“Brynne has a fierce hold on my heart, and she will not let me go. Well, she might, now that she knows the truth.”
“Give it time.”
“I don’t think time will help.” I raised my gaze to the ceiling. “I want them to be okay and have a relationship together. I really do.” I inhaled a deep breath and cut my eyes to my dad’s. “If she tells me to stay away, I won’t return to Minnesota with the rest of you.”
“What?” he screwed up his face.
“I’ve been selfish long enough. It’s more important for Tina to have a relationship with her daughter than for me to be with the woman I love. I’ll sacrifice it all for the two of them. Brynne needs her mom.”
“Mijo, I don’t know what to say other than I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks. So you won’t stop me from staying if that’s what Brynne wants?”
“No.” He hit his fist against his chest. “Love you.”
“Love you too, Dad.”
I lift my eyes back to the ceiling. It killed me to not be up there comforting Brynne. I was sure she needed me, though she’d probably deny it.
Warmth spread in my chest. It was the weirdest thing. Then I heard my mama’s voice, “You’re going to be okay,mijo. I promise. Be strong, and don’t give up. It’s going to be okay.”
I recalled when I said those exact words the day she died.
Thank you, mama, for giving me hope.
28
Tina
My baby girl. Finally, we were together after more than a dozen years apart. I gave Brynne space and stayed back while she sniffed and blew her nose in the bed. She hadn’t told me to leave, and I was so grateful.
She was overwhelmed and far more emotional than I had expected. I should’ve known the depth of trauma she’d experienced when she discovered I was alive. I’d always known she was in the world, living her life and hopefully enjoying it. But it hadn’t been the same for her with me.
Stupid, stupid, stupid, Tina. You should’ve known better.
Yes, I should’ve.
“Just tell me why you stayed away from me,” she whispered.
I placed my hand on my chest. “I didn’t want to disrupt your life.”
“That’s a dumb excuse.” She rolled over to face me. “Do you have any idea how I feel right now?”
I shook my head because I honestly had no idea what she was feeling or thinking.
“No, no, you don’t. After you died, I was alone. Dad worked all the time. I had a coldhearted nanny who was also dad’s fuck-buddy, a bodyguard who ignored me, and Uncle Dorian. That was it. I was basically alone when I wasn’t at school.”
“Honey, I’m so sorry. I was afraid after the last beating Bruno gave me. I was sure he would make sure he killed me the next time. So I stayed away. But I never forgot about you. My husband Raul and his MC club planned to rescue you after you graduated. I was coming for you, sweetheart. I promise I was coming for you.”
“That’s lovely,” she said coldly. “In the meantime, I grew up alone with no one to read bedtime stories or sing to me like you did. No one cuddled me except Uncle Dorian.” Brynne trembled with a look of disgust on her face. “Gah, the thought of him creeps me out.”
“I don’t understand.” I wiped under my eyes with a tissue.
“I recently came to the realization that he was grooming me.”
“What do you mean grooming you? For what?” I felt silly not knowing what she was talking about. I lived in my own little bubble on the compound. After I’d escaped Bruno, I rarely went anywhere alone. I always had a prospect with me, or Raul took me wherever I needed to go.
“To be his. He wants me, which is why he tried to kill my dad.” She sat against the headboard and took a drink of water. Her hand went to her stomach and rested there, the same as I did when I was pregnant.