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Sighing, she looked at him with haunted eyes. “I want to see him.”

Not what he was expecting.

“By him, I assume you mean Brock?” Nodding her head, her eyes seemed to plead what her words couldn’t. “Why?” He needed a good fucking reason to intentionally bring her that kind of heartbreak.

“I need to know if he knew.” Determination laced her words.

“Are you sure? What if you don’t get the answer you want? I don’t want to see you hurt, Princess, and I can’t guarantee I won’t kill his ass for upsetting you.” Just the thought of it had him on edge.

“I need to know if there’s anyone who ever gave a damn about me, Dominic.” Tears gathered in her eyes, threatening to spill over.

“I do,” he told her grabbing her hand and bringing it to his lips to kiss her knuckles sweetly.

“I know you do.” She smiled at his actions.

“So does Case.”

She barked out a harsh laugh at that. “Please. Case thinks I have a big mouth and would probably be happy to see me gone after everything that’s happened.” Her face showed her hurt at that thought.

With a growl in his voice, he told her, “Much as I hate to say this—because you’re my woman—that fucker loves the hell out of you. I went to seen him after I found out where you’d gone, and he was ready to leave the hospital to help me. So have no doubt. That ass loves you like crazy.”

They fell into a companionable silence after that. She didn’t deny or accept his words, so he figured it was a small victory. He didn’t want her going to see Brock feeling like she had no one to care about her. She had an entire family of men that would move heaven and earth for her if she’d only let them.

*****

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Dom asked her for probably the tenth time since they parked at the hospital. He’d called in a favor to make sure she got to speak to her biological father before he was taken to lockup.

“Not at all,” she told him honestly, “but I have to know.”

With a firm but reluctant nod, he walked up to the guard at Brock’s door and introduced himself. After the man verified who Dominic was, he let them through. Taking a fortifying breath, she followed Dom inside.

What greeted her was not something she’d expected. Knowing Brock for as long as she could remember, he’d always seemed so big. Larger than life. Like an unswayable tower. Now he looked old and washed out. Of course, being shot would do that to a person. Like this, handcuffed to a bed with an IV in his arm and slightly pale from pain, he didn’t look quite as scary. Which made what she had to know so much easier.

Before he could say anything to her, she blurted out, “Did you know?”

“Know what?” he snapped at her.

“Watch it,” Dom growled back.

“I know about you and Mam. Did. You. Know?” She was losing her own patience.

“What the hell are ya talking about?”

“Me. You and Mam had an affair.”

He seemed to pale a little more at that. Shock and hurt colored his dark eyes.

Could he have not known?

“What are ye saying, Deidre?” Desperation colored his words.

“You, Brock, are my biological father. You didn’t know?” He still hadn’t answered.

“No,” he uttered quietly in horror.

Looking at Dominic, she needed to know what he thought about the man’s obvious torment. She was inclined to believe him because a person couldn’t fake that kind of reaction. But if Dom thought he was lying, then she would trust his instincts.

The light shake of his head was her answer. Dom believed him. So for now, she would, too.