Inevitable (King Crime Family #2) - J.L. Beck Page 0,39

into the fog. “I’m so sorry.”

“Let’s go sit and talk,” Jared suggests, ushering us into the living room.

I turn on my heels and head for the same seat I was in before.

James stares at me for a long moment, simply smiling. “I can’t even believe this… I’m so flabbergasted.”

“Don’t worry, you aren’t the only one shocked as all hell,” I add, looking between him and Jared.

The leather against my skin is the only thing keeping me in place. I’m honestly scared to find out about the past.

Smiling, he cocks his head. “You look just like your mother—God, Samantha was beautiful.” I can hear the reminiscence in his voice.

“Thanks,” I murmur, unsure of what else there is to say.

“I’m so sorry about missing all these years. Your mother never told me about you. She just kind of disappeared, and then suddenly, she was sick, and…” He stops mid-sentence.

“It’s still kind of hard to talk about her. I feel the same.”

“Of course, of course.” He nods, running a hand through his dark brown hair.

Silence stretches between us after that. I have so many questions, but not a single one comes to mind.

“Well, Dad, I’m glad you made it here in one piece. I wasn’t sure your beat-up truck was going to make it through a two-hour trip,” Jared jokes to break the silence. We all let out a laugh as I listen to the two of them make digs at each other about the mysterious truck. Jared says it made it through The Cold War, World War One and Two, and Vietnam. Basically, it’s old.

“Enzo,” James greets, seeing him before I do. He walks into the living room, wearing a pair of blue jeans and a white V-neck Tee. He looks fuckable as always.

“James.”

“I hope you’re treating my daughter well,” James warns.

“As good as a queen should be treated.” I didn’t have to look at Enzo to know there was a dark look on his face. He didn’t like people assuming he treated me poorly.

“Good. I came here to talk to Amara, and it’s what I would like to do right now if it’s okay with all of you?” James says, commanding all the attention.

Strangely, the energy in the room changes. I’m not sure if it is James’s comment or the fact that he just called me his daughter, which is still odd and uncharted territory.

Enzo’s eyes find mine, and I can see the question in them without needing the words. I nod my head, letting him know I’ll be okay alone with him.

“Yeah, I was just going to get Jared to watch a movie,” Enzo says awkwardly, his eyes zeroing in on Jared. There is a silent exchange between the two of them that makes me curious about what they are really up to—recon to figure out what Mack is up to?

I let them walk away, leaving me with the man I was supposed to call my father.

“Here.” James reaches into the front pocket of his jacket and pulls out a white piece of paper folded many times. He extends his hand to give it to me, but I pause for a moment, unsure about all of this.

“What is it?”

“A letter from your mother. She gave it to me on the slim chance I ever saw you after her death. She told me you were okay, and I wasn’t to go out looking for you. She said if you wanted to know about me, you would come to me.”

He may have been able to hide it from others, but the hurt in his voice tells me my mother’s words hurt him to the core.

“Have you read it?” I ask, taking the note from him. I don’t know if I want to open it here and read it. Maybe I should do it in private.

“No, I haven’t. It’s addressed to you, and I wasn’t going to overstep my boundaries.” At least he is honest. The paper is nice, the kind you would write official letters on and shit.

Taking a few deep breaths, I unfold it like a present on Christmas morning. I want—no, need to read this note. If anything, I know it holds some type of answer.

Dearest Amara,

It saddens me deeply you won’t see this letter until well after I am gone. As I lie here beside you watching you sleep, I write this with tears streaming down my cheeks. My heart is breaking for the pain I know I will cause when you finally discover my biggest kept secret. I