Page 93 of The Stolen Dagger
“You’re welcome to stay here for the time being.” Romanoffered. “All of you. If that’s what you want. There’s more than enough room.”
I smiled at my father. “Thank you.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
KATHERINE
“That’s the last of it,” Drew said, shutting the back passenger-side door of his truck.
Three days had passed since we made sure Adrian was out of my life for good.
Drew and I spent most of that time in Las Vegas packing up the things I had left behind at my old house. Pearl also helped between all the sexual innuendos she aimed at us. But it was nice spending that time with her after everything that happened.
Now, we stood outside Roman’s mansion with Drew’s truck packed up with the last of my things, ready to go back to Oklahoma.
Drew turned to say goodbye to Mack and Roman, shaking their hands in that way all men do. They shared hushed words between them, but from where I stood, I couldn’t make out what was said.
I had said goodbye to Pearl the day before, but I alreadymissed her. I laughed to myself, remembering her parting words.
“Now, I don’t want you to worry about little old me while you’re down there in Oklahoma,” Pearl had joked in a twain accent. “You’ve got your whole life ahead of you now, and with that hunk by your side, I want you to enjoy it.”
I had chuckled and said, “Thank you, Pearl. For everything.”
She had wrapped me in a big hug. “I’d do it all over again if I had to.”
I had nodded, knowing that was absolutely true.
Pearl had smiled sadly, accentuating the wrinkles around her mouth, and said, “Your mother would be so proud of you.”
I had given her one last hug, blinking back tears, and promised to visit her soon.
I believed her when she said Mom was proud of me, wherever she was, but hearing it from Pearl was just as reassuring.
I need to remember to call her when I make it back to Oklahoma.
“Katherine?” Roman called out, breaking through my thoughts of Pearl. He stood a few feet from me, hope shining through his concerned expression.
“I know I haven’t been around much these last few days, but I wanted to give you time to consider what I asked of you.”
I nodded. Even though we stayed at my father’s mansion, I had barely seen him these last few days. I guessed being a mafia boss was demanding work.
“My biggest regret was not being there for you and your mother when you needed me most. I can’t change the past, but I’m hoping I can eventually make it up to you. With this life,” he gestured around him and to the mansion behind him, “I’m not a good man, but I want to be for you. I’d like to be a part of your new life, if you’ll let me.”
Over the last few days, I had thought constantly about his request. I knew he was going to ask me again, and I wanted to be ready for it.
It was hard because it felt like he wanted to put everything that had happened in the past behind him, including my mother, and that wasn’t what I wanted.
When I first got here, I was so angry with him. For years, I’d been consumed with resentment at the fact that he’d left us.
Now, as I looked into his dark brown eyes that reflected mine, I realized I didn’t want to hold on to that hurt and anger anymore.
For my mom’s sake, I wanted to let go.
“I have thought about what you said.” I took a deep breath, preparing to say my next words. “But you have to know that for years, I thought you abandoned us because you didn’t want to deal with us anymore—that you didn’t love us. And seeing you again after almost five years was like reliving that hurt all over again. But I want to forgive you. I want to move forward.”
Roman’s broad shoulders sagged, and he let out a relieving breath. “Thank you, sweetheart. You don’t know how much that means to me.”
Then he wrapped his arms around me in a loose hug. It was awkward and over just as quickly as it started, but it was nice.
