His Son. Her Secret.

Chapter 20

A beat passed. Beth fought the urge and leaned against the door for a second before moving further into the room, still keeping her distance out of habit. “No. I know the way,” she answered.

“Could’ve fooled me.”

She ignored that. “How are you?”

Jack snorted. “How do I look?”

Like a man who refused to die out of spite? Of course, Beth didn’t say that out loud. And it had nothing to do with sparing his feelings. No. This was all about self-preservation. “Alive.”

“Barely,” he muttered, shifting in his chair. “But I suppose that doesn’t matter much to you. I bet you were hoping to find me dead in my bed. That would make you happy, wouldn’t it?”

There it was. Right on time. The man wore manipulation like an inherited disease. Needing to move, Beth walked past him into the small kitchen area. She dropped the small shopping bag on the sink before grabbing a glass and filling it with water just to have something to do with her hands.

“Can we not do this today? I came, didn’t I?”

“Yes,” he said slowly, his eyes never leaving her. “After how long?”

She didn’t respond. What was the point? They both knew she wouldn’t even make her rare visits if she could get rid of that small part of her brain that reminded her that he was still family, even if she hated him.

A beat passed. Jack watched her take a sip, his gaze heavy. He looked like a predator sharpening his claws for the kill. “You know, most daughters would be ashamed.”

Beth lowered the glass from her lips. Okay. She decided to bite. “Of what?”

“Of neglecting the man who raised them.”

Her fingers tightened slightly around the glass. Beth forced a scoff. “Raised me?” she echoed, turning to face him fully.

Jack’s expression didn’t change. “I fed you. Put a roof over your head. Kept you alive.”

Beth let out a small, humorless laugh. Dear God, the man needed an award for his efforts. “Is that what we’re calling it now?”

His eyes narrowed. “Watch your tone.”

Oh, that hit a nerve. Beth stifled a shudder. It was an involuntary reaction to that tone of voice. That same tone that used to freeze her in place when she was younger. Thankfully, it didn’t work anymore.

“Why?” Beth shot back, straightening her spine. “Going to hit me if I don’t?”

Silence fell. For a moment, the air in the room went still. Beth’s ears filled with the white noise of her heart hard.

Jack’s jaw tightened. “You always had a mouth on you.”

“And you always had a fist,” she said flatly, daring him to deny it.

He didn’t deny it. Of course, he didn’t. It wasn’t as though he had ever been ashamed of his actions. No. Instead, he shifted tactics.

“You think life was easy for me?” he asked, voice taking on that familiar edge of wounded pride. “Raising a child alone? I had no help. No support. Your mother was gone…”

“Don’t,” Beth cut in sharply. “Don’t use her.”

Jack’s eyes flashed. His nostrils flared. “I did what I had to do.”

“You did what you wanted,” Beth said. “There’s a difference.”

He scoffed. “Ungrateful. That’s what you are.”

Beth shook her head slowly, the numbness in her chest expanded, and any minute now, she feared her heart would freeze and stop beating. “You keep saying I should be grateful. For what, exactly?”

“For everything,” he snapped. “For the sacrifices I made.”

She stared at him. And for a second, she wondered, really wondered if he believed that. If in his mind, he had been the hero all along. The perfect father raising a child on his own. Her thoughts drifted, uninvited.

To a dark study in the middle of the night. To a man standing as though the world bent around him. And yet his voice had cracked when he demanded to know where his son was. She’d heard it. Felt his desperation even. All Santiago Burns had cared about was his son. Nothing else had mattered.

Beth swallowed. Santiago would have burned the world down for that child. This man in front of her? He’d sell her for half the price and ask for change. His next words proved her point.

“Have you found a husband yet?” Jack’s voice cut through her thoughts.

Beth blinked. Well, that was new. “What?”

“A man,” he clarified impatiently. “Someone who can take care of you. And me.”

Now that didn’t surprise her. It was all about him. Beth stared at him, something close to disbelief creeping in. “You’re serious.”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” he clipped. “You’re not getting any younger. And clearly, you can’t handle things on your own. You can’t even remember to come and check on your father. You need a man to keep you in line.”

Jesus. A laugh burst out of her before she could stop it. “You think I need someone to order me around?”

“I think you need a man who knows how to lead,” Jack said. “Someone with money. Stability. Not whatever nonsense you’re doing now. Do you even have a job, or are you still playing around with those friends of yours?”

Beth shook her head slowly. “Unbelievable.”

“You need a husband,” he continued, like she hadn’t spoken. “And when you find one, he can help with this house. Medical bills. Proper care. That’s what a good husband does.”

Beth’s stomach turned. Not once did he say love. Not once did he mention her happiness. It was all about him and how he would benefit. Typical.

Her jaw tightened. “I’m not marrying someone so they can take care of you.”

Jack’s expression hardened. “You owe me.”

The words landed heavily. Beth went still. “I don’t owe you my life,” she said quietly.

His eyes narrowed. “Everything you are is because of me.”

Beth held his gaze. If he meant her inability to find a good man because she was broken inside and her lack of confidence, then yes. But if he was referring to anything good she had made of her life, then hell no!

“No,” she said. “Everything I am… Is in spite of you.”

Jack looked like he wanted to say something else, but for once, the words didn’t come easily. Beth didn’t wait. Suddenly, she needed to leave. The air in the house felt saturated with so much bitterness that there wasn’t enough oxygen left to fill her lungs.

She turned, setting the glass down with a clank before she started for the door.

“Where are you going?” he demanded.

“Home.”

“You just got here.”

“Yeah,” she said, still heading for the door. “That was my mistake.”

“Beth!”

She paused at the door, hand on the handle. For a second, she almost turned back. Almost. Then she shook her head as though shaking off his hold on her and stepped outside.

The air hit her like a release. She drew a greedy breath and didn’t stop walking until she reached the gate. Only then did she slow down to a stop, her grip tightening around the wood.

Shit! A tremor rocked her body for a beat and then another. She wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly feeling very alone and empty. Then her thoughts drifted again. To Kaleth. To the way his tiny hand had clutched hers. The trust he had in her to keep him safe.

And Santiago. It hadn’t been an act, right?

Beth exhaled slowly. “Kaleth is fine,” she muttered to herself. “He has to be.” But the thought didn’t settle. If anything, it grew. Like a small c***k spreading, nagging and pulling in her chest.

She had to check on him. Just to be sure. Beth pushed off the gate and started walking. Part of her brain screamed that she was crazy to do what she was thinking; thankfully, that part didn’t control her legs.

So yeah, she was about to do something impulsive. Again. Hopefully, this time she wouldn’t land herself in trouble.