Tears burned at the edges of his eyes. He pressed his palms against them, as though to hold back the flood.
Ryland: "Do you have any idea what that does to me? To see the man I called brother… with my child?"
Thaddeus set his coffee cup down with a trembling hand. "Please, Ryland," he said quietly and pleading. "Give me a chance to explain."
Ryland let out a hollow laugh that didn't sound like laughter at all. His eyes were cold, rimmed with pain. "Explain what? Kayden is just a child. He's confused, still trying to find his way around life and you… you took advantage of that. You took his innocence."
"I would never do anything to hurt you," Thaddeus said, shaking his head. "Or your son. I love Kayden."
The words hit Ryland like a slap. He froze, staring in disbelief. His chest heaved as anger and heartbreak collided inside him. "You love him?" Then his voice rose, sharp and breaking. "You love a child you should have called your son? Do you even hear yourself?"
