Wait.What? What in the heck is he saying?
He continues, “She married the man who raised you. I’m only sorry I didn’t find you sooner. When Red said she’d found you, I was overjoyed. When I discovered your talent, I couldn’t have been prouder.”
I feel like I’m going to be sick. “Wolfe, what are you saying?”
“My girl, I’m your father. I have the paperwork to prove everything.”
He goes to the table, lifting a folder. I’ve always been curious, so I can’t stop myself from going to his side.
In my ear, Oliver hisses, “Get away from him, Goldie!”
But I don’t listen. The folder is labeled Goldie Wolfe. No freaking way. I flip it open. There are photos of Wolfe and my mother. I don’t remember her, but my dad—or the man who raised me—had a photo of her. It’s the same woman. She’s so happy in each one.
Soon the photos are just of her, and she doesn’t look as happy. In each one, her stomach grows rounder. I cringe when I see the photo of her and my father at their wedding. She’s happy, but her smile doesn’t reach her eyes. The next photo is of her holding me. I wipe my eyes. I always wished I had something like this. Something that let me know I was loved.
The photos are few and far between and stop when I’m about three. Right before she died.
“She had cancer,” I say.
“I know.”
“If you knew, then why weren’t you there?”
He sighs. “I tried to reach out to her. She said it was too late, but that she wanted me to look after you. By the time I got her letter, she was gone, and your stepfather had moved, taking you with him.”
And her insurance money, I think bitterly. He told me enough times that the money was the only good thing to come from marrying her.
“So you find me, kill my best friend, tell me you’re my dad, and think this is going to work out happily ever after?”
“People like you and I don’t get a happily ever after. I hope that you will be in my life as I take my spot amongst the city’s most powerful men. And that one day when I’m gone, you will take over.”
This is too much. I take a step away from him, needing to think. He’s an evil man. I know that. So can I even trust anything he’s saying? I mean, photos can be manipulated. My gut says that, unfortunately, he’s telling the freaking truth. He’s my father.
“There’s a problem with your plan, you know? I haven’t needed a father figure in a long time. And killing my best friend? Well, that was stupid on your end.”
His eyes narrow. “Is that so?”
“The biggest mistake you made is underestimating me. And the Behr brothers.”
“Ah. I wondered if they had somehow gotten to you. I’m wounded, daughter.”
“I’m not your daughter.”
“Oh, but you are.”
“Maybe by blood,” I agree. “Nothing more. So you can take your plan and shove it where the sun doesn’t shine.”
“Pity. Oh well. More money for me.”
He reaches for a gun at the same time the door bursts open. All three of my guys storm in, guns out.
Atticus yells, “Get out of the way, Goldie.”
We practiced this. I’m supposed to stumble, hopefully getting Wolfe’s attention while they move in on him. I fall to my knees, and when I glance over my shoulder, I find Wolfe watching me. Ha-ha. Fucker.
He cries out as Finn punches him. While they take care of Wolfe, I crawl to the closet. Closing my eyes, I listen to the safe as I turn the dials. Am I surprised the combination is my birthday date? A little. The safe opens, and I pull out the jewelry. Gunfire rings out all around me, and I drop to the floor out of habit.
“It’s okay, angel. We got him.”