Page 124 of Illicit

Tim’s eyes widen. “Two years?!”

“Only two years,” I stress. “She was twenty-one at the time. Or almost.”

“Fuck me,” he growls as he turns a one-eighty. He can’t stand to look at me.

Damn, that cuts deep.

“Dad,” Teagan whispers.

I don’t take my gaze off her father. The man who didn’t have to take me into his home when he did. The man who trusted that I wasn’t some asshole kid in a man’s body when I slept down the hall from his young girls.

“Tim,” Micah calls for him. “This is Rocco. You know he’s not going to hurt her. He’d never do that to you.”

Tim shakes his head, but just stares at the floor.

“I don’t have a daughter,” King adds. “But if I did, I couldn’t ask for a better man for her.”

“I knew this would happen,” Brax mutters.

I give Brax my best why-the-fuck-are-you-stabbing-me-in-the-back look.

He doesn’t even acknowledge me.

Tim turns to Brax. “You knew about this and didn’t tell me?”

Brax crosses his arms and focuses on Tim. “I’m the one who brought Rocco into the fold. I’m the one who vouched for him all those years ago when the rest of us were in limbo moving across the country together. I’m the reason he’s here.”

Now I’m pissed.

I haven’t done shit to deserve any of this. Teagan is a damn adult. We don’t need anyone’s blessing.

Maybe it’s good she’s moving to New York. All of a sudden, I’m not upset about quitting my job.

My normally level and calm temperament starts to crack. “I don’t need anyone’s approval but Teagan’s. She’s a grown-ass woman and has been for years. I respect you, Tim. You know I do. Maybe more than anyone. If you cut me out because Teagan chooses me … well, I’m not going to lie, that’ll kill me. Until now, this family has been my life. I’d do anything for any of you. But if you make me choose?—”

“Rocco, don’t say that,” Teagan whispers as she turns. She wraps her arms around my waist and tucks herself to my side.

“I knew this was going to happen. Look, I have a daughter. I get it.” Brax crosses his arms and looks around the room before zeroing back on Tim. “What I’m saying is that I trust Rocco with my life. Hell, I trust him with the most important people in my life.”

Damn. It took Brax long enough to get on board, so I say, “Tim will accept me or he won’t. I don’t need anyone’s help.”

Brax holds a hand up to me but doesn’t turn away from Tim. “The day that man saved Landyn’s life, I knew I could trust him. That was more than a decade ago. I’ve never once regretted my decision.”

Tim turns back to face the group and every year of his life is visible in his expression.

He’s obviously had a week.

But that doesn’t mean I’m going to stand here and be treated like some lowlife.

I’ve proven myself to this family over and over.

“I love her,” I announce to the room. “And since you all know me better than anyone, you know saying that does not come easily or naturally for me. But when it comes to Teagan, it was easy. That’s how right this is.”

As soon as I utter those words, the air thickens. Teagan wraps me up tighter. Her words, though, are for her father. “I love him, Dad. I always have. This is what I want. And if it makes you feel any better, I made the first move when I hit on him two years ago.”

“Holy shit,” Micah mutters.

King lets out a low whistle.

---