BROKEN HOPE (Broken Redemption Book 2)

Chapter 14

Emilia

"And then we went out for ice cream!" She smiles wide, her energy still high even as her little eyes show she's ready for sleep.

"I thought you went to get milkshakes?"

"We did. A shake is just like ice cream, mama, don't you know that?"

I can't help but laugh, peering over at Mallory, who's smiling at us from where she lies on her bed. Being the good guy he is, Lucas brought a milkshake home for her so she didn't feel left out.

"Well, I do now." I lean in to kiss her cheek, then stand and tuck the blanket around her.

"Mama?"

"Yes, Ally Baby."

"Did you know Uncle Lucas had a job like daddy's?" I must look confused, for she rushes on to explain. "He went away for a long time for his work, too. It's why he didn't have any kids, cause he didn't want to leave them. But now he came back for us. For you, me, Mally, and Aunt Jen. Because he's ready and wants us to be his family."

Her words send shards of ice shooting through my veins. The thought he would talk to my daughter about the situation with her father behind my back plunges my stomach into a tailspin. Forcing a smile, I kiss her little head before turning to do the same to Mally, who yawns quietly.

"Okay, my babies. Night night. I'll see you both in the morning."

When I close their bedroom door, anger slams into me with all the pent-up fury I've suppressed for the past three years. How dare he do this after he promised to follow my lead? After he agreed, I would be the one to decide when and how much to share with the girls. That he would talk to Alyssa without my consent after I trusted him with her is downright unforgivable.

Determined to confront him, I rush to find him. He's sitting on the couch in my living room with his computer on his lap as one of the girl's TV shows still plays in the background.

"How dare you? You promised you'd go along with whatever I decided." Though I'm furious, I do my best to keep my voice down. The last thing I want is for the girls to hear any of what I'm about to say. Figuring it's best to take this discussion behind closed doors, I take him by the hand and give him no choice but to follow me into my office. The minute the door is closed behind me, I continue in a much louder voice.

"In that cabin, you made it a point to tell Creed that all choices from that point forward belonged to me, and yet you go behind my back and do this?"

"Embree..." With his brow pinched, he claims, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"You told her..." a thick wave of emotion cuts off my words.

"Told her what?"

"That you wanted them to be yours. You told her that's why you came back. How could you do this?" I demand his answer. The disbelief that he would betray me in this way pushes me to the edge of tears.

"Now hold on a second..." When he reaches for me, I push him away. "Emb, I swear I said nothing to her about what happened with her father. She was the one who brought him up. She had questions. All I did was try to reassure her the best way I could. I would never go against your wishes, especially when it comes to them."

"Then tell me what happened. Every little detail, Lucas or I swear to God I'll call Ben right now and tell him to send over one of the other guys. I can't have someone in my home who I don't trust with my children."

Like I've stunned him, he stares at me for a few breaths before a pained look falls over his face. When his shoulders slump in defeat, he nods his head a few times before looking straight into my eyes. "When we got to The Shake Bar, she asked if I knew her dad and if I knew where he was. I told her the truth. Yes, I've met him and no, I don't know where he is. This is when she told me she'd been talking to her friends. They all told her their dads come home from work at the end of every night. Because Creed hasn't been back in a long time, she believes he's never coming back."