Page 52 of Deceit & Desire

His brows knit together, the lines on his face deepening as his gaze darted to Landon, then back to me.

“Don’t tell me it’s not what it looks like. I know exactly what it looks like. And I know who’s pulling the strings.” He stepped closer, his voice low and fierce, meant only for me to hear. “This ain’t just about you, is it? It’s about me. About the choices I made when I thought I was protecting this family. I asked Mo Sheridan to keep his suspicions of foul play quiet ten years ago to protect you, because you and Missy had had fought over Roman that day and I was scared of how things would look for you and Roman if it was ruled as anything other than a suicide. Besides, Mo knew you, and he didn’t believe you were capable of murder, no matter how mad you were. That’s why he agreed when I asked him to keep the other evidence quiet.”

The air between us seemed to ripple, heavy with everything left unsaid between us over the past ten years. I opened my mouth, but no words came. What was there to say? He wasn’t wrong.

Alex nudged my hand, his soft whine pulling me out of the depths of my father’s gaze. His green eyes were just like mine, only older and stormy now, with the weight of everything we were facing. I ran my hands over Alex’s fur like it was the only thing grounding me.

“I’ve got this, Dad,” I murmured, more for myself than for him. “I just need?—”

He crouched down in front of me, his knees creaking like old hinges, and laid a heavy hand on my shoulder. His touch was warm and solid, grounding me in a way that was as painful as it was comforting. His green eyes bored into mine, stormy with worry and regret.

“Don’t tell me you’ve got this, kid,” he said, his voice low, almost reverent. “I see that look in your eyes, the same one your mama used to get when she thought she had to fight the whole world alone.”

He wasn’t wrong. I was my mother’s daughter in every way that mattered, and sometimes, it felt like I’d inherited all of her best and worst traits. Stubbornness. Pride. A desperate need to protect the people I loved, even at my own expense.

His words sliced through me, and I looked away, blinking rapidly.

“I’m not fighting the world,” I said, but the words felt hollow, even to me. “I’m just… cleaning up a mess.”

“Not just yours, though, is it?” He leaned closer, his voice a whisper now. “You think I don’t see Roman’s hand in this? Missy’s too, much as I hate to say it. Or the ghosts of decisions I made that I’ll never forgive myself for?” His grip on my shoulder tightened. “Zoe, you don’t have to carry this. Not alone.”

I swallowed hard, the weight of his gaze pressing against my chest, making it hard to breathe. My fingers curled into Alex’s fur, clinging to him like a lifeline.

“But I do have to go do whatever I can to get my husband back, Daddy.” My voice cracked, but I powered through it, forcing the words past the tightness in my throat. “Because I can’t live without him. I won’t.”

The weight of the truth settled over both of us. My father’s hand tightened on my shoulder, his expression softening, the fear in his eyes giving way to something deeper—understanding.

Alex shifted closer, his warm body pressed against my side, his soft whine a reminder of the unconditional love he always offered. I buried my fingers in his fur, taking comfort in his steady presence as my father’s grip anchored me from the other side.

Kat approached cautiously, her sharp eyes flicking between me, Dad, Landon, and Alex. She stopped just short of the SUV, arms crossed, the weight of her gaze finally landing on me.

“Boss, you want to tell me what kind of mess you’ve stepped in this time?”

I managed a shaky laugh, more bitterness than humor, and shrugged. “The short version? I’m in deep shit. The long version’s going to have to wait—Landon’s got questions, and I’ve got answers to give him before this situation spirals any further out of control than it already is.”

I reached down and helped Dad to his feet. He cleared his throat. “If your assistant will give me a ride, we’ll follow you down there. Landon might have questions for me, too, before it’s all said and done.”

“Dad, you’re sick. You don’t have to do this,” I said, my voice low, almost pleading.

“Sick or not, Zoe, I’m still your father. If there’s something I can do to help, I’m damn well going to do it.” He paused, his jaw tightening. “I’ll bring the nurse along if it makes you feel better, but don’t think for a second I’m sitting this one out.”

“What about Alex?” I asked, my hand instinctively tightening on his leash.

Dad’s expression softened for a moment. “We’ll make sure he’s taken care of. That boy from Alabama—Rick—he’s good with animals. He’ll see to it Alex’s fed and watered until we get back.”

I sent Kat down to the barn to get Rick and she returned with him in tow. He arched a brow at Landon’s sheriff’s department SUV, but didn’t ask.

Alex’s docked tail vibrated against my leg, oblivious to the swirl of chaos around him. I crouched down, ruffling his fur one last time, before passing his leash to Rick.

He reached out and took it, no questions asked. That was one of my favorite things about him. He always stepped up in a pinch, and he didn’t waste time with unnecessary questions.

“I have some things I have to do, so you’re in charge of Alex while I’m gone,” I said quietly. “He’ll need a walk before dinner.”

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll take good care of him, don’t you worry.” Rick nodded, reaching down and ruffling Alex’s ears with easy affection.

Landon cleared his throat and rapped his knuckles on the hood of the SUV. “Time to go, Zoe.”

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