Page 141 of The Risk Taker
“We had a standard paternity test. Molly showed a high match to me, because of course she would, we’re biological twins.” His eyes flick to Slade. “It was the one thing I was able to hold against Natasha when she threatened to take Molly away. It was her word against mine.”
“Jesus,” Slade whispers.
Sullivan sniffs, his tight expression giving little away. “We’ll need to discuss when to tell her, of course. And how. She’s still getting used to the fact you’re here. She’s seen photos of the two of us together. And she’s heard your voice. So it’s not a complete shock to her to see us looking so alike.”
“She’s heard my voice?”
“Yes,” Sullivan says, not elaborating any further. “We’ll need to discuss how we…” He presses his finger and thumb into his eye sockets. “Fuck… I…” He clears his throat again but can’t mask the crack that’s in his voice when he speaks. “We’ll need to discuss her arrangements. What’s best for her, and?—”
“What’s best for her?” Slade echoes.
Sullivan drops his hand, and my heart clenches. Panic’s mixed with cold stone fear in his eyes, and I feel sorry for him.
“She’s your daughter, Sull,” Slade whispers. “She knows you. She loves you. I’m no one to her.”
“But you should be. You’re her father.”
Slade shakes his head. “No, brother.Youare. Anyone can see that.”
Sullivan turns away, his shoulders trembling. He curses quietly and blows out a breath. It takes him another moment before he turns to face us again.
“She’s the most amazing little girl. She’s the reason I kept going after what happened.”
Slade’s face crumples. “That day, I?—”
“Do you think your reasons for doing it will ever make sense to any of us?”
Slade stares at him, his voice barely a whisper as what Sullivan’s saying sinks in. “No.”
My heart bleeds for him, and I wish I could take the pain from his face.Your reasons for doing it.They still think he’s guilty. They still blame him.
“Precisely,” Sullivan says. “I’m not sure any of us could ever understand why you’d do it. Maybe trying to will only bring more pain we don’t need. Especially Sin. She’s struggling with it. She needed you.”
“Sull, that day… before the fire?—”
“Did you start it?”
“What? No!” Slade rushes out.
“Of course he didn’t!” I snap.
Sullivan flicks his eyes to me, narrowing them as I glare at him.
“Why would I do that? Listen, I’ll tell you everything that happened, everything I did. If I end up in jail, then so be it.”
“No!” I cry.
“What the hell are you talking ab?—”
Sullivan’s cut off by a shrill ringing from his pocket. He pulls his phone out and brings it to his ear.
“Okay. Calm down. What’s her temperature? Okay. What’s the rash look like?” He pauses. “I’m coming now.”
He pockets his phone. “I have to go. Molly’s sick and Tate’s worried about her.”
“Will she be okay?” Slade asks.
“I’ll let you know.” He nods at me. “Jude.”
