After throwing on her robe and cinching it tight, Brie hurried to join him.
Sir took a quick peek before frowning. “It’s your father.”
Brie suddenly felt sick.
Growing impatient, her father resorted to pounding on the door. Sir immediately opened it and pulled him inside.
The man was holding a paper bag and had a silly grin on his face.
“Where’s Mom?” Brie asked in concern.
“She didn’t want to come,” he muttered. “But, no matter…”
Brie felt unsteady and grabbed on to the chair near her.
Her father then turned to stare at Thane, beaming. “I have never been prouder, son!”
Sir furrowed his brow. “Why?”
“Don’t play coy with me. I’ve come here to celebrate!” He pulled away the brown paper bag to reveal a bottle of champagne. Twisting off the wire cap, he jimmied the cork until it made a resounding pop.
Her father looked at Brie guiltily. “Sorry. I didn’t think about waking the children.”
Brie stood staring at him with her jaw hanging open, feeling sicker by the moment. “Daddy, what have you done?”
He snorted. “I told you. I’ve come to celebrate!”
He gave Sir a resounding slap on the back. “Now, I’m not much of a drinking man, but here we are. Where are your glasses?”
Sir took the bottle of champagne from him and set it on the counter. “You need to explain yourself.”
Her father looked from Sir to Brie, then back to Sir. He straightened his back and cleared his throat. “Look, I get it. I’m familiar with this kind of situation. But let me give you some sage advice, son. They find out. They always find out. Best to be open with Brianna now.”
“I have no idea what you are talking about,” Sir replied sternly.
Her father chuckled. “You have a great poker face, Thane. I’ll grant you that. However, it serves no purpose now.” He pointed at Brie. “You can tell she’s already questioning you.”
“The only thing I’m questioning is you, Daddy,” Brie stated.
Her father shook his head. “Whatever you say stays with me. I swear it. I won’t even tell your mother, although she already suspects.”
“Suspects what?” Brie demanded.
“That Thane took care of the problem.”
Brie was left momentarily stunned and stammered, “I was afraid you…did it.” She refused to voice what “it” was.
Her father shook his head and looked at Sir as if he were disappointed. “What? You weren’t involved?”
“No. However, I was considering my options.”
Nodding in understanding, her father glanced at the champagne and shrugged. “Well, we have even more reason to celebrate then. We don’t have to worry about it anymore, the bastard’s dead.”
For the very first time, Brie let Holloway’s death sink in.
He can never hurt me or Mary again…
A world without Holloway in it was ripe with possibilities. Still…