Page 120 of Wild Blades

Lola arches her head back as if trying to stop the tears, but it doesn’t work. They flow down her face with her next words. “My dad did something really terrible.” She bows her head, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. “He went home, packed her belongings and Wade’s and when she arrived back at the house, he didn’t let her in. He said he carried Wade out of the house and left them both out front. He said it was the worst thing he’s ever done and asked for my forgiveness. He was so sorry for what he did. He had so many regrets.” She grabs my hand. “Please know my dad was a good man. He provided for me, loved me.”

“I thought your dad died, Lola?”

“He did.” Shaking her head, “He told me a week before he passed that I had a brother.”

I don’t ask what he died of. It’s none of my business, but if Lola wants to tell me, I will be here for her.

She continues, “The guilt he felt for ripping me apart from Wade devastated him. He really loved Miranda. I hate her.”

“She’s your mom, Lola,” I say softly.

Lola shakes her head. “She’s not my mom. She did nothing to fight for me because I wasn’t important to her.” Lola’s jaw tenses. “I don’t see her as my mother. Have you seen her on that stupid reality television show? She’s an embarrassment.”

Poor Lola.Although having heard from Wade what he went through as a child, he may have been better off without Miranda too.

“But you see Wade as your brother?” I ask hopefully.

“I do and wish I could tell him how proud I am of him. He’s incredibly talented. He was born to be a hockey player.”

He really was.

Still kneeling on the floor, I reach up and grab a tissue from the box on my dressing table and hand her it.

Lola rakes her fingers through her hair and then blows her nose before she says, “My dad wanted me to reconnect with Wade, and apologize to him for what he did. He made me promise not to ruin or jeopardize his career and to pick my timing. He suggested after the season would be better. My dad didn’t want to cause any further upset in Wade’s life, Kali because he’d caused enough heartbreak already.” Using another tissue I pass her to dry her cheeks, she dries her eyes and then smiles.

“My dad didn’t want me to be alone in the world. He wanted me to know I wasn’t, and that I had a half-brother. I was so desperate to get close to him I saw an advert on the Eagles website for an admin assistant, which I got, then was asked if I would become Wade’s assistant. It was fate, Kali. All I wanted was to get close to him; see him for myself. Know he was real. Working for the Eagles made me feel closer to him, even if he didn’t know I existed. I would sometimes watch him practiceduring my lunch breaks, and just doing that was enough for me. I was doing what my dad asked. I was waiting, Kali.”

“You’re so strong, keeping this all to yourself.” I pat her hand.

“Graham knows. A problem shared, you know?” She lifts her shoulder in a half shrug. “They all signed a non-disclosure agreement to make sure their secret never got out, Kali because Marcus came from a high-profile family. Marcus’ father owned the Eagles at the time and when this all happened, Marcus gave my father all the businesses as some sort of pay off, then he started running the team with his father, and Nicki’s father, before he inherited it fully. I don’t think a secret love child would be the type of publicity he would want.” Lola rubs her temples. “What a bunch of idiots.”

Secret love children are exactly that. Secret.

“Do you think Wade will believe me?” Lola’s question shoots me through the heart as her vulnerability shines through.

“Oh, Lola, you know Wade already sees you as a friend, don’t you? So if you are worried about him not accepting you, you have nothing to worry about.” I reassure her. “He thinks you’re amazing.”

“Are you sure?” She picks the skin around her nails nervously.

“Absolutely. I know him. So do you.”

“I do.” A broad smile stretches across her lips before her face falls. “You can’t tell him during game season. He’s making incredible progress. I don’t want to mess his life up. There is so much to take in, Kali.”

“We’ll wait.” I agree, knowing it’s for the best.

We’ll protect him together.

But first I need to speak to the man who caused this mess in the first place.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Kali

“What the hell are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be halfway to LA?” Marcus escorts me inside his ten-bedroom mansion on his private estate.

“I changed our flights by a couple of hours. I needed to speak to you urgently.” I told Wade a white lie. Although it’s not, it’s a gigantic, ugly lie. I hate keeping secrets from him. But this is big. Too big for me to wrap my head around. I will be able to soon. As soon as I process this mess. But for now, I said I needed to work due to a small crisis management issue for a client.

Unbeknown to him. He’s the client.

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