Unforgiven (Wanderers #3) (24 page)

“He and your father have some last minute business to
take care of. They should be home shortly.”

“All work and no play make Xander a dull boy,” Dean
quipped.

“We all have to grow up sometime. Even you Dean will
understand someday,” Xander said, surprising us all. I stood there
not sure how to react. I didn’t know if he was mad at us and taking
dad’s side. “You going to just stand there or you going to give
your big bro a hug?” he said, holding out his arms.

I hesitated, not sure if it was a trick or not.
“Read his mind,”
Dean projected. I looked at Xander. I
opened myself up and stretched out to reach into his head. The
second I penetrated the surface I knew immediately it wasn’t a
trick. I should have known from the beginning, but with my father,
who knew. He could have brainwashed Xander.

The second I felt how much he missed us I stopped my
invasion on his mind and ran into his arms. “I’ve missed you too,”
I said, squeezing him back.

“Don’t pretend you’re too cool to give your big bro a
hug,” Xander said to Dean. Dean rolled his eyes and got up. He gave
Xander a friendly pat on the back. Before he could pull away Xander
grabbed him and hugged him, squishing me in the middle.

“Okay guys, you’re crushing me.” They gave one final
squeeze and I yelped. Laughing, they let go and had a seat at the
table. I introduced Cameron to Xander and then asked, “So…where’s
dad?” My voice was a little shakier than I intended it to be.

“He had a few more things to finish up at the office,
but he’ll be home shortly.”

I sat down at the table with everyone while Danni
continued to clean. I was getting nervous and my stomach was
starting to hurt just thinking about it. Cameron gently squeezed my
hand noticing my tension. I tried to smile at her, but my nerves
were getting the best of me. I heard the garage door and I thought
I was going to hurl.

“Maybe I should take Cameron to the club with me. I
don’t think she needs to be for this,” Danni offered.

Great, there goes our only witness.
“That’s
probably a good idea. Do you mind Cameron?”

“Is there a pool?” I nodded. “Then it’s all good,”
she said, getting up and following Danni out the door.

I turned back to the door that entered to the garage
and then looked back at Dean. “Last chance, if we hurry we could
probably make it out of here before they get through the door,” I
said. Dean smiled and walked over to stand beside me. I held my
breath as I watched the doorknob turn and listened to my mom
telling my dad all the details of what needed to be done today and
yelling at him for working on a day she needed him most.

When they finally stepped into the kitchen and saw
us, my mom shut up. I saw a slight softness in my dad’s eyes before
they were quickly replaced by anger. He looked me dead in the eye
and then walked out. “Liam,” my mom chastised.

“Not now Jamila,” he said, heading to his office.

“Yes now!” She yelled, putting her foot down. “You
are not going to walk out on your children.”

He stopped, whipped his head around, and looked
directly at me. “It was their choice to leave. They’re the ones you
should be lecturing,” he growled.

“Our choice?” I stood up. “If I recall you didn’t
give us much of a choice.”

“I will not have my children running around on some
wild goose chase doing god knows what. You create trouble
Ella.”

“Here we go again,” I said, grabbing my stuff. “I
knew this was a mistake. I should have never come back here.” I
started to walk out but Xander and Dean stopped me. “Move!” I
growled, but they refused. I was prepared to take them out if
necessary.

“Let her leave. If she wants to live her life
recklessly then let her. Who are we to stop her? We’re not her
family anymore,” my dad spat. I flinched. His words cut deep
causing a slight pain in my heart.

“Enough!” my mom screamed. “Ella, you are not going
anywhere and
we all
are a family. Damn it Liam I
will not put up with this anymore. Sit down, all of you!” No one
moved. “Now!” my mom yelled so loud her powerful voice boomed
throughout the whole house.

Dean, Xander, and I quickly took a seat at the table.
My dad made his way over slowly, still keeping his distance. My mom
stared him down until he sat. “Now, we are all going to sit here
and discuss this like civilized people. Is that clear?” We all
nodded and my dad just stared at me.

