Home.
My eyes water. I smile through my tears. “I’ll let you know as soon as I ask my dad.” We hang up. I cannot wait to go home. I miss the Saints and Trace so much.
Dad walks in from the bedroom. He’s changed into a suit. He said all the cool detectives wear them.
“Dad?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
I still can’t get over that I have a father who loves all of me, protects me, and introduces me to everyone as his beautiful daughter with pride and love in his voice.
“I’d like to go home. I’d like to see my friends. I’d like to graduate with my class.”
“Done.”
Joy grabbing ahold of me, I jump off the barstool and into my father’s arms. “How’d I get so lucky to have a wonderful father like you?”
“I’m the lucky one, sweetheart.” His eyes water. “You and Isla are my heart and soul. Promise you’ll keep in touch?”
“I will. I promise.”
“Good. Now put that boy in his place. Remember, you’re a McCabe, and McCabes get what they want. Always.” He lets me go and sticks out his fist. “McCabe for life.”
After three weeks in San Francisco, where the McCabes have overrun the city with how many of us there are, I’ve come to accept that I am related to mobsters and men and women who are also part of law enforcement.
Father looked into why Kyle and Sarah Sophia stole me and killed my mother. After reviewing the medical records, the only logical explanation he could find was that Sarah was unable to conceive. He doesn’t know why they chose my mom other than she was very pregnant. Was Mom picked at random or targeted? With Kyle and Sarah dead, we’ll never know more. Father learned from Trace’s dad that Kyle was embezzling money from their business. Father theorized that Kyle used the stolen money to silence the man blackmailing him for more money to keep my identity a secret. Then Kyle killed the man, and he didn’t need to steal money from the business. By then, it was too late. Trace’s dad ended the partnership.
I stare at my father’s fist.
I can dwell on the past and all the what-ifs, but I’m done with that part of my life. I’ve lived my life as Sorrow Sophia, and now I’m ready to be Sorrow McCabe.
I tap my father’s fist with pride swelling in my chest. “McCabe for life.”
Here I come, Cambridge.
29
Sorrow
I walk inside the gym with my heart in my throat and my insides in knots. It’s the first day I’ve been back at school, and of course, there’s an assembly in place of first period, and I’m late.
My cousin drove us from the town airport as fast as he could without killing us, but his crazy driving wasn’t a match for the stoplights. We hit every red light. I step through the double doors of the gym. No one is paying attention to me, thank goodness. But the instant I tuck my hair behind my ears, my movement catches someone’s eye. His gaze is intense, like the unforgiving sun beating down on my face. I search for him among the students in the bleachers but can’t find him.
Trace makes it easy for me.
He stomps down the bleachers and out the other double doors.
“Wait here, Jax. I’ll be right back.”
“No go, Cousin. I’m coming with.”
I rush to the other side of the school. My backpack smacks my back. Jax is close on my heels.
“You’re not staying, are you?”
“Nah, little cousin. I’m out once I know you’re in.”
By in, he means a place to stay. It’ll be with either the Saints or Leigh. It depends on Trace. Dad spoke with the Saints, and they’ve offered me back my old room or the guesthouse with the caveat that Trace gets a say.
