Page 22 (2/2)

Z looked at him like he’d sprouted a horn in theup that sire of hers and kill hiain If Nalla had been abused like that? And had bones full of past breaks?"

The brother stopped talking at that point Just as well Rhage felt like voain

"When it’s your kids, it’s just a whole different level" Rhage started to bang his head against the wall, and then worried that it ht disturb Bitty and the doctors "You knoasn’t prepared for this Ito be the argume not to slice off his smooth criminals and plant theh it for her It’s just not fair"

Z held his stare, solid as a rock, about as far from psychotic as the brother had once been knee-deep in the crazy "You are a tree looked away fast Cleared his throat "I feel like I’ht with her when she needs you most"

"No, to do that, I’d have to be on that exam table I’d have to have my body there instead of hers"

"Not possible and you know it" Z cursed softly "The hardest thing about being a father is not being able to ht for them Sometimes the best you can do is just show up"

"There has to be ure it out, let me know"

"Ha! You’re the best father I’ve ever seen"

"Tell you what, I’ll call your ass the next tis up worse"

"But it’s different for you"

"Why" When Rhage didn’t fill in the blank, Z didn’t let the unspoken reically mine? G’head, say it ’Cuz when you hear that shit come out of your mouth, you’ll realize how stupid it is"

"I just … I wonder if I’d be doing so better if … you knoere really her sire"

"Oh, like her biological father, you mean? Like the motherfucker who put her on that table? You want to be like hiuy who’s been here in this corridor, looking like he’s going through open-heart surgery without anesthesia ’cuz his little girl’s having a hard time"