Fight Me (Fighting #1)

Chapter 26

The gesture seems to throw him and it takes him a little longer to speak again.

"I loved you mom, Violet. So much, but I was also an idiot. I slept around on her...that's what I regret the most." I look at his hand between mine, the familiar painful feeling making its way through me.

"I didn't need to know that." I say honestly, not understanding where this is going.

"You do, because it was like that...that Angelina was born." My gaze snaps to his.

"Angelina is my sister?" I whisper the words and curse when he nods.

"Her mother was a whore, but I knew she was mine. She has my hair, the shape of my eyes...I knew it. Your mother took care of her, she was a good woman. This is how Angelina's mother and your own became friends. I never told Angelina she was mine, never let her call me Dad...she was always smart and she knew, but she was happy with just being in my presence. And then, you came along. A little girl from the woman I loved and she latched on to you. She was always wanting to take care of you and said you two would be friends, but I noticed how she looked at me when I held you, took care of you, told you I loved you." I take a deep breath and stay silent.

"The rest you know. She started to disappear more and more as a teenager, until she couldn't hide the swelling belly anymore. She got pregnant. I was so fucking pissed, but at the same time I was indifferent. I met the kid, Aaron and decided since he wasn't running, that they should go live off together. Nobody else needed to find out she has opened her legs before she should have. I got her a small house and she left. Little did I know the Aaron was working with Callan. Around that time, your mother was killed too. Aaron was involved and  I couldn't take that shit. I killed him. I killed him and didn't care about the babies or Angelina." His crude words are venom to me. I start to feel nauseous. I cover my mouth with my hand.

I say a muffled "stop" against my hand before taking a deep breath.

"Are you going to be sick?" My father asks, ready to help me to a bathroom. I shake my head. I have to get this over with.

"Go on." I whisper, looking at the floor.

"Well, she was destroyed. He had taken the babies from her and I had taken him from her, too. I knew I had created a monster by the way she screamed and sobbed next to his body. I knew it, but I ignored it and that is why I need you to forgive me." I don't say anything. I just look into those eyes, so like mine and do nothing.

"Because I ignored all of this, I was too stupid to notice she contacted Callan, became a club whore and hurt you when you were a girl. She's brilliant and she knew just how to play her cards; she was with us when she needed to be and then she would be gone to "study". I didn't know she was that twisted, especially because all these years she's been in contact with me. She's told me everything, how you were living here, where you worked, when you fell for boy in blue. I knew it all, but then she went and did this to you." He rubs his face with both hands, moving it side to side slowly.

"I understand what you're telling me, but it wasn't your fault, Dad." He looks up at me with a small, sad smile.

"My sweet little girl, it is. If I had paid more attention, if I had protected you, none of that would have happened. Tell me you forgive me because if you don't, I don't know how I'll live with myself rotting in that cell." We study each other for a moment and he speaks up again. "I'm so sorry about the baby, Little Warrior. I thought for sure you would be alright." Tears begin to blur my vision and I give him a miserable shrug.

"The baby's much better now." He moves closer to me, pressing a kiss to my forehead and hugging me. I wrap my arms around him as well. "I forgive you. And I thank you for seeking Ian before looking for me. I'm not sure I would have left if he hadn't been there." He kisses the top of my head.