Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 146417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
She shook her head. “Ian is my dad. That’s why I didn’t take this to him. I don’t talk about my bio parents because I don’t want my dad to think I don’t love him. He would feel betrayed if he knew.”
“He’ll understand.” Tag would understand that Levi was a monster who used a little girl’s insecurity against her. She also couldn’t see Ian keeping knowledge about Oleg Federov away from Tasha. “If there’s one thing I know it’s that your dad loves you. So does your mom. Did you ever ask Beck or Rob about the man they knew as Sasha?”
Her dark eyes had gone watery. “I told you. I didn’t want my parents to think I didn’t love them.”
Sympathy welled for the baby standing in front of her. She’d been through so much, and all she wanted were some answers. “Wanting to know your roots doesn’t mean you don’t love them. The drugs that McDonald gave to your dad, they took his memory.”
“I know that.”
“Yes, but did you know that sometimes a memory would be so precious that it still got through? Like your Uncle Theo would remember your Aunt Erin.”
“Yes,” Tasha replied. “I read that. He would get punished for remembering.”
Oh, she was going to have a talk with Tag about locking his files down. She shouldn’t have to process that as a child. But Kim could give her one bit of peace. “Yes. Sasha only ever remembered one thing.”
Tears made Tasha’s eyes shine, and she looked so young and vulnerable. “What was that? Did he remember my mom?”
“You. He remembered holding you right after you were born.” Ariel had told her the story that she’d gotten from Rob. “He couldn’t remember anything else, but he remembered he loved you. Tasha, let’s go talk to Beck and the others. They would love to tell you about him. When I was looking for you, I learned a lot about your mom. I can tell you what I know about her. She fought to find your dad. She loved you. She was trying to bring you all back together. Charlotte and Ian Taggart would never keep that information from you. Ever. You are their daughter. It doesn’t matter that you had two other parents who loved you. They will share you because they know love isn’t something finite. There’s more than enough to go around.”
If she let it. If she let herself, she could love Beck and Roman and any other kids they were blessed with. If she let herself, she had a real shot at the family she’d always dreamed of. She just had to be brave enough to take the risk. The risk was that she would get hurt again. Oh, but the reward would be everything.
She’d told Beck she would give them a shot the night before and she’d meant it, but she also acknowledged that she’d meant to hold a piece of herself back, to keep a part of her soul that he could never touch again.
She didn’t owe Beck forgiveness, but she did owe it to herself.
Sasha had held on to that one memory of a daughter he would never meet again. Theo had endured torture to keep a single vision of the woman he’d loved. Rob and Tucker had remembered their mother, the feeling of brotherhood that brought them close even when they hadn’t been able to recall the other’s name. Owen had spent years talking to relatives, having them tell stories of the family erased from his mind. And Jax had forged ahead.
She and Beck could remember every moment, and they’d been the ones stuck because they’d held on to the bitter times. She’d been angry at that dumb girl who’d wanted nothing more than to be Beck’s wife.
But that girl had been brave. She’d been rejected time and time again and still opened herself to the possibility of love.
“Be brave, Tasha,” Kim said. Tasha was crying freely now, and Kim felt her own tears. “Let’s go talk to your mom and dad. Let’s sit down and figure this out. They won’t be angry. They’ll protect you.”
Tasha sniffled. “I’m confused.”
Kim nodded. “I know you are. It’s okay. You don’t have to believe me. You only have to know that your parents love you and want to protect you. The man you’re talking to is very dangerous. But it’s okay because right now he’s in jail and he can’t hurt us.”
Tasha’s eyes widened. “See. You’re wrong about him. He’s not in jail. His dad is coming here in a couple of hours. I’m supposed to bring you down here so he can arrest you and take you back to Russia.” She went a bit pale. “I’m sorry. I thought I was being like Dad. Me and Kenzie and Kala, we just wanted to be like our mom and dad and show them we could take care of a situation like they do.”