Chapter 23

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

A very stepped out of the shower and into the robe that had been left hanging for her. All she wanted to do was go to bed, but she had guests waiting for her in the living room.

She was so confused right now. She’d heard the man when he stepped up and said that he was her father. But that couldn’t be right, could it?

Knight requested that she listen to what the man had to say and make her decision from there. He felt that she needed to in order to get the answers to the questions that were brewing around in her head.

She just didn’t know what she was going to wear. The outfit she had on earlier was now in the fireplace being burned since it had that asshole Mackey’s blood and what brain cells he had on it.

Stepping into the bedroom, she found an overnight bag lying on the bed. The one she had been reaching for when she had been attacked in her bedroom.

Opening it, she found the undergarments that she had been planning on packing as well as her toiletries. There were also a couple of pairs of jeans, yoga pants, shirts and tank tops in the bag as well.

She wanted to sit down and just cry. Everything started crashing in on her. She sat on the floor, curled her legs up to her chest, wrapped her arms around her knees and hid her face in the cocoon they provided while she cried.

When she felt arms engulf her and pull her towards them, she didn’t acknowledge it. She just let everything out. When she’d finally cried the tears that she had needed to cry, she lifted her head to see Knight holding on to her.

He’d pulled her into his lap and held her tightly to his chest as he soothed her hair and rocked side to side with her. He didn’t tell her everything was going to be ok. He didn’t make promises. He just held her and let her get everything out.

“You ok now?”

“Who packed my bag?” Avery sniffled, without moving her head to look at him.

“Cross did. He gave it to Adams, a detective we have on the inside to help us clean the police department of dirty cops.”

Avery looked up at Knight then with a skeptical look when he said dirty cops. Seriously?

“Yeah, yeah, smart ass. For the most part our businesses are legit. We mainly have restaurants, a couple of strip clubs and several bars. We have kept some of it in the criminal aspects such as arms dealing and drugs, but that’s only for the information network we gain with that. It helps keep the city as safe as possible from real criminals. Which is why Mackey was trying to overthrow us.”

“What happens now? Now that the bad guys are gone, for now.” Avery asked hesitantly, afraid of the answer.

“I know what I want. The question is, what do you want?”

Avery looked up at Knight then, looking into his eyes trying to gauge what it was. She knew what she wanted but she was afraid to say it out loud.

“I’m an enforcer for my brother, babe. I’m also a wealthy man. I know you love teaching and that’s what you want to do, and I will support whatever decision you make. I’m putting myself on the line here. I love you. I want a future with you. But you need all the cards on the table. I’m mafia, by blood and by sword. I swore to protect Donovan and our family organization, which includes the O’Malley’s until the day I die. I have blood on my hands. Not just Mackey’s. The question is, can you live with knowing who I am and what I do?”

Avery studied Knight’s eyes. She could see the apprehension in them. Something that was so foreign for him. He was putting his heart on the line for her.

“Yes. I love you too, Knight. I want a future with you. I want to have a family with you, if that’s allowed. I’m not sure how that works with your world.”

“Technically, I lay you down right here or on the bed, or anywhere in this penthouse really, and fuck your brains out until that little stick turns pink and says you’re knocked up.” Knight winked at Avery who rolled her eyes as she laughed at his comment.

“Smart ass. That’s not what I meant, but I guess that answers my question anyways. I do have another one. Who is that man out there? The two boys that look like him.”

“I think it’s time for us to go out there so he can answer your question. It’s his story to tell you. Just know I’m going to be right here by your side through it all.”

“Okay. Let me get dressed and I’ll be right out.”

Avery waited until Knight left the room and took a deep breath. It was time to get some answers to the questions that were swirling in her head.

She put the clothes away in the drawers that Knight had shown to her that she could use and hung up the outfits in the closet. She had to admit she liked seeing her things mixed in with his.

She put away her toiletries and undergarments in the drawers. Once she was done with that she went into the bathroom and dried and brushed her hair.

Yes, she knew she was stalling. If she truly admitted what she was feeling, she was scared of what she would find out.

She’d grown up thinking she was not good enough for love or happiness. She’d been told repeatedly by her mother and sister that her own father didn’t even want her and left. They even blamed Emily’s father’s leaving on her.

She was scared shitless about things with Knight. She knew how he felt and truly cherished those feelings and knew they were real. But it didn’t stop the words her mother and sister had told her every day for twenty plus years ringing in her head.