actually knew him. They worked together.
“Yes, he took Rose and Declan.”
“Why only take two and not all three?”
“Because your father wanted an heir to his operations. He knew no daughter of his would ever be strong enough. And after you were born, he suffered an injury that prevented him from having kids after you. So he waited until you had kids of your own. He took Declan because he was the strongest, the healthiest, and he thought he could raise him to become his heir.”
“So my father’s people have Declan now?” I ask, although I already know this. I just need Corbin to confirm it for me again.
He nods once solemnly.
“Why take Rose? He obviously didn’t keep her?”
“Because daughters were weak. He didn’t want you to raise a daughter. He ordered his men to kill her, but evidently, that was a line that even his men couldn’t cross.”
“And Atlas? Why let me keep him?”
“He was the smallest, weakest, most fragile. I think he figured he’d die, but if he didn’t, he’d have a backup heir to come after.”
I tremble in my chair.
“You hate my father. You hate me. Why help me get Declan?”
Corbin fidgets in his chair as his eyes water.
“Wait…how do you know all of this about my father?”
“Because I worked for him. After the death of Martin and Phoenix’s children, I signed up to work for him. I was the one who took your children with plans to kill them all. I couldn’t, so I made a plan to give them to Phoenix to help her heal and get her revenge for what she had lost. Your father intervened before I could enact my plan.”
“You saved Rose instead of killing her?”
“Yes.”
I frown. Maybe we are on the same side after all. No, he still demanded my body and soul in exchange for helping me. He still blames me. But why does he blame me? It has to be more than he’s telling me.
And then it hits me.
“You want me separated from the kids so Phoenix can have them. You think with me out of the picture, she can be their mother instead of me. She can heal.”
His eyes glaze over, but I know it’s the truth. He feels guilty about her losing her babies, and this has always been about trying to remedy that.
Finally, he speaks again. “Falling in love was stupid. You could have gotten Declan back if you hadn’t fallen in love. Now, I’m your only hope.”
“I know falling in love was stupid, dangerous, cruel. I tried preventing myself from it almost my entire life. And even more, I tried to keep him from falling in love with me, but neither of us could help it. I think we fell in love when we were kids, the first time we met. Our hearts fell. Each one belonged to the other. It took years of fighting it before either of us admitted it out loud.”
A tear rolls down my cheek. “What do we have to do next, or do you not know?”
“You’re going to have to give him up, for real. You’re going to have to stop loving him and get him to stop loving you. That’s the only way to get Declan back.”
I wipe my tears, not sure if he’s answering my question or reacting to my comments from before.
“I know,” I say because I want Langston to give me up. It’s the only way to save him from so many terrible things.
His eyes search mine, sliding slowly back and forth like he’s questioning if I’m strong enough to do it. Apparently, he’s satisfied, and then he speaks words that send chills down my spine.
“Your father is alive. Declan is with him. We find your father; we get Declan back.”
3
Langston
I open my eyes but don’t feel anything.
Am I dead?
It would make sense if I were. I remember being whisked into a back room of the house where a surgery room had been set up. Bright lights shone down on me before I became unconscious. Some might think it’s a sign that I’m in heaven, but I know better. If I’m dead, I’m definitely in hell.
I can’t feel anything, though. I’m numb. I’m not in hell. If I were, I’d be in burning pain. Instead, the only thing I feel is an erratic heartbeat as I wait to find out if Liesel and my kids are safe. I haven’t been here to protect them as I should. I have no idea how long I was unconscious; anything