Chapter 67
Chapter 67:
She paused, her voice softening. “My biological father was his Captain. Zane Asher. He died saving Dallas. In a raid.” She turned the taco over in her hands. “My mom was sick. Cancer. She had no one — no money, no family. Dallas didn’t just come back and marry her. He came back from hell, a decorated hero everyone wanted a piece of, and all he cared about was finding us. He held her hand while she died, and he promised her he would protect me. He adopted me and fought his entire family — Ferd and Jeannine — to keep me. He gave me the Koch name so I would be safe. So I would be a Koch heir p>
Eliza was speechless. The narrative of the cold, ruthless capitalist — it was all a cover.
“He is the most honorable man I know,” Azalea said fiercely. “And he loves you, Eliza. I’ve never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you. He never loved my mom, not like that. That was duty. You are desire. You are his life p>
A wave of emotion hit Eliza so forcefully she nearly slid off the hood of the car — guilt for doubting him, and awe at the weight of what he carried alone.
“He never told me,” Eliza whispered.
“He doesn’t brag about being a hero. He thinks he’s a monster because he survived. He thinks he’s broken.” Azalea looked at her. “You need to tell him he’s not p>
Eliza nodded. She shoved the rest of her taco into her mouth, wiped her hands, and straightened.
“Take me home,” she said. “To him p>
Azalea grinned. “Buckle up p>
Eliza entered the penthouse. It was quiet, the lights low.
She found him on the balcony.
𝖱еa𝘥 𝗼n a𝗇у 𝖽𝗲𝗏𝗂𝗰е о𝘯.с𝗈𝗺
Dallas was leaning against the railing, looking out at the city skyline. He was smoking a cigarette — a habit she had never seen him indulge in. It was a sign of extreme stress.
Eliza walked out. The wind was colder up here.
He turned and flicked the cigarette away into the night.
“You’re back.” His voice was guarded, but his eyes, though shadowed, scanned her face for any lingering trace of distress. “How is Hyde? Did he cause any more trouble p>
Eliza didn’t answer immediately. She walked up to him and stopped inches away.
“Pathetic,” she finally said, her voice quiet, tinged with a new and exhausted kind of weariness for Anson. “Sick, but nothing I couldn’t handle.” She looked directly into his eyes, her own filled with a complex mixture of shock, awe, and a strange aching tenderness. “Azalea told me everything p>
Dallas stiffened. “She talks too much p>
“She told me the truth about her father. And about you,” Eliza said, her gaze searching his face, trying to reconcile the cold CEO with the man Azalea had described. “Is it true, Dallas p>
Dallas looked away, back toward the city. “It was a long time ago p>
“She told me you married a dying woman to save a child,” Eliza continued, a tremor entering her voice. “That you raised her alone. That you gave her your name to protect her.” She stepped closer and placed her hand flat against his chest, right over his heart. It beat steady and strong beneath her palm. “Is that what happened p>
“I did what was necessary,” Dallas said, dismissing it. “Captain Asher saved me first. It was a debt p>
“Anson said you were dirty. Cold,” she whispered.
“I can be,” Dallas warned. He looked down at her, his eyes intense. “I have killed men, Eliza. I have done things that would give you nightmares p>
“To protect people,” she countered.