Page 68 of Vengeful Lies

“So, when are you going to call her and fix this?” Cooper asked like it was actually that simple.

Sighing again, he dropped onto a couch in the lounge room rather than returning to the family room where Essie was, not wanting his daughter’s little ears to hear this. “I tried texting, and she blocked me,” he admitted.

“Then go to the hotel,” Jake said. His stepbrother had been furious with him since Gabriella had stormed out of his house and refused to let Jake take her to a hotel. It wasn't just that he’d fired her it was when he’d done it and how he’d done it. Cade could agree kicking her out at night wasn't ideal, but if he’d done it during the day, Essie would have seen.

“It’s not that simple,” he snapped. Did they think he liked imploding his life, his daughter’s life, and Gabriella’s life all in one fell swoop?

“Why the hell not?” Jake demanded.

“Bro.” Jax punched him lightly in the shoulder then dropped onto the other end of the sofa from where Cade was sitting. “Do you not have feelings for her?”

Throwing a glare Jax’s way a low growl rumbled through him.

They all knew the answer to that.

In fact, his brothers had known he’d fallen for the nanny long before he realized it for himself.

He didn't know exactly when it happened, but somewhere along the way, things had shifted, and Gabriella changed from being Essie’s nanny to also being the woman who had him tied up in knots.

Still in love with his wife, he hadn't known what to do with those feelings, so he’d done nothing.

Ignored them.

Pretended they didn't exist.

But there was no getting rid of them.

Every time he saw her cuddling his daughter, or teaching her things, playing with her, and making her laugh, every time he saw Essie smile at her, looking at her with love and adoration, listening to her, and learning from her, his feelings grew.

Grew until he couldn’t ignore them anymore.

Couldn’t pretend they didn't exist.

Knowing that she had been abducted purely because he hired her to be his daughter’s nanny was tearing him to shreds inside.

She hadn't opened up to him about what she’d gone through, but he knew it was worse than what he’d seen, what he knew about. Thinking that she might be subjected to more horrors because of him wasn't something he could handle.

Shoving her out of his life was the only way to keep her safe even if it killed him.

Which it felt like it was doing.

“You know the answer to that,” he grumbled, annoyed he had to justify himself to his brothers. Mainly because in attempting to do so he was realizing how utterly unjustifiable his actions had been.

“Do we?” Connor asked. “Because you’ve never admitted anything.”

“To look at you it seems like you barely tolerate her when she’s clearly in love with you,” Cooper added.

“What do you expect me to do?” he demanded in a muted roar so he didn't disturb his daughter. “Do you expect me to have her stay here knowing we’re in danger? Do you expect me to send her away with Essie so she’s locked up somewhere with Delta Team? Do you expect me to hand her over to be assaulted and beaten all over again?”

“Why is it all or nothing?” Cole asked. “Gabriella is a big girl and didn't want to leave even knowing the risks.”

“I'm the cause of the risks. I'm the oldest. I'm the one who always insisted we had to make it up to Mom for treating her so badly those last few months by finding the truth. You’re all in this mess because of me.”

“Is that what you really think?” Cooper asked.

“Of course. I'm the oldest, it’s on me. And I wouldn't shut up about it because I felt guilty. I made it our entire life purpose, and because of that, Susanna was hurt, Becca was targeted, and all of you have been in danger. I can't live with myself if Gabriella is hurt again because of me.”

“Can you live without her?” Becca asked quietly.

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