Chapter 36 — Time for atonement
Azazel:
Bloody Mathias, what a wanker making Nevaeh feel unwanted. Taking a deep breath, I walk back to the living room and face Mathias. I don’t bloody care if he’s the Council’s top enforcer. He hurt Nevaeh, and I will not stand for that. “You’re a right foul git, you know that?”
Mathias’ brows arch in warning at my bold words, but I’m too angry to care. “You sit here as if your bollocks are made of steel when you and I both know that nineteen years ago, you shagged Nevaeh’s mother after getting knackered. Well? Do you deny it?”
Mathias sifts his fingers through his hair. “I…I can’t deny it. I lost Marael and was searching for her killer when I hit a dead end. I didn’t know what to do. The woman I loved was gone, and I couldn’t find the being responsible for her death. It was at my lowest moment that I wandered into the nightclub. I was busy trying to drown myself into an alcohol-induced coma when this beautiful girl walks up to me. She had long dark hair and eyes. I tried to stay away, but she was very forward and I…I wanted to forget. No… I needed to forget. We had sex that night, and in the morning, I left. I felt horrible at what I did. In my heart, I had betrayed my love for Marael. That’s why I left and never looked back. You have to believe that I didn’t expect to impregnate her. I never even considered it.”
Even though I see his point, I refuse to concede. I can’t, not after seeing how much his callous words hurt Nevaeh. She didn’t deserve his harsh words. “Regardless of how it all happened, you still need to make things right between you and Nevaeh. It’s not fair for you to treat her that way. She’s been through so much already. You didn’t know this, but her mother and father abandoned her several months ago. Her mother decided she wanted to find herself, and her father, the prat, decided he wanted to shag his secretary. If Mikhail had not met her and welcomed her into his family, she would have probably been sitting abandoned in that house.” I point to Nevaeh’s dark and lonely house, emphasizing my point. “She’s a sweet, loving girl, Mathias. One who needs her father to tell her that she wasn’t a mistake. Look, I can see that this has left you gobsmacked, but the fact is, she is yours, and if you gave it a chance, you’d realize how wonderful she is.”
Mathias glances up at the ceiling as if trying to decipher something, then he looks back at me. His eyes are solemn, and his lips are locked tightly. He looks a bit lost, which is an odd expression to see on the face of such a formidable man. “What do I do, Azazel?”
I rub my chin thoughtfully. I’m at a loss at what to say. I’m also a bit taken back by the fact that the head of the council is asking me for advice. “Well, maybe you should begin by talking to her. It seems to me that you need her, mate. Think about it. You lost your wife, and for so many years, you’ve been sad and alone. But now you have something you never thought you’d have—family. You’re mental if you don’t give it a try.”
Mathias rises from his seat with a nod. “You’re right. I need to talk to her.”
I nudge my chin in the direction of the stairs. “Time to nut up then.”
Mathias follows behind me as I ascend the stairs. The door is still closed, and I can hear Nevaeh’s slow breathing, which tells me that she’s probably asleep. I look at Mathias, then knock on the door lightly. “Nevaeh… luv, can I come in?”
I open the door slowly and smile when I see that she’s sleeping.
“Nevaeh…” I shake her shoulder gently.
Her eyes open gently as they gaze upon mine sadly. “Mikhail?” She asks brokenly.
I shake my head. “Nothing yet, Luv.”
She doesn’t reply at first, then she spots Mathias’ behind me, and she sits up stiffly.
Before I can say a word, Mathias walks up to her and mutters. “May we talk?”
Nevaeh gives him a hesitant frown. Considering their previous conversation. She fidgets in place as she gazes into her true father’s eyes before she reluctantly complies.
“I’ll be downstairs if you need me,” I tell Nevaeh. Before I step out of the room, I give Mathias a warning look and close the door. Even if things don’t work out between them, they can both get closure. Nevaeh needs it more than anyone.