us. “You. How could you do this?”
“I didn’t—”
“I’m supposed to believe that? After what I found?”
“What are you talking about?” Dad’s face was a deep crimson, his fists at his sides. Thank God Mrs. Quinn had volunteered to babysit the kids.
Guilt swamped me. Shit. I couldn’t lie to him now. I looked to Andrew for help.
He stepped forward. “You need to leave,” he said, not bothering to hide his contempt.
“It’s a bar, son. You can’t force me to go.”
“I am not your son.”
“The sixteen hours in labor say otherwise.” Her artificial smile turned to me. “I’ve been expecting your call.”
Dad’s gaze bounced from me to her. He pounded his fist on the bar. “How does she know we’re here?”
“You’d better ask your daughter that,” I said, wondering how I didn’t see exactly who my sister was.
“I—”
“Are you gonna deny it?” I challenged.
“I told her about the wedding,” she said, her voice small. “But none of the details.”
I exchanged an incredulous look with Andrew and realized I hadn’t let go of Baker.
Dad stared at Marlow, imploring her.
“I’m sorry, Daddy.”
She hadn’t called him that very much since we were kids. He stumbled back a step with the impact of her words.
“I needed a mother,” Marlow said, her voice thick.
“I don’t begrudge you that,” Dad said hoarsely. “But you didn’t have to keep it from me.”
“I didn’t know how to tell you.”
“Her fiancé was headed off to war. She was pregnant and alone.”
All eyes snapped to the witch who had given us birth.
“Marlow wasn’t pregnant until they got married,” Dad said with certainty. But Jack’s first deployment was when they were engaged. Holy shit.
“Before Blake,” my mother argued.
“Marlow?” Dad choked out.
“I couldn’t tell you.” She swiped at the tears coming down her cheeks.
“I’m a modern man,” he protested. “Did you think I’d be upset?”
“She miscarried. She needed me.”
Marlow needed our never-there mother? What a joke. My sister needed her real family. How much loss had she been through?
“And you just happened to be there?” I asked with disgust, hating she’d been around to influence my sister when she was most vulnerable. Damn. Marlow had lost my niece or nephew. And then her husband. No wonder she was so angry.
“I’ve always been there. I told you that.”
“I need some air.” Dad pushed off the bar and stumbled in a daze toward the exit.
I started after him, but Baker held me. “Give him a minute.”
“Stay away from my family.” Andrew got up in her face. “I don’t know what you’re up to, but you cannot destroy us.”
“Oh, darling. I can do anything I want to.”
“You’ve done enough.”
We all jolted in surprise to find Dad standing behind us. I guessed he hadn’t said all he’d wanted to.
“I didn’t tell her to come.” My sister was insistent.
“I don’t know if I can trust you, Marlow.” The hurt on his face slayed me. “I’ve got your message loud and clear, Ivette. Now what is it you want?”
She smiled that of an angel. “I told you. To see my son get married.” She turned to me. “And introduce my other son to his father.”
Chapter Forty
Baker
The instinct to grab Holt around his waist was automatic.
He didn’t seem to feel it, his face ashen as he swayed. His mother looked triumphant when a man muscled his way to the front.
I gasped. Mr. Dixon reached for the bar for support. Andrew balled his fists at his sides. Marlow’s face twisted in horror.
The striking resemblance was too much to ignore. A tall, muscular build. Caramel hair. Even their olive skin tone was the same.
Holt trembled in my hold as he stared at the man. Everything over the last few days melted away to nothing. Only this bombshell remained, and I felt Holt’s pain as if it were my own.
He said nothing. His face blank, devoid of the emotion percolating under the surface.
The man stepped forward and extended his hand. Holt recoiled and looked at that hand as though it were that of the devil himself.
“We probably should have done this before.” He refused to drop his hand.
“You’re not my father.”
Holt lifted his chin and didn’t make a move to shake hands.
“Are you that unhappy with your life that you have to screw with ours? You gave this up,” Andrew shouted.
His mother appeared pleased with the chaos she’d unleashed.
“I thought I wanted to know you," Holt said, leveling her with his sharp gaze. “But I was wrong. I can’t stand the sight of you any longer.”
Holt moved with determined steps toward the bar exit,