Fractured by N.O Darling

Chapter 283

**Josie’s POV **

“I know you,” my mum says as she points at Robert.

“Mum, come on, let’s go and sit down,” I say, trying to turn her attention away from Robert, who looks like a deer caught in headlights.

My mum turns back to look at me with wide eyes, “We need to talk, privately,” she insists, linking her arm with mine and leading me around the side of the house.

“I’ll stay close,” Deacon reassures through the mind link. He doesn’t need to say why. I know he is ready to step in and compel her if he has to.

I don’t want to lose her again, but if that is the only way to make her well, I will not hesitate to let Deacon retake her memories of me.

“Josie, that man is your biological father,” my mum admits, looking nervous.

“Who? Robert? Are you sure?” I say, acting shocked.

I hate lying to her, but I have to play along with the lie she believes is her past.

My mum peeks around the side of the house to take another look at Robert.

“Yes,” she nods, “I never saw him again after that night, so I couldn’t tell him about you. How am I going to tell him now?”

“From the look on his face, I’m guessing he’s worked it out,” I force a laugh.

“Do you think? I’m so sorry, this is such bad timing. Why is he here anyway?” she asks.

“He’s just one of the guys helping search for Harper,” I shrug and warn my guys through the mind link to make sure Robert and Freya play along with whatever happens next.

“Well then, let’s go and tell him, at least it should make him even more motivated to find her,” my mum says with a determined nod before taking my hand and leading me back towards Robert.

Deacon is talking with him quietly, and he nods before his eyes shift to us.

“Hello, Robert. Do you remember me?” My mum asks.

“Yes, of course. I could never forget you, Penny,” he smiles, and I watch as my mum blushes. Yuck! I do not want to know what she is thinking to make her blush like that.

“Good, well, there is no easy way to tell you this, but Josie is your daughter,” she says.

“Shut the front door!” Theo gasps dramatically.

“Wow, I was not expecting that,” Freya exclaims.

Robert does a great job of seeming speechless, or maybe he just is because he has no idea how to react. Deacon squeezes his shoulder as if congratulating him, and he seems to snap back to reality.

“I had a suspicion as soon as I recognised you and heard her call you mum,” Robert says, blowing out a breath. Sorry, this is quite a shock. I don’t know Josie very well, but from what I have seen of her, you did a wonderful job of raising her. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there. There’s nothing I’ve ever wanted more than my own family, and I’m

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Chapter 263

sorry I wasn’t there. Please know that I would have been there if I’d known, but circumstances meant I couldn’t return,” he says, taking my mum’s hands in his.

I have to fight the urge to slap his hands away. I don’t want him touching her. I know he didn’t hurt her now, it’s hard to get over the amount of hate I’ve held for him all these years.

but

The way my mum smiles at him grips my heart. I’ve never seen her look at anyone like this, not Frank, or her late husband who raised me. There is obviously some soul–deep connection there, and despite having her true memories taken she must feel it. Maybe in another life, they belonged together.

“House is fixed,” Mason says as he comes out to join us, breaking the moment between my mum and Robert and reminding me of the mess I just made.

“Thanks, I am really sorry about that. I just lost it for a moment. The stress is finally getting to me,” I say, feeling ashamed at my outburst.

“No one is judging you. Considering everything, I think we are all more surprised it hasn’t happened before now. You are all under a great deal of stress. We expect there to be breaking points. The important thing is that we reacted quickly and no one was severely hurt,” Raff reassures.

I nod my thanks to Raff. I know what he is saying makes sense, but it doesn’t make me feel any better. I could have killed someone. If Robert and Raff hadn’t quickly pulled my mum and Freya out and my guys hadn’t calmed me so fast, this could have had a completely different outcome.

I look at Robert, the blood on his head seems to have stopped, which is good and means his wound isn’t too bad. “Let me heal you,” I say moving closer to him.

He looks as though he’s about to protest, but then he stops himself, giving me a small nod. I’m not sure if it’s because he knows I need to do this. After all, I caused it, or because this is the first caring gesture I’ve shown him.

My mum guides Robert to one of the stone benches, and he takes a seat, so I can see his head more clearly. There’s a small cut on the top of his head. It is no bigger than my thumbnail but looks pretty deep. I hover my hand over the wound and close my eyes, drawing on my healing light and transferring it to him. I feel the moment the cut knits together, and then my light is drawn deeper into his head. I follow it, allowing it to search out what else needs healing, and then I pull my hand back with a gasp.

“It’s okay,” Robert smiles sadly.

“No, it’s not,” I shake my head, taking a step back.

“What’s wrong?” my mum asks.

“Can Josie and I have a moment alone?” Robert asks, and Inod, letting my guys know it’s okay.

“You should be in the hospital, that’s more than I can heal alone,” I say once everyone has moved into the house. I know my guys will be listening, but with no one in sight, it gives the illusion of privacy.

“I have declined healing,” he admits. “I’m right where I’m supposed to be.”

“Why? You’ll die without it,” I say, my eyes welling with tears.

“Because there’s no point, I’m not going to let a team waste their gift saving my life just to sit rotting in that prison. I’m at peace with it, especially now that I finally got to meet you,” he smiles, reaching over to take my hand in his

“You can’t do this,” I shake my head. “You can’t come into my life and then leave again before I even get a chance to get to know you.” I snap, getting up and walking away from him.

Chapter 253

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How can this be happening right now? All these years were wasted on hating him for something he didn’t do, and now I’m going to lose him before I even decide if I want a relationship with him.

“What is it?” Luke asks in the mind link.