My mom let out a breath and took a seat beside my
dad. “Despite what you may think,
both
your
father and I are happy to have you both home and safe.
Unfortunately I was not there when this whole mishap happened,” she
glared at my dad. “And I’m sure some things were said that weren’t
meant.” It was my turn to get her evil glare. “But we are family no
matter what and we all make mistakes,” she said, looking at my dad
again. “Now, does anyone have anything they’d like to say?”

“I guess this must mean you’re done with this little
adventure. You’ve given up?” my dad asked.

“First off, I never give up,” I said with my head
held high. “And yes, I found him. If that’s what you were
wondering.”

His eyes went wide and he tried to cover his
surprised reaction with a scowl by crossing his arms. “So does this
mean you’re done acting like a child?”

I stood up to leave. “Ella, sit,” my mom warned.

“No.” I stood firm. “I’m tired of him treating me
like I’m some great disappointment and embarrassment.”

“Is that what you think?” my dad asked. I looked down
before I took a breath and looked him straight in the eye. His face
softened and he looked almost sad. “I’d like to speak to Ella,
alone.”

I had a slight fear for my life. “Only if you promise
me you’ll still be here when you’re done,” my mom said, looking at
me. I didn’t answer right away. “Ella?”

“I promise mom.” I let go of some of my frustration
and sat back down. Xander, Dean, and my mom left the room, leaving
just me and my dad.

The room grew silent as we both just sat there
waiting for the other to start. I tried to get inside his head to
see what he was thinking, but I found nothing. “You can’t read my
mind,” he said, matter of fact.

I creased my brows. “Why not?”

“Mind readers can’t read each other’s minds.”

“What?” I asked surprised.

“I’m not sure exactly. I think it’s a natural
defensive power. A perk if you ask me,” he said with a slight
smile. I looked down at my hands not knowing what to say. “Ella,”
he began. “You are not a disappointment or an embarrassment. I
never want you to think that. Why would you even think that?”

“You’re kidding, right? After everything you said?
The way you always talk down to me. The constant disapproval of
everything I do.”

“Ella, I am your father. I’m not always going to
agree with the decisions you make, but I would never not want you
as my daughter.”

“Then why did you say those things?” I cried. I bit
my lip, trying not to let my emotions get the best of me.

“Because I was angry and sometimes threats are my
only way to make things go my way, usually. I never actually
thought you would stand up to me.”

“That’s because I’m not one of your employees or some
hostage. I am your daughter.”

“I know,” he said softly and I almost swore I could
see some moisture in his eyes. I have never in my life seen my dad
cry. He was the strongest man I knew.

“You think by now you’d know I’m not one to back down
and I stand my ground.”

“Yes, you are very stubborn,” he said, cracking a
small smile. “Ella, you have to understand that with Xander and
Dean it was easier.” He reached across the table and placed his
hand on mine. “You are my baby girl. My only daughter who I would
give my life for. You have to understand that I don’t always know
what I’m doing”

“You got that right.” His hand tightened on mine and
I could tell he didn’t appreciate my comment.

Instead of losing it, he closed his eyes and took a
breath, loosening his grip on my hand. “Ella, I just don’t want to
see anything happen to you. So when you fly across the country and
don’t tell anyone…I just…I think the unimaginable could happen and
if it did I couldn’t live with myself.”

“I get that, I do. And while yes it was rash and not
the best decision, it was a decision I had to make on my own. When
you finally stop treating me like a child than maybe we can have a
normal relationship. I know you see me as your little girl, but
dad, I’m not little anymore. I’ve grownup. And the sooner you start
realizing that the sooner we can get past this.”

“I know honey, but it’s hard. One day when you have
kids you’ll understand.”

I stifled an eye roll. “Well that is a long way from
now.”
That is if I live long enough to have
kids
.
With all the threats on my life I was lucky to be alive.

“Hopefully yes,” he laughed. “But in the meantime how
about a compromise?”

“One of your compromises isn’t really very
compromising.”

I saw in his eyes he was fighting the urge to argue.
Instead he inhaled deeply and closed his eyes. “I promise to start
treating you as an adult and respecting your decisions if you
promise to stop keeping things from me. I’m not saying I want to
know everything. I just mean the important things like taking a
random trip to Ireland in the middle of the school year.”

