He holds me; like he did when I was a little girl, when my emotions were too big for me to work through on my own. He was always so good at just being there; knowing when I needed him to fix something, compared to moments like these, when all I need is him.

“We will get through this together.”

Dad fluffs the pillows, propping me up and Lou snuggles closer with a huff. She lays her head in my lap, big puppy dog eyes pleading with me.

“I know, girl, but we will be okay.”

Dad moves to my reading chair in the corner. He leans forward, resting his forearms on his knees. I understand that this would be hard for him, but he’s had years to prepare for this moment. Me? I have so many questions floating around in my mind. Where do I even begin?

Where has he been all this time? Why has he been there? Does he know what happened to Kyle?

Tanner enters the room, snapping me out of my thoughts, two steaming cups of tea in hand. He passes one to Dad before placing the other down on my bedside table.

“I’ve got a few things to take care of — a couple of phone calls to make. Come and get me if you need anything, okay?” Briefly he kisses the top of my head and turns, leaving the room.

The tea is hot, sending a comforting sting down my throat. I let my shoulders drop and relax my head back against the headboard. Moments pass before either of us speak.

Dad is the one who finally breaks the silence. “I know you will have a lot of questions, Kinsley. But —” he sighs. “I don’t know if tonight is the right time to start digging up the past.”

Chapter Forty-Six

Tanner

Warren’s footsteps pad down the stairs. My fingers fly across the keyboard, sending off my final email. Closing my laptop, I slide it across the kitchen bench and turn to face him.

“Kinsley?” I question with a raised brow. I shouldn’t be so abrupt, but fuck — I’ve only just met this guy and he has been with the enemy for the past fourteen years. Of course I am going to be hesitant to trust him. Jesse should be here dealing with this, and I should be up there with my girl.

“She’s asleep.” He pauses, looking over his shoulders and up the stairs. “I could sit there all night and watch her but she’s been through so much. I don’t want her to wake up and get a shock if I’m the first person she sees.”