Page 99 of Allegiance

“I don’t deserve that happiness right now. I made a mistake, and I’ll pay for it. Unfortunately, that’s how life is.”

She knew why he was putting a crib together.

“The baby is yours, isn’t it?” she asked. “My mom wouldn’t tell me, but I know you two had a thing. When Aunt Jinx was here, they were talking about you. I heard them.”

What to say?

He went with the truth.

“Yeah. The baby is mine.”

She was curious.

“And you don’t want it?”

He laughed sardonically.

“Here’s the craziest thing, Violet. I didn’t want kids until I found out I had one, and that there wasn’t a snowball’s chance in Hell that I could be part of its life. I’m an idiot. I missed my chance, and I know it. Now, it’s just about trying to be there for your mom, you, and the baby.”

That surprised her.

“Why me?” she asked. “I’m not your kid.”

Again, he was honest.

She was sixteen, not four.

“Because the baby your mom is carrying is my child, and your sister or brother. Why would I only take care of my child? Of course, I’m going to take care of my child’s sister. That’s how I roll. When we made a baby, we created ties from Eve to me, from me to you, and from you to that baby. Like I said. You tell me what you need, and I’ll make sure it’s done.”

Oh, she was listening from outside the nursery.

Was it wrong?

Yes.

And Eve hated that he was sweet.

She could read a room, and he wasn’t bullshitting Violet in the least. She heard his voice and the pain. This was the other side of Dakota.

She’d seen the broken side and The Hunter side.

Now, she was seeing the man he could be.

Violet lowered her voice.

“You didn’t hear it from me, but she misses you. I think you should keep trying. Mom…she’s angry now, but I know she cries at night.”

That broke his heart.

He took the wrench she was holding.

“I cry a lot too. As for Eve, I miss your mom. Only, I made a bad choice, and now I have to pay the consequences. I’m fifty, Violet, and I hope you learn that young. It sucks to get that life lesson at my age. Make good choices so you’re not in this position.”

They didn’t speak for a good ten minutes as they put the rest of the crib together. When they were done, they slid it up against the wall.

“Well, that wasn’t too bad,” he said. “You make a good handywoman assistant.”

“We did good,” she admitted.