“You want me to believe that if I told you I was
doing that you would have just let me go?”

“Well, not at first, but I would have made sure you
were protected.”

“That’s just it dad. You can’t protect me all the
time. I need room to breathe.”

“You’re right,” he stuttered. I knew it was hard for
him to admit that. “It’s just natural instinct for me to do
it.”

“Wait, I’m sorry. Could you say that again?” I was
still shocked at him saying I was right.

“Ella, don’t get smart. I’m trying to be good here
and it’s not going to happen overnight.”

I tried to hide my smile. “I guess if you can try not
to be so dad like I guess I can try to stop being so reckless.”

“And a smartass,” he added.

“Hey, let’s not push it.” He chuckled softly and
patted my hand before he released it. He stood up from the table
and I took that as a sign we were done. I stood up and pushed in my
chair. I faced my dad who was still standing there looking a little
uncomfortable. Before I knew it his arms were around me, embracing
me in a hug. After the initial shock wore off, I hugged him back,
laying my head on his chest.

“I love you Ella. I will always love you no matter
what. There’s nothing you could do to ever make me want to get rid
of you.”

“I’m sorry for the way I’ve been acting. So much has
happened that sometimes I just don’t know what the right thing to
do is any more. So sometimes being reckless is just my way of
handling things.” I wiped a few tears that strayed from my
eyes.

“It’s okay. You get that reckless spirit from your
mother.” I pulled back to see a smile and slight twinkle in his eye
from mentioning my mom.

“Oh no, you were just as bad as I was when you were
young,” my mom said, walking back into the kitchen. “She has my
free spirit and your rebelliousness.”

My dad let out a genuine laugh. One I haven’t heard
from him in a while. “Agreed,” he said. He looked down at me,
smiled, and squeezed me one more time before letting go and giving
me a kiss on the forehead. He walked over to my mom, wrapped his
arm around her waist and kissed her hair.

“Have you come to your senses or do I have to tie you
both to a chair until you reconcile?” my mom asked, with a slight
worried expression.

My dad looked to me to answer. “It’s all good.”

She clapped her hands excitedly. My dad leaned down
close to her ear and whispered, “You can still tie me to a chair
later if you like?”

“Ew, ugh, gross. I can you hear you!” Apparently he
wasn’t as quiet as he thought. He winked at my mom making me want
to vomit. My mom blushed and smacked his chest. Then she walked
over to me, threw her arms around me and embraced me in a bear
hug.

“I’ve been dying to do this since the moment I saw
you.”

She squeezed me so hard I could barely breathe. “Uh
dad, a little help here?”

“Sorry, you’re an adult now. You don’t need my help,”
he laughed and walked away, leaving me to fend for myself.

“That’s cold old man, just cold,” I said, shaking my
head and trying to peel my mom off of me.

“Oh, I can’t believe I almost forgot,” my mom said,
releasing her vice grip. She walked back out to the garage and came
back in with a large package and a few shopping bags. “You can only
open one now and then the rest later.”

I looked at her funny. “You bought me stuff?”

“Of course, you didn’t think I’d forget my own
daughter’s birthday.”

“Oh yeah,” I said sighing. “How’d you even know I’d
come back?”

“A mother knows,” she said, caressing my cheek. She
frowned. My guess was she sensed my mixed emotions. “What’s the
matter?”

“I’m not really in the mood to celebrate. If you
don’t mind can we just skip my birthday this year?”

My mom drew back and I knew she wanted to protest,
but once she got a real feel for my emotions she didn’t push it.
“Okay honey, if that’s what you want.” She turned around and picked
up the bags.

I grabbed her wrist. “Um…just because I don’t want to
celebrate doesn’t mean I won’t accept presents,” I said
sheepishly.

She laughed and put the bags down, pushing one toward
me. “This you can have for tonight and the rest you can have
later.” She sat down in a chair and waited impatiently for me to
open the bag. I looked inside and the first thing I spotted was
pink fabric. I pulled out the contents to discover it was a
strapless dress. It was tea length with an empire waist. The fabric
was soft and flowy and very feminine.