My father pressed his lips firmly together. "He's already brainwashed you, I see. If that's the kind of person you want to put your trust with when the police come for him, and they will, are you going to pretend you didn't know?"
"That's enough, Dad. I know what you did. I'd like an answer why."
My father folded his paper and swiveled the seat so he'd face both of us. "From the moment you were born, you have been the blight of my perfect record. Your mother was a basic whore. And I'm quite sure she held on to that condom. You are not supposed to be here. And I will do everything in my power to make sure that you're not."
My gut churned and twisted as he spoke. "So, you're just hateful?"
Emma's voice was strong and firm. "Instead of acknowledging your own daughter, you tried to pawn her off on Bridge?" Her voice was getting louder. "And now, you’re trying to frame your son for murder? Mark my words, I will find out what you're hiding, and then I will flay you alive."
I squeezed her hand to let her know that it was enough. She didn't need to go full tornado storm. But my Emma was already unfurled. "I will make you pay for making me afraid. I will make you pay for trying to make me doubt him. I will make you pay for every ounce of pain you caused him. So, best to get your office in order because I will find out why specifically you're going after someone who doesn't even want any part of you. Or is it that you are afraid everyone will compare his successes with all of your failures? Best that you've done such a good job of distancing yourself from him then. The more power he gains, the more everyone knows that you had nothing to do with it."
Goddamn, when she was on a roll, she was on a roll. And if at all possible, I was more in love with her than I had been before. She squeezed my hand. "I'm ready to go if you are, love."
I smiled down at her, then she said to my father, "Stay the fuck away from us. There's nothing you have that can hurt me."
My father sneered. "And Darcy?"
"You can't hurt Darcy because she's had nothing but love her entire life. So you can try it if you want, but no matter what you do to her, say to her, she will know forever that she's loved."
Then I took her hand and led the way right back out the door. I had expected a different reaction. Normally, after seeing my father, the rage would simmer under the surface, threatening and ready to explode at the nearest person who would bump me. But I felt mostly empty. Sort of numb. No reaction, no anger. I felt calm for once. And I knew it was because of her.
When we reached the host, he was still scowling at Emma. But she just smiled up at me. "Are you good?"
"You're like my little warrior."
"Oh, you should know I have scars to prove that I am. I have one on my hip. You want to see?"
"No, I will take your word on it."
She grinned. "I hate to say this, my love, but your father really is the worst."
"Yeah, I know. But we're not going to spend any more time focusing on—"
"Emma?"
As we exited to the pavement, someone called out her name, and we both automatically turned. When I saw her father, I froze and immediately put my body between them. "Winthrop, now is not the time."
He frowned at me. "Edgerton, I don't want to fight. I just want to speak to my daughter."
"We just had to tell one of our parents today that they can no longer fuck with us. If you would like the same speech coming from me, we could absolutely do that."
His gaze flickered from me to somewhere behind me, presumably, as he tried to get a better view of Emma. "What are you two doing here? She can't go in."
I shrugged. "Well, you can say she can't, but I just took her in. I guess somehow when you want to make something happen, you can if you will it."
I goaded him purposefully for causing her pain.
He sighed and turned his attention back to Emma. "Emma, what are you doing here?"
I stepped forward, but she pulled me back. "Bridge, it's okay." She stepped out from around me, and all I wanted to do was shield her with my body again. Why couldn't she see that was for her own good?
"Let's see, I don't know what to call you. I mean, I can't really call you dad, right?"
He sighed. "Maybe we can go inside and speak. There's a private room."
Emma laughed her chilling laugh. The one that said that she was truly amused. "Wait, you want me to come somewhere with you and speak privately? No, Dad. If you want to speak to me, you speak to me out here, or in public places where people can see you and you can't hide your embarrassment."
His face changed then. "You believe I'm embarrassed?"
"Aren't you?"
He shook his head. "No. I'm not. At all, actually."
"Whatever. What do you want?"
"I'm sorry, it was just a shock seeing you here. Is there something you needed?"
"No, we're not here for you. We were here for the asshole that's his dad."
Winthrop’s brow furrowed again. "Is there a problem?"
She shook her head. "Nothing you need to worry about. Bridge and I took care of it together."
Her father's gaze narrowed on mine. "Is my daughter in danger?"
Bridge frowned. "Why would your daughter be in danger? Certainly not from me."
He stepped forward. "Are you certain she's not in danger?"
I stared him down. "Again, like I said, certainly not from me. The whole time I was speaking to him. He kept making this face as if he was trying to tell me something important. Something I was missing. Imploring me to understand. Imploring me to see, but I was missing it. What were the cues?
His gaze turned to Emma then. "Is everything all right with your job?"
I narrowed my gaze at him. What was he asking her? Did he know that Middleton was a problem? Did he know she was working for him?
Don't be an idiot. Of course, he knows. The Elite knows everything.
Emma didn't understand the purpose of his questioning either. "I'm fine. We're going."
We turned to leave and Winthrop grabbed my arm. "Look, maybe we can talk?"
I glanced at Emma and glanced back at him, then I shook my head. "No, we can't."
"Please."
As he pleaded with me, I wondered what in the world was going on. But it didn't matter. Just like my father, he wasn't to be trusted either.
Twenty-Seven
Bridge
I should have expected the visit from Emma's father. I wasn't sure why I didn't. But when he cornered me in the lobby of London Lords on Monday, I had no other options. "Winthrop."
He nodded at me. "Edgerton, any chance we can talk?"
I nodded. "Fine. This way."
I led him past the bar to one of the private rooms. One overlooking SoHo Square. We could see out clearly, but nobody could see in. "What's this about?"
"My daughter, is she safe?" There was genuine concern in his voice. He was actually worried.
"Funny question, considering you haven't really cared one way or another about her."