“No decision needed to be made. I was there. It was that simple.”
I’m not winning any points with him, but I don’t think there is anything I could say that would make him understand. I’llneverbe able to make him understand without any details. It is impossible since Zoey doesn’t want anyone to know, and Lulu isn’t even willing to say anything.
“Dad, I can’t give you all the details, but someone I love was hurt by them. Oliver was there, overheard everything, and decided to act so that piece of shit didn’t hurt them again.”
“Is it someone I know?”
“Maybe,” Lulu whispers before she grimaces.
“I’ll take that as a yes. How did they hurt them?”
“You don’t want to know,” Lulu replies.
Lucio grits his teeth so hard, they squeak. “Howbad did you hurt him?” Lucio asks me, already piecing shit together.
“He’s in the hospital,” I answer.
“Good,” Lucio says. “He deserves worse.”
“He does,” I say.
“They arrest you already?”
I nod. “Just got out on bail.”
“How long are they talking?”
“A year or less,” I tell him. “Hopefully the less side of it.”
Lulu drops her face into the palms of her hands. “This is so bad. I feel so awful.”
Her father reaches over, clasping her forearm. “Baby, shit happens. It’s not your fault.”
“It’s not, Lou. I didn’t have to do what I did, but I did it and I’d do it again to keep you and them safe,” I add.
“We’ll figure this out,” her father tells her. “It won’t be that bad.”
Sure, it won’t be that bad for them. I’ll be the one on the inside of a cell, nothing but bars and criminals around me. Their life will go on as usual, no matter how long I’m sent away. But I know, every day I would be gone, Lulu would be riddled with guilt, blaming herself for something she didn’t even do wrong.
“I know someone who might be able to help,” Lucio says, grabbing his phone off the table.
“Who?” Lulu asks him, trying to catch a glimpse of his screen.
“Pop, come downstairs to the bar,” he says to the person on the other end of the call before he sets his phone back down.
“You called Grandpa?” Lulu asks with wide eyes. “Why did you call Grandpa?”
“You know his past, and if anyone knows anyone who can help, it’s him.”
“I have a lawyer,” I tell him, wanting him to know I don’t need any help. I’ve got this covered.
Lucio chuckles with a shake of his head. “We’re looking for other avenues, and if there is one, my dad will know it.”
“Huh,” I mutter, letting that statement replay in my mind. I’m not about to turn down help. Anything that can be done to keep me from going to the big house for months on end, I am more than willing to try.
“Grandpa is going to have so many questions,” Lulu tells her dad.
“We’ll keep the details brief,” Lucio explains, as if it’ll be that easy. It wasn’t with him, but somehow Lulu remained tight-lipped about her sister, keeping the secret when many would’ve spilled every detail.
