“I’m okay, Dad, I promise. I’ve just been thinking about him, wondering if he’s still alive.”
Her dad whispered. “By the grace of God, I hope not.”
“So, you hope he’s dead?” She was grasping for any signs that she was doing the right thing.
“No, oh, I don’t know, Mackenzie. People like Harris have to answer for what they’ve done, and he will. But spending your time thinking of him isn’t going to change that. God sees true redemption.”
“He doesn’t deserve to live,” she whispered.
“That’s not our choice to make.”
“But what if it was?”
“It’s not.” He sighed. “That man held so much power over this family for so long. He forced us to hold onto our past, struggle to keep our memories because there wouldn’t be any new ones. When he took your mom from us, the present was unbearable for all of us. I remember begging God to get us through it. During the trial, he became an uninvited guest in our lives. Then I let go, we all did. He’s already taken so much. Don’t give him your future, Mackenzie.”
The tears streamed down her face and she clamped her lips together tightly. If she went through with this, that was exactly what she’d give him.
“Tell me something good that’s happening,” he whispered. It made her smile. Anytime she was having a rough day, he’d made her tell him something good that happened, even as small as it was sunny out, just something. He did it a lot right after her mom died.
She sniffled, wiping her face with her sleeve. “I met a guy.”
“Yeah? Is he a good guy?”
“Yeah, he’s great. Really funny and handsome.”
“Does he have a job?” She could almost picture her dad narrowing his brows as he asked.
She laughed. “Yes, he has a job. He owns a security company with his brothers. He’s a technical genius.”
“Smart and works in security so I know he can protect my little girl. I like him already.”
“You would, Dad.”
“Well bring him home, let me see if he’s worthy of my little girl.” Her dad snorted. “Nobody is worthy, but let me meet him anyway.”
“Okay.” She sniffled. “Well, I gotta go.” She needed to get off the phone before she completely lost her shit. Her dad was worried, and this conversation would probably have him more worried. “I’ll check my schedule and come home soon.”
“You do that, I miss that pretty face.” He paused. “Do me a favor, kiddo, remember what I said, about your future. You got a family that loves you, good friends, and life, now a great guy. That’s your future. Love you.”
“Love you too, Dad.” She hung up quickly and tossed her phone. Then she completely lost her shit.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Don’t let him have your future.
Her dad’s words played over in her head. For the remainder of the day while she sat on the couch in a daze, when she showered and got ready, and now as she sat in the backseat next to Bogs.
Don’t let him have your future.
She stared out the window in silence. The only sound was the humming from the stereo, playing soft rock. She thought of the day and all the opportunities she had to back out, tell Bogs she changed her mind. Was she really going to go through with this?
The ride was shorter than she expected. T, who was driving, pulled down a long industrial road. They’d gotten off the highway a short while ago and drove through a small desolate town. She had no idea where she was but without the bright lights of the city, it didn’t feel like Texas. She curled closer to the window, glancing over the trees and the blue sky. She was looking for answers.
The buildings grew further apart as they made their way down the road. At one point, the truck wobbled on the gravelroad. T pulled in front of a small warehouse, parking in between two Jeeps. She followed out of the truck when Bogs nodded for her to open her door. T entered first through the metal door, then Stone. Bogs grabbed the door and gestured her through. She was expecting a large room but instead it was separated into small offices.
“Down the hall at the end.”
She whipped her head back, staring at Bogs. This was really happening. She peered down the hall and froze. He was there, fifteen feet away. Her feet wouldn’t move.
