed her. More than that, she would win.

Rick seemed to sense her new resolve. He nodded solemnly and turned his attention to Layla. Her body was trembling with anticipation. Tonya could see the emotions in the shaking hand that Layla extended in front of her.

“Nice to meet you,” she said.

Rick smiled. “Hi, Layla. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long.”

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

OKSANA