Run To Me (Lazarus Rising #4)(51)

“There aren’t any other patients on this floor.”

“You got the whole floor for him?”

“Having a shitload of money gives you perks like that.” His jaw hardened. “But there are some things money can’t buy.” His gaze cut to her. “And you’re one of those things.”

She sucked in a deep breath. “You think that you want to be with me. But you don’t know how bad things can get.”

“And you don’t know how good they can get.” He stopped near another door. This one had two guards in front of it. He nodded toward them, and the guards opened the door. She started to enter, but Jay caught her shoulder. “He’s not blood.”

She blinked. “What?”

“He tried to spin me some BS story about being your father. He’s going to tell you the same story. He wants you to think a connection exists between you two. He wants you to feel bound to him.”

Your father. A wave of dizziness slid over her.

“Don’t buy his bullshit. You told me that you can tell when a person is lying, well, see his lies, Willow. See him for the bastard that he is.”

Then he was striding inside. She sucked in a deep breath and followed him into the hospital room. She saw Sawyer first, standing near the bed, his hands loose at his sides. He gave a quick nod when he saw her, and his gaze slid to the bed.

To the man in that bed.

Wyman Wright.

The man who’d turned her into a monster. The man who…

Looked small. Weak. His skin was far too pale, and she could see the line of blue veins running just beneath the surface. Dark circles marked his eyes, and there was a stack of machines positioned near his bed. Those machines kept beeping even as green lines ran across their screens.

“She…shouldn’t be here.” Wyman’s voice.

But his voice was different then. It wasn’t the strong, rough voice she’d heard when she’d been in the lab. The voice of the man who came to watch her. It wasn’t even the same voice he’d used in Jay’s study. Instead, Wyman’s voice sounded weak. Rough. Scratchy.

“Get her…out,” Wyman wheezed.

“Sorry, but the lady wants to stay.” Jay had paced to the window. Now he turned back, crossed his arms over his chest, and rolled one shoulder in a shrug. “She thinks she deserves the chance to talk with you, and I’ve got to say that I agree.”

“Get her…” If possible, Wyman’s face became even paler. “Out. Too…d-dangerous.”

“You think I’m dangerous?” Willow took a quick step forward. “Who should I blame for that? Who did this to me?” Anger boiled inside of her. “Oh, right. That would be you.”

He flinched. “Danger…is to…y-you…” The machines beeped faster. His breath heaved in and out.

“I told Willow the story you spun.” Jay’s voice was cold. Grim. “About being her father. Figured she deserved to know that, too.”

A growl spilled from Wyman. “Since when…did you…grow…grow a con-conscience?”

Jay simply shrugged again.

“You aren’t my father.” Willow was surprised by how strong her voice was. “You’re the man who kept me locked away. You’re the man who made me into—” She looked down at herself and was surprised to see that her hands had clenched. “I make people see their worst fears. I turn their nightmares into reality. I hurt people.” Her words came faster and faster. “You made me into a monster. And you think I should call you father because of that twisted shit? You—”

“T-taught you how…throw ball…” A mist covered his eyes. But he blinked, and it was gone. “Took f-first step…into my arms.” His chin notched up. “H-hell yes…I’m your f-father…”

Her chest hurt. A sharp pain right in her heart.

“He is not biologically related to you,” Sawyer told her, his voice low. “And the guy is a master at the mind screw.”

She knew that. But…

But Wyman was staring at her, and she could have sworn there was pain in his eyes. He was staring at her, and his heartbeat was fast, a tremble shook his body, and his voice was so unsteady.

Could be from lies. Could be from pain.

Could be from truth.

“If she’s your daughter, blood or not, why the hell would you put her through this?” Jay’s voice cut like a knife. “Trapping her in the lab, making her an experiment.”

Her gaze flew to him.

He glared at Wyman with white-hot fury. “You don’t do that to someone you love,” Jay snarled.

“You do,” Wyman argued back, his voice getting weaker. “If you c-can’t bear…to let go…”

She found herself moving closer to Wyman. Wanting desperately to know if this was another lie. Wanting any crumb that she could get about her past.

“We couldn’t find Willow in any database.” Sawyer still kept his position near the bed. “Jay is the best there is at hacking. He searched every government file out there. No mention of Willow was ever found. No one who matched her, no one who fit her description even remotely.”

Wyman’s eyes were on Willow. “If people knew…about our connection…they’d try—try to hurt me, th-through you. I k-kept you safe.”