Royally Chosen Christmas (Royal Sons MC #7) - Elle Boon Page 0,12

been paid for by me and my checking account. If you’d like me to see to your payment going through, I suggest you allow me to decide when and where my family hears our daughter’s last words,” her father bit out.

The minister pushed on his ear, bringing her focus to the fact he had what appeared to be a hearing aid or some kind of device in it. The entire funeral was a huge spectacle, one that was in line with their wealthy status. She was actually shocked her father had stepped out of character to approach the man instead of allowing him to read the letter. Whatever was in the envelope was clearly something he didn’t want everyone present to hear.

“Gary, I don’t see any reason we can’t allow the man to read Angela’s letter. What could be in there that’s so awful?” Scott asked.

“This is none of your concern, boy.”

Talena was jarred from her own musings to find her brother had gone around the opposite direction and stood a couple feet from the minister. At her dad’s words, she could see her brother’s jaw harden in anger before he stood taller. Gah, she needed to stop thinking of them as such. Gary wasn’t her dad, and Scott wasn’t her brother. Tara wasn’t her mom. She was nobody to anyone.

“Gary, you call me boy one more time, and I’ll show just how much of a boy I’m not. Feel me?” Scott towered over both men anger in every line of his body.

Her father grabbed the letter, pushing it inside a pocket of his suit jacket. He looked at the crowd, his eyes harder than she’d ever seen them.

“We’re in the middle of my stepdaughter’s funeral. I would appreciate it if you two would please stop beating your chest and allow her to be put in the ground in peace.”

Her mother didn’t need to raise her voice or resort to name calling to get everyone to fall in line. With one little softly spoken sentence, she put two grown men in their places. Not that her brother needed it, but her dad, he was on the verge of an explosion, everyone could see it and feel it.

The minister let out a breath. “I will abide by the family’s wishes. If you all would like to come up and pay your last respects.”

Hours later, she was sure she’d cried all the tears she had in her body. Everyone had already left, gone home to their families, leaving her alone with her mom and dad. Only they weren’t really her parents, not by blood.

“What’s the matter, my Dove?” her dad asked, startling her from her thoughts.

She’d always thought his nickname was beautiful. Now, it scared her. She’d come outside to escape from all the sympathy from all the well-wishers.

“Today was awful.” Truth since it had been, knowing she’d never see Angela again, never get to have the close relationship like other girls with their big sisters. She’d craved to have a sister who would teach her how to wear makeup and how to do all the things a girl did, like when she had her first boyfriend.

Her dad settled on the swing next to her, the loud creak made her flinch.

“Sometimes people leave us because it’s their time to go. I’ve lost a couple people in my life, but with their passing, my life was enriched.” He sounded like he was discussing the weather, not the loss of a loved one.

She was puzzled by his words. How could anyone be richer by the loss of another’s life? Of a child?

He reached across the distance, running his fingers down her cheek. She jerked away, her hand covering her face. “Why do you not like me touching you?”

His touch didn’t feel right. In the last year, she thought it odd how he’d begun touching her more often, in ways that didn’t fit in with the norm. He said she needed more sunblock on, even though she’d just put some on, or he found a new lotion that was good for teens. In hindsight, she was aware his excuses were absurd. She wasn’t that naïve or stupid. Angela had told her to watch for signs that he was grooming her. She’d been clueless, so of course she went to the internet where she googled the meaning. Good god, that had been a worm hole that frightened the bejeezus out of her.

“I don’t like anyone touching me,” she said, getting up from the swing, moving away