Page 85 of The Magic of Betrayal
"Why would she have run away then? You were engaged and in love." Goldie sounded skeptical, and I didn't interrupt. This was between her and her father.
"That part, I don't know. That is why I've been searching for her for the past twenty-eight years. She destroyed me. Then to find out she also stole my chance at being a father?" Khol's knuckles turned white as he gripped the arms of the chair.
"I'm sorry she did that to you," Goldie said quietly and I quickly glanced down at her. Her eyes were wet.Ah, fucking shit, if he makes her cry again, I'm going to have to kill him.
"You're apologizing to me, wild one?" Khol asked, his tone full of disbelief. Or maybe it was wonder.
"She wasn't a good mother, she didn't want me either. So, I kind of know how it feels to be rejected by her," she murmured.
Khol's mouth was hanging open at this point and my heart was aching for my princess.
"Saige, I am the one who is sorry. I became obsessed with finding her, getting answers, making her pay for what she'd put me through. Did I know that the team was involved with you? Yes, I did. I sent them there with direct orders to get any information they could, by any means necessary."
Goldie sucked in a sharp breath, but Khol didn't stop.
"When Sullivan found that picture of Laura, you, and your grandmother, he sent it to me. I had him get some of your hair and mail it to me so I could test it. I didn't get the results until you had the unresponsive episode after projecting here. But, Saige, there's something I need to tell you. I want there to be total transparency here, and while I could have defended my actions before, claiming a broken heart and just being in the line of work that I am... but please, believe me when I tell you that I am so very sorry. If I could take it back, I would. I wish I could."
The ice in Goldie's drink clinked as her hand trembled. Watching him though, whatever he was about to say, it wasn't going to be good. His face was pale and I could feel Goldie's heart pounding from her back as I draped my arm around her and pulled her closer.
"Just tell me." Her voice shook and a tear slipped down her cheek.
"Cam, Fischer, and Kai... as far as I know their feelings toward you are genuine. When I learned of your relationship with them and I felt like I was getting closer and closer to my target, I made an order and I regret it." He shifted in his seat and the beast inside of me was two seconds away from attacking him for her sake. "I ordered Sloane to get involved with you," he finally admitted quietly.
Goldie dropped her head, her hair spilling forward to shield her face.
"He argued with me. He didn't want to, didn't want to betray his brothers. I think he knew that they would be devastated when it was time to leave and he also didn't know what to think about that photo he'd found. I wouldn't take no for an answer... he negotiated with me. He wanted a personal mission for Cam, so they could find some answers on what happened to his family, and I agreed. Knowing now that you're my... my daughter, having met you, I can't stand to look at myself in the mirror."
"Khol," I snarled his name as Goldie cried silently beside me.
"I'm so fucking sorry, Saige. I understand if you never want to speak to me again, but I couldn't live with myself without telling you the truth. I'll give you some space." He stood up and moved across the room to the door.
"Wait," she choked out as she pushed herself up off the couch and darted after him to where he was standing.
He stood so still it was as though he'd been frozen and when she collided with him, her arms wrapped around his waist, he looked at me like what the hell do I do now? Then he exhaled and pulled her tightly against his large body, tears glistening in his green eyes.
"I don't forgive you yet, and I don't know where this will go, going forward," Goldie told him, her cheek pressed against his chest. "But, I always wondered what it would have felt like to get a hug from my dad."
"Oh, sweet girl," Khol's voice cracked as he held her tighter. "I've wanted to hug my own child for over one hundred years. I will make this right, I promise. I'll see you two at dinner."
A moment later, Goldie stepped back, wiping her eyes and Khol nodded once before he disappeared from the room.
"Princess, are you okay?" I asked as I stepped up behind her and pulled her against me.
"I will be."
Warrior woman.
"Yes, you will," I promised.
She turned to face me. "It's kind of strange, but I feel more calm than I have since I got here. For some reason, getting the answers from him, knowing that my other relationships weren't just part of the job... it helps. I'm still upset, but I miss them, Bram," she frowned.
"Even Sloane?" I cocked an eyebrow and she breathed a laugh.
"Surprisingly, yeah. I'm still level thirty-eight pissed at him, though. That number needs to come down to more like a fifteen before I'll be able to speak to him without ripping his tits off."
"Jesus, woman. Don't arouse me right now. We have a dinner to get to," I joked, attempting to lighten the mood, and she smiled.
I love when she smiles at me.
