Taken Hard (The Hard Boys 2)

Edward ran a hand down his face then looked up at the ceiling. “There is something I want to talk to you about.”

Crap. He was going to fire her.

“I … I’m your father, Lilly.”

She continued to look at him. “What?”

“I, this, I, that’s what I said. I’m your dad. I’m your biological sperm donor. I’ve been wanting to tell you for a long time, and I didn’t know how. I went to Caleb and he told me that I had to be the one to tell you.”

She held up her hands as he just kept on talking. “Wait, Caleb knew?”

“I went to him. I heard you were dating him, and at first, I didn’t like it, but then he said some things and made me realize I couldn’t judge him. His heart is in the right place.”

Lilly couldn’t ever recall hearing the man talk so much.

“I’m your father. I had sex with your mother, and she told me that I wouldn’t make a good father. I didn’t have what it took to raise you, but I wanted to. I swear I thought you didn’t want to know me and that I was wasting my time. I always sent money. I even sent birthday cards and presents.”

She held her hand up again for him to stop. “Please, start from the beginning.”

So Edward did. He told her all about the meeting with her mother. The arrangement they had. How her mother reacted. The money. The presents. The gifts. The fact that he loved her, was there for her graduation, and how proud he was of her.

She also discovered that the additional bruising on Jacob had come from him. He’d paid the man a visit and reminded him how to be a gentleman.

After he’d finished, Lilly was speechless.

All this time, she had a dad who had loved her.

“Lilly, please say something.”

“I … I … I’ll be right back.” Turning away from him, she stormed out of his bar and began to walk toward the trailer park. It wasn’t too far from the bar, so long as you knew a few shortcuts. Lilly knew them.

When she was younger, her mother had forced her to wait outside the bar a few times while she’d clearly been screwing Edward. Whenever it ran on for two hours or more, she’d walk on back to the trailer and go to bed.

Twenty-three years her mother had kept this secret from her.

Lilly had assumed her father had left without a care in the world. Assuming he didn’t want her.

She’d been so stupid to believe her mother.

Arriving at the trailer park thirty minutes later, she didn’t bother knocking on the door. She entered it, and what a surprise, her mother actually sat there alone.

Lucy Jewel sat smoking a cigarette.

“What are you doing here? Haven’t you shacked up with the manwhore?” Lucy asked, blowing smoke into the air.

“All this time, you knew.”

“I knew what?”

“Edward was my dad.”

Lucy paused as she looked at her. She licked her lips, and for the first time, Lilly saw the true age her mother had tried to hide for many years. She hadn’t put on enough makeup, and she looked withdrawn, gaunt almost. Years of starving herself, jumping from bed to bed. Lilly was shocked to see her mother like this.

She hadn’t seen her in such a long time.

There was no love lost between the two of them. There never had been.

“So, the weirdo finally decided to tell you. He was so easy to control.”

“You’re a despicable human being.”

“Watch your mouth,” Lucy said.

“Or what? You’re going to hit me? I can have you done for assault now. I’m not some thing you can make feel small anymore. Spew your crap and your hatred. I don’t care. Not anymore.”

Lucy laughed. “You think because a man is showing you some attention it makes you anything? Please, everyone will still see you as a little whore.”

Lilly smiled and Lucy’s laughter faded. “This isn’t about Caleb. This is about me, and I know my worth more than anyone else. The only whore in this room is you. Goodbye, Lucy.”

She didn’t even bother to grace her with the title of mother.

Leaving the trailer, she started to walk to the exit of the park when Caleb’s truck appeared. He parked and climbed out.

Lilly didn’t stop. She went right to him and threw herself in his arms.

“I’ve got you. Edward called me. I’m so sorry. I thought he should be the one to tell you.”

“I don’t care.” She pressed her face against his chest. “I really don’t. Just hold me.”

He stroked her hair, and in his arms, she felt safe, protected, and loved.

“It doesn’t matter what she does anymore. I’m done with her. She’s not my mother.” She tilted her head back to look at him.

“You’re not angry at me for knowing and not saying anything?”