Page 135 of Brutal Reign
“Hey, kiddo.”
“Hey, Dad,” I greet, closing the door behind me and advancing toward him. “Can we talk?”
He tosses the wrench he was using down into his toolbox, wiping his palms off on the legs of his jeans. “Of course,” he replies, tipping his head to indicate the workbench. “Grab your stool.”
Should’ve guessed he’d put me to work.
I cross the garage to retrieve my stool from beside the old workbench, bringing it back over and popping it up.
“You nervous about tonight?” he asks as I take a seat.
“Aren’t you?” I snort.
He shakes his head. “Not about the outcome. I have complete faith in you.”
“How?” I scoff, flinching back disbelievingly. “You’ve never even seen me fight.”
“You think I haven’t been keeping tabs with the squad leaders?” he remarks, giving me a pointed look. “Your cousins tell me you’re a force to be reckoned with.”
I narrow my eyes on him. “So now you’re suddenly on board with me becoming a warrior? Thought you didn’t want me to learn how to protect myself.”
“River,” Dad sighs, resting his elbows on his knees and hanging his head.
“What?” I huff. “Tell me I’m wrong. You did everything you could to prevent me from joining the squad.”
I know I said I didn’t want to fight with him, but this is what always seems to happen– his words strike a nerve, and I go on the defensive.
Rather than popping off in response like he usually does, my dad grips the bottom of his stool and scooches it closer to mine, reaching out to take my hand in his. “Listen, kiddo,” he rasps, his hazel eyes meeting on my own. “The day you came into this world, I almost lost you. You were this tiny, helpless little thing, and all I wanted to do was protect you from harm. When you and your mom pulled through, I swore that I’d continue doing whatever it took to protect my girls. Not because I don’t think you can do it on your own, but because that’s my job.”
I swallow thickly, my chest tightening. “But you can’t protect me from this challenge,” I whisper.
“I know, and it fucking kills me,” he growls, jerking back and burying a hand in his hair. “It makes me feel useless, like I’m back in that room with your mom bleeding out and your tiny life hanging in the balance. How the hell am I supposed to just sit back and watch while Jake tries to take you down?”
I’ve never seen this kind of vulnerability from my father before. It makes my heart ache, my throat turning scratchy as I reach out to rest my hand atop his.
“Dad, I can do this,” I state confidently, his eyes returning to mine.
“I know you can, but that doesn’t mean you should have to,” he mutters. “I should’ve seen the signs with Jake, should’ve seen what he was up to…”
“Dad,” I interrupt with a shake of my head. “This isn’t your fault.”
He takes a measured breath, dropping his gaze to his lap and nodding slowly. “I know. We’ve had our share of differences, and I know you think I’m overbearing sometimes, but it’s only because I love you so damn much, River. You’re my daughter, and you’ll always be a part of me. You and your mom are the best parts.”
“Mom’s the best parts of both of us,” I tease, chuckling.
“Don’t sell yourself short, kiddo,” he replies solemnly. “You’ve grown into an amazing young woman, and I’m so damn proud of you. I’msoproud to be your dad.”
My throat tightens, the sting of tears pricking behind my eyes.
“Those mates of yours better take care of you,” he adds, his lips turning down in a frown. “If they ever give you any kind of trouble, you know you can always…”
I bark a laugh, rolling my eyes. “Yeah, I know. Trust me, so do they.”
He nods in satisfaction.
“I love you too, old man,” I say quietly.
“Hey,” he scoffs, cracking a smile. “Who you callin’ old?”