Page 123 of Marcus: Sins of the Father

He lifts his hands and arcs a brow. “So then?”

“But I lied to her. I told her I didn’t love her. I pushed her away. Christ, I royally fucked up.”

“Well, you’re not wrong about that.” Shannon’s mouth quirks up.

Angel grins. “Guess you’re going to have to get down on your knees and grovel, Marcus.”

Crash huffs out a laugh. “Man, we’ve all been there.”

“That we have,” Cole agrees with a chuckle, and downs his whiskey.

“Well?” Shannon gives me a look.

All eyes stare expectantly at me.

I feel a cold wave wash straight to the pit of my stomach, the fear of losing her settling in like a ball of knots. I rest my suddenly shaking hands on the bar top. Knowing what I have to do, but not having a clue how to go about it. “Well, I guess I’ve got a girl to go win back.”

Cole slaps my shoulder and gives it a shake. “Damn straight.”

***

Brandy—

My dad’s been calling me several times a day since I told him about what happened. He always seems relieved when I answer.

“Hey, Dad.”

I hear his exhale of breath as if he was holding it. “Hey, baby girl. How have you been?”

“All right. I finished writing my opera. The librettist that I intern with is going to read it and let me know what she thinks.”

“That’s wonderful, honey. I knew you could do it. How’s the apartment? You know the offer to come home for a while still stands.”

“No, thanks. I’m good, the apartment is great. Everything is fine.”

“Are you sure, Brandy? I know you must be lonely without Marcus.”

I pause. I never told him we broke up. It’s been too painful to talk about without crying. “How do you know about Marcus?”

“Oh, uh…” I can practically hear his brain turning, trying to come up with a lie to tell me.

“Dad?”

“Okay, I talked to Marcus.”

“So, Marcus told you.” I frown. That just seems odd.

“Um, not exactly.”

“Daddy, what’s going on?”

“Okay, okay. Just don’t get mad.”

Too late for that.

“I talked to Marcus right after you told me about the kidnapping.”

“And?”

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