Page 157 of Nash

And he’s in love with Alena.

“Then, if you truly love her, it starts today.” I lift my chin. “You’ll stop lying to her and fight to win her love again.”

“Will you keep that promise, too?” Nadine asks. “For you,moya doch, are no different. Nash has revealed his greatest secret. There are no more lies, so will you let him fight for you, too?”

I chew my lip because I don’t know the answer.

No man has ever fought for me. No man has ever made a mistake, then dropped to his knees and begged for my forgiveness.

Sure, Nash almost destroyed me last time, but he didn’t fall to his knees, groveling to get me back. Though I know he would’ve.

No, he did more.

He brought my soul toitsknees.

I couldn’t believe a man loved me so much he’d do more than grovel for me or fight for me. Nash killed for me. And he’d do it all over again.

“It’s my fault,” Nadine laments. “Please don’t hate my boys, and I mean Nash, too. Yes, they’re grown men now. They’re responsible for their actions, but it started with me. Their father never loved me, so they were born into the violent lie of our marriage. Then, I hid the lie of loving my second husband, and he lied to help us escape. I raised my boys to survive, to lie and hide, and once Nash joined us, I taught him the same. My dear, all they’ve ever known is lying to protect the ones they love, and I think you might know a little about that, too.”

I nod, letting my last tears escape.

I lied to myself for so long, refusing to admit I was in love with Nash.

Then I lied to him, denying it and being a snarky brat about it.

Though that last part was fun.

But then, I looked into Alena’s loving eyes and lied to protect her from the truth; that’s how I justified it.

Yeah, the worst liars are the ones who say they never lie.

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

NASH

“So, Mom never knew?”

“No.” I kneel before Alena, sitting on the bed. “She never knew about Nadine, her sons, or what we do. It was too dangerous. It’s all I’ve ever cared about: protecting you from danger. But…”

My daughter’s tears kill me, and there’s only one way to stop them—tell the truth.

“But I’m not ashamed of what we do.” I confess, taking her hands, “We’re the beasts who kill the monsters, and we do it to keep girls like you … I mean, women, too … We risk it all to save them.”

“So Michael, my godfather, is really named Axel, and he’s Loch’sbrother?” Disbelief fills her eyes. “And Sire, my pastor, is his brother, too? And there are three others? They’re Loch’s five brothers, whom I’ve never met? And you’re telling me you’re sort of the Russian mafia, but you’re not? You’re likegoodmafia?”

I nod.

“Is that the lie Vale is so mad about?”

“No, and it’s not a lie.”

“Dad.” Her brows pinch. She looks just like her mother when she’s mad. “Quit being so cryptic and spit it out.”

Here it goes.

My soul lights a million candles now, praying I won’t lose my daughter over this.

“I told Loch to befriend you. To meet you and keep an eye on you to keep you safe. You moved up there to those goddamn mountains, and we have too many enemies who can come after you. So, I needed to find a guard to protect you.”

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