Runaway Wolfes of Manhattan Three - Helen Hardt Page 0,42
me. All five of them.
“Hey,” Reid said. “We didn’t know.”
“I know that.”
“We would have stopped it. We would have found a way.”
“I already told her that,” Roy said.
“It merits repeating,” Reid said. “He was a motherfucker.”
“You mean daughterfucker.” Then I clamped my hand over my mouth.
How had I said that? How had those horrific words spewed out of my mouth?
“Hey,” Roy said. “Easy.”
“I don’t know why I said that. I mean, it’s true, but…”
“It happens,” Rock said. “Sometimes things are so awful that you can’t help but put them in the crudest terms possible. Trust me. I’ve been there.” He shook his head. “No, I take that back. I never went through anything like you went through, but there are things you don’t know about my life.”
“I don’t know what you’ve heard”—Rock took a sip of his water—“but I’d imagine it’s all true.”
I fidgeted with my napkin for a few seconds, and then I met my oldest brother’s gaze. My brother, who’d been sent away because he’d been protecting me. Trying to keep my father from hurting me. Trying to save me from the life I was ultimately condemned to.
His eyes were clear and green. Gorgeous eyes, actually, but filled with not only rage but also sadness and regret.
What had happened to Rock? Because of me?
Lacey touched his arm lightly, as if offering him comfort.
Rock cleared his throat. “We didn’t come here to rehash old news.”
“Maybe not,” Reid said, “but I think we need to. What happened to you and what happened to Riley is important. We can’t forget those things, because those things represent exactly who our father was.”
Roy, who was usually quiet during these family meetings, cleared his throat and regarded me. “You and Rock weren’t Dad’s only victims.”
“I know,” I said. “He was tough on you and Reid too.”
“No, that’s not what I mean.”
This time it was Charlie touching Roy’s arm.
“I have something to tell you,” Roy continued. “Something I learned through my work with Dr. Woolcott.” He cleared his throat again. “And it’s not pretty.”
26
Matteo
Taking a redeye from Billings to New York hadn’t been in the plans. I’d decided to drive, but the transmission in my truck went kaput before dinner. I hightailed it over to Mary’s auto repair shop, but she was booked solid for the next week.
“Sorry, Mattie. I really need to get another mechanic in here. It never rains but it pours!”
“Can you move me to the front? I’ll pay extra.” I had a few dollars tucked away for a rainy day. This was well worth it.
“No can do,” she said. “I have to order your parts. That’ll take a few days in and of itself.”
“Shit.”
“Just leave her here.”
“Yeah. All right.” I raked my fingers through my hair and pulled out my phone to call Luke. “Hey, man,” I said when he answered. “I need you to meet me at Mary’s and drive me home. And then to the airport.”
A half hour later, Luke waited patiently at my cabin while I threw clothes into a duffel.
“I hear she’s a famous model,” he said.
“Yeah. Apparently.”
“You really think you have a shot?”
Did I? “We have something. I’m not sure what it is. If nothing else, I want to support her while she mourns the death of her father.”
“I get it, man,” he said, “but don’t you think if she wanted your support she’d have told you everything?”
Fuck. Anvil to gut. But Luke was never one to tread softly. He was just being a friend.
“Yeah, it’s occurred to me.”
“You’ve got it that bad, huh?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure what I’ve got. I only know she’s special. She lied for a good reason.”
“It’s easy to tell yourself that, Matt,” he said, “but when people lie, it’s usually not for a good reason. It’s usually to cover something up.”
“What would she have to cover up? She’s a famous supermodel who just lost her dad. She probably needed an escape from life.”
“Maybe. Just be careful.”
“I will.”
“You want me to come along?”
I thought about it. Having Luke along would make it easier, but I needed to do this on my own. Riley was important to me, and I wanted her to know that. Having a friend tag along with me wouldn’t show her that. No, I had to go out of my comfort zone and prove to her that I was there for her and would help her through the loss of her father.