“He is an ass**le,” I replied as I glared at the man who had a part in bringing me into this world. I wouldn’t consider him a father. He was Harlow’s father, not mine. And definitely not Nan’s. He hadn’t even claimed her until she was an adult, and only after Blaire’s father shared that info with the world.
“He’s Kiro. You can’t call him an ass**le,” Major said.
Major hadn’t grown up around that part of my life. His father was my stepdad’s brother. I was kept away from Kiro’s life as much as possible. Major had traveled the world as an army brat and only knew of Kiro Manning the rock god. He didn’t know what a sucky excuse for a father he was.
“Your sister is in there dying, and the brother she f**king worships can’t find it in his cowboy schedule to get his sorry ass over here fast enough. So who’s the ass**le?” Kiro spat back at me.
My mother tensed beside me and started off after him, but I grabbed her arm. She and Kiro didn’t get along. He had been a very bad mistake during a rebellious time in her life. I still can’t figure out how she had gone that far off the deep end. But whenever I asked her about it, she would tell me it was Kiro Manning, and she had been a young girl. It was as simple as that. Then she’d remind me that she had me, which made it all worth it.
“I don’t own my own f**king jet. I had to fly commercial. I got here as fast as I could. Look at me. I’m covered in dirt, sweat, and cow shit. I didn’t even stop in the house to change. I ran for the motherfucking airport.”
My mother didn’t even try to correct my language this time.
Kiro looked somewhat appeased. He swung his gaze to Major and frowned. “Who the f**k is he?” he asked. He still hadn’t acknowledged my mother. Asshole.
“Major Colt. My cousin. Major, this is Kiro Manning.” I didn’t add that he was my father. Major knew it, and I didn’t like to remind myself or claim him as such. I put up with him because of Harlow. She was the only Manning I cared to have anything to do with. She was my little sister, and if Grant Carter didn’t look completely f**ked up right now, I’d beat the shit out of him. I needed to hit someone, and he was the only one I could think of to blame.
“You don’t have any cousins. Your last name isn’t Colt,” Kiro said in that haughty tone of his that I hated. The rock star didn’t affect me. That persona got to most people. But not his offspring. We knew better.
“Should have been,” my mother snapped, and Kiro shifted his angry glare to her. I wouldn’t let him speak down to her. I’d knock his old ass out if I had to.
“My last name is Colt-Manning. The man who raised me is a Colt,” I informed him. Kiro knew good and well that I was more a Colt than a Manning. A father was the man who was there for you, not the man who donated his sperm for the cause.
Kiro rolled his eyes and then stretched his neck by moving it from side to side. He was scared, and he was being a jerk in order not to beat the shit out of Grant. I could read him well enough to know why he was showing his worst side.
“I’m going to have a seat,” my mother said, wanting to put distance between herself and Kiro.
I nodded and watched her walk over, take a seat, and pull out her phone to call home.
“It’s a family gathering, I see,” a female voice said, one I had hoped I’d never have to hear again.
I turned toward Nan. Why was she even here? She didn’t care about Harlow. If she wasn’t a damn female, I’d punch her to get some release—and pay her back for all the hurt she’d caused Harlow.
“Didn’t expect you to be here,” I said, not even trying to hide the distaste in my tone.
She shrugged and flipped her long red hair back over her shoulder. “We all share the same daddy,” she said in a saccharine-sweet voice.
“Didn’t f**king mean anything to you before. If you’re here to move in on Grant, you can hang that idea up. In case you haven’t noticed, he’s falling apart. You’re not even on his radar.”
Nan flinched but only barely. I would have missed it had I not been watching her.
“Ease off,” Rush warned. “She stepped in and volunteered to give blood when Harlow needed a transfusion. She doesn’t deserve this from you.”
Nan had given Harlow blood? For f**king real?
“What? Are you shitting me?” I asked, looking from Rush to Kiro, who looked equally shocked.
“Don’t,” Nan told Rush. “I didn’t do it for his acceptance,” she said, then spun around and stalked off.
Rush watched the sister we shared walk off with concern on his face. He had grown up with Nan. They’d been raised by the same selfish, shitty mom. Rush was the only person who loved Nan, and I respected that, but he overlooked a lot from her.
“Since she was ten years old, I haven’t seen her do anything for anyone but herself. I haven’t seen her show compassion or concern for anyone. I haven’t seen her attempt to show others that she has a heart under all that bitterness. Until today. She didn’t even hesitate. The doctor said they needed Harlow’s blood type, and it would be best coming from a family member. Nan stood up and offered without a second thought.”
That didn’t make sense. That wasn’t Nan. She didn’t give without trying to manipulate something or someone. But right now, I didn’t care. She had helped Harlow when she needed it most. I could forgive a lot for that.