Tied With a Bow

spoke as Isabelle’s eyes began to widen in horror of what her father was about to say.
    Her father swung around to the Breed. “What did you say?”
    “I was there,” Breaker growled. “I was created there. I was trained there. And I knew your sister. I swear to you, Mr. Martinez, on the soul I hold as my dearest possession. I swear to you, Malachi wasn’t there. And I know he wasn’t there, because I was.”
    Her father seemed to shrink before her eyes. His shoulders slumped, horrified remorse filling his gaze as he turned to Isabelle. He stepped back slowly, shaking his head in disbelief as his gaze swung back to the commander.
    “I don’t believe you,” he whispered. “And you have nothing that will prove it.”
    To that, the commander growled with primal, deepening anger.
    “I have blood.”
    “And what the hell will that prove?” Her father threw his hands up in a gesture of fury. “How will your blood prove anything?”
    “It will prove I’m the son of Morningstar Martinez,” he snapped back at him. “And as you know, those bastards never, ever separated the male Breeds from their birth mothers. They used them. Tested us for compassion and sympathy with them,” he snarled with animalistic rage now. “My blood will prove it, Mr. Martinez, and then as far as your daughter should be concerned, you should get fucked. Because a man that would turn his back on a daughter is no man. He’s even less than the godforsaken bastards that created the Breeds.”
    “Enough.”
    Isabelle watched her grandfather through her tears, his lined, weary expression making him appear a decade older than his actual age.
    “It is time to speak of this without this most precious child present. The sins and the nightmares of the past are for those of us who have faced the monsters in the world. Not those who we fight to protect from them.”
    Her breathing hitched as her grandfather stood staring back at her with all the gentleness and love he had always given her.
    Malachi’s arm went around her. As though he couldn’t bear the physical separation between them any longer.
    Her grandfather nodded as though in approval of the move.
    “Take care of the gift I give you my consent to accept,” her grandfather stated then. “What you have been blessed with, no man can tear from your grasp. Be foolish enough to turn from her love, though, and I will see you as no more than the sniveling child who knows only to blame others for his misfortunes.”
    “Thank you, sir,” Malachi stated softly. “And I know well the gift I’ve been given.”
    Her grandfather turned away. As he did, her uncle nodded to her gently before following. It was her father who hesitated.
    “I love you, no matter your choices or what you do,” he finally said roughly. “But no matter the man or the Breed, ones with honor would never stand by calmly while one more innocent and undeserving died in agony.” He glanced to Malachi as he spoke.
    “And I don’t believe that, Dad,” she whispered. “Sometimes, to protect others you love, you have no choice but to put on a brave face and hide your horror or your pain to ensure the protection of others. I watched the documentaries. I watched the Senate hearings that are retelevised year after year, and I heard the stories of the horrors they faced. Every Breed who survived those labs, made it out alive and swore vengeance against their creators and tormentors are worthy of every second chance they can be given. If needed.” She glanced up at Malachi, certainty flowing through her as his gaze met hers. Turning back to her father, she stated, “Malachi doesn’t need forgiveness. He wasn’t there. If he had been, he would have told me before anyone else had a chance.” She was certain of it.
    With tears glittering in his eyes, her father raked his fingers through the military short gray and black hair as he turned away.
    “Who told you Malachi was there, Dad?”
    He paused. Keeping his back to her, he shook his head and Isabelle swore she could feel the weariness that slumped his shoulders.
    “I have the right to know. It’s my life they were attempting to destroy along with the negotiations between the Nation and the Breeds.”
    “I gave my word, Isabelle.” He sighed, his voice husky. “I won’t break it.”
    And he wouldn’t. No matter the cost.
    “The next time it happens, if you have to give your word to retain the secrecy of their identity, then don’t bring the suspicions to