Chapter 31: Hidden Heir: Chapter 31

It’s not a hard choice to make.

I knew my answer before the words were even fully out of Brooke’s mouth.

Her. I choose her.

Before Brooke came into my life, I was blind.

As a child, I’d been horrified when my father introduced me to the line of work we were in. I suppose I distanced myself from the truth over the years, staying away from the hands-on aspects of the job and focusing on the paperwork instead. They were no longer people but mere numbers on a page buried in lists. They were products being shipped from all over the world without so much as a blink.

I didn’t think about them beyond that and I didn’t care.

Brooke has changed the way I see things now. Not only with her reaction, but the words she said to me while we were in captivity which still resonate weeks later. Brooke and I barely survived that ordeal, and the scars of such trauma will run deep for years to come. I have surely sent countless people to similar fates and I can’t ignore that. My disconnect has been ruined and guilt sits heavily upon me.

“You,” I say, gripping the rubber on my crutches. “It’s not even a choice, Brooke. Do you understand that I would do anything to keep you in my life? Absolutely anything. What Paul did…” I shudder slightly and my grip tightens. “Well, let’s just say the way I look at things has changed. I shake my head. “I was disconnected. I didn’t view them as people. For years they’ve been nothing more than numbers in a spreadsheet. We tend not to think too much about where our food comes from or who makes our clothes. That’s how it was for me. They were products. Had I allowed myself to think any other way I wouldn’t have been able to do my job.”

It’s such a pathetic excuse. Two months ago I would have laughed at the very idea of putting an end to such a huge money maker. But the way I see it now I have to. Not just because of my own experience, but also because of the bombshell Brooke dropped during what we thought were our last moments alive.

“I want a future with you,” I say softly. “And I want a future with Tiffany.”

“I understand,” Brooke replies. “Disconnecting yourself so severely from something completely removes the impact so I do understand. But it can’t continue.”

“It won’t.”

“You have to promise me.” She fixes me with a hard look. “Because I will not raise my daughter around such cruelty. If at any moment I find out you’re still involved I will take her and leave. You will never see either one of us again.”

“I swear it.” It’s the most honest I’ve ever been. “I will swear it every day from here on out.”

Brooke tilts her head slightly then reaches out for me. I take her hand and she helps me lower myself down onto the bed next to her. As she threads our fingers together I’m momentarily distracted by the twisted flesh across her palms. I will never forgive myself for being unable to save her from such pain, but I will spend the rest of my life protecting her and making up for it.

“So,” Brooke says softly. “Tiffany.”

I nod once. “I’ll be honest, I don’t know the first thing about kids. So, however you want to do this is what I will follow.”

“I don’t have any kind of plan,” Brooke replies. “But it will have to be a slow process. She’s already been through a lot. Dropping her father on her suddenly will be intense, so we’re going to take it slow. Recovery first.”

“I understand.”

“She needs to be safe.” Brooke looks up at me earnestly. “I need her to feel safe at all times.”

“I will make sure she always knows she’s safe,” I promise, studying Brooke’s face. I mean every word and I will do the same for Brooke. The feelings that I already had for her have only been amplified since I woke up in the hospital. Now that I’m sitting next to her, that overwhelming desire is back tenfold.

I will move at her pace and I will be there for her in whatever capacity she needs me to be. I will be the best man for her that I possibly can.

I’m about to tell her this when the door opens. Tiffany runs in with tears streaming down her face, followed by Selina who looks like she’s trying very hard not to laugh.

“Mommy!” Tiffany wails, making a beeline for Brooke.

“Honey!” Brooke slides off the bed so she can scoop Tiffany up into her arms then cuddles her close. “What’s happened?”

“I lost it!” Tiffany sobs.

“She, ahem,” Selina clears her throat to hide her laugh. “She was messing around with her chocolate bar in the elevator and dropped it. It fell through the gap just before the doors closed.”

“Oh, no,” Brooke is less successful in hiding her laugh as she kisses Tiffany’s head. “That’s just bad luck, isn’t it?”

“I lost it,” Tiffany says again, then turns her gigantic, tear-filled eyes to me. “It’s gone!”

My heart clenches at the sight so I reach out to soothe her, taking one of her flailing hands in mine. “How about I give Selina some money and she can take you down to the gift shop to pick out something else? Something even better than a chocolate bar.” I glance at Brooke for permission and she nods.

“That would be sweet, wouldn’t it?” Brooke says, kissing Tiffany’s wet cheeks. “Much tastier than anything in the cafeteria.”

“Okay.” Tiffany sniffles though her tears are quickly drying up. “Thank you!” She suddenly lurches from Brooke’s arms to mine, giving me an awkward hug. It’s very sweet, but I have to bite back a groan of pain as her knee accidentally collides with my healing gunshot wound. With a grunt, I cuddle her tight then help her back to the floor.

“Come on then,” Selina says, holding out her hand. “Let’s go get a real treat.”

Tiffany takes her hand and dances away with Selina, bringing an empty silence to the room. Brooke’s hand lands on my thigh and she squeezes softly.

“Are you okay?”

I nod.

“Are you sure?” she asks. “It looked like that hurt.”

I wave off her concern. “This isn’t the first time I’ve been shot and likely won’t be the last, I’m sorry to say.”

“I’m sorry,” Brooke says earnestly.

“For what?” I meet her eyes, a look of confusion on my face.

“For shooting you.”

“Don’t be.”

“I am.”

“Brooke.” I place my hand over hers. “Don’t ever apologize for fighting for survival, okay? You did what had to be done, and in turn, saved both of our lives. So don’t you dare apologize.”

She looks uncertain as she tucks her hair behind her ear. “Still…”

“Please.” My thumb runs over her knuckles. “You did amazing. And you’re a pretty good shot being able to get the both of us.”

She lets out a soft, humorless laugh before a shudder runs through her body. “What’s going to happen to him?”

“Paul?”

She looks up at me. Fear hides in her eyes like a shadow, lingering just out of sight. My thoughts reluctantly turn to that monster. Countless nights I’ve lain awake dreaming about what I want to do to him. Selina and my father saved his life, but only so he can face punishment. Having him die from that gunshot would have been letting him off far too easily.

“I’m going to kill him,” I say. “I don’t know how yet but he will suffer. For everything he did to you and for everything he did to me. I’ve contemplated copying what he did to us. Thought about skinning him alive. Thought about setting him on fire. Honestly, I’m still undecided but he will die. He will never hurt you again.”

To my surprise, Brooke doesn’t look too alarmed at that prospect. Instead, she shifts on the bed until she’s facing me fully, her lips twitching. “Can you teach me?”

“Teach you what?” My brow lifts.

“He terrorized me first,” she murmurs. “Destroyed my business. Murdered Hannah. Killed my asshole brother. I want you to teach me how to make him suffer.”

I can’t decide if I should be worried or proud.

“And then,” Brooke says as she lifts her chin defiantly. “I want to kill him.”