Best Kept Secret

The truth about secrets? They always unravel.

I'm Beau Bodine, and someone's been keeping one hell of a secret from me. Mira Sen shows up out of nowhere and drops a bombshell: she's been raising my daughter—her niece—for the past two and a half years. A daughter I didn't even know existed. I should be furious, and I am, but Mira's sister—who recently passed away—had convinced her I didn't want to have anything to do with my kid.

Mira and my daughter move in with me, and before I know it, we become a family. I fall hard for my little girl. Her aunt has gotten under my skin, too. Our age gap, my history with her sister...none of that seems to matter. I'm in deep and for the first time in my reprobate life, starting to dream of white picket fences.

But when Mira's conservative and influential parents tell me why they've been fighting for custody of their granddaughter, everything falls apart. They show me proof that Mira physically hurt my baby. I don't hesitate. I tell Mira to get the hell out of my house and my life.

Then the truth comes out, and I know I've screwed up. Big time. By the time I find Mira, she's broken in ways I couldn't foresee or even imagine. I know it's my fault. I've got to fix this. But she's shut down and become someone I barely recognize. Now, I don't know if I'll ever be able to put her back together again.

Trigger Warning: Reference to past sexual abuse of a minor; on-page suicidal ideation and attempt.