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His shoulders relax the slightest amount before he nods and goes back to his table.

With one problem down, I’m ready to get her out of here. She’s busy looking at the rest of the people seated there with avid curiosity.

A waiter appears in front of her with a bag and a smile.

“Your desserts, miss.”

She takes the bag with a wide smile. “Why, thank you! I’m in need of some sweets.”

“Who is this, Adelaide?”

The stern voice behind me has my shoulders tensing. I slowly turn to see a blonde man with gray at the temples. His skin is tanned from the sun, and his body is strong. It’s apparent that he exercises, and he knows how to use it in a fight. His expression is confused and a little hurt. This can’t be her brother; he’s too old.

“It’s nobody’s business but mine, Joseph,” Addie replies in a stern tone.

This is the stepfather who never talks to her. I expected more anger and distance from him than this. He looks a little afraid to speak to her. What did she say in there to put that look on his face?

“I can understand that,” he replies slowly, feeling his way through what he wants to say. “You’re independent to a fault. But I’d like to know. I’m interested.”

“Why?” She gives him a blank look that I don’t like. “Why now? You never cared before.”

The way his brown eyes widen in shock, his mouth falling open, surprises me. It tells me so much. Addie has gone unnoticed for so long that he never realized he’s been neglecting her.

“I always cared,” he protests, his tone getting sterner. “I could never get you to open up to me like the rest of the kids did. I thought you wanted to be left alone to process my addition to your lives. When your attitude toward me didn’t change, I figured I’d always be the bad guy and let it rest. You were always a good kid. Never a bad grade or attitude problem. I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen you lose your temper like this, no matter what Valerie has said.”

Addie blinks in a slow way that betrays her disbelief without changing her blank expression.

“Well, since you’re curious now, I’ll let you in on it. Ask Valerie. Ask her why I can’t call you Pa or have anything to do with you. She’s the one who wanted it that way, so she should have your answers.”

Her shoulders slump as if the weight of everything that happened behind those closed doors has finally hit her. She looks exhausted without any warning.

“Time to go home, siren,” I tell her with a frown. “You’ve stood on your own enough for one night.”

Her eyes turn up to me, and a faint smile touches her lips.

“Aye, aye, husband.”

She says it without a single hesitation. Only I see how wide Joseph’s eyes get. All the blood drains out of his face. His teeth start gritting, his shoulders getting tense. For a second, I think I’m going to have to get between the two of them. He’s angry, and it seems to be building up inside him, ready to blow.

“You got married?” He asks in a low tone. As if he’s trying to hide the building rage. My unease rises as my brows lower.

“I did. With everything in me and then some.”

The simple way she says it, paired with her doting smile aimed right at me, almost takes my knees out from under me. A promise and a comfort while taking my soul out of me so she can hold it in her palms.

My distraction lasts until I notice Joseph’s body tensing more. My first thought is that he’s about to strike her. It might always be my first thought. Something that’s a familiar pattern I can’t escape from. A man is trying to take away the one person I want to be safe in this world.

I step in his way with a scowl. There’s no way I will letanyof her family look at her like that. Just when I’m about to act, he spins on his heel and marches back into the room, slamming the door behind him.

I wrap an arm around her waist, leaving her furious family behind with more speed than I intended. She doesn’t say a word about it, still looking at me as if I’m her world.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Asher

As soon as Addie stood up, I got out of my chair and reached for her, my feet frozen in shock.

I’ve never heard her so deadly serious before. With the changes she’s made to her appearance alone, it’s very obvious that she’s taking control ofeverythingin her life. She’s no longer tolerating whatever treatment she’s been getting from our family while I’ve been focused on myself.