He was smart enough to step back, but not smart enough to leave. His eyes were bloodshot, and he had bags under his eyes. He carried himself like a man defeated by life.
“Robinson, let him talk,” John said.
“He’s not getting anywhere near Madi,” I growled.
“No, he’s not. But we’ll listen to what he has to say,” John said.
“Step back and listen.” Shane ordered as he placed a hand on my right shoulder and pulled me back. He stood beside me, filling the space between John and me. Jay was on my left.
Paul swallowed and gathered his courage before word vomiting. “Pamela went off her meds, only I didn’t know it. She was struggling, lost her job, and started drinking. That’s why I was moving to Weatherford, to help her. I never meant to put Madi in danger.”
I growled as the image of Madi trapped in an inferno flashed across my mind.
“She has a mental illness, and I…” tears filled Paul’s eyes, “I didn’t see the signs. I failed her.”
Reaching deep down inside, I found a hint of sympathy. I wasn’t an unforgiving man, but he’d led Pamela to Madi because he couldn’t take no for an answer, and for that, I’d never forgive him.
“Your obsession with Madi almost cost my daughter her life,” John said, doing a much better job of sounding like a human rather than a feral wolf, like I would have.
Paul hung his head. “Madi’s amazing. I just wanted her to give me a chance. I thought if I tried harder, she would.”
Jay and Shane prevented me from stepping forward.
Paul held his hands up in surrender. “I’m sorry. I never wanted Madi to get hurt,” he said, dragging his hand down his face.
“I know this won’t erase Pamela’s actions, but she’ll spend the rest of her life locked up. I don’t expect you to forgive me, but know that like you, I love my sister. It blinded me to what was right in front of me, and now I’ve lost her.”
I didn’t have to reach as deep to find a sliver of sympathy.
“I’m sorry about your sister,” John said. “I’ll pass your apology on to Madi, but that’s all I’ll do.”
Paul nodded. “Thank you.”
“You aren’t to contact her in any way. Am I clear?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Now get out.” John’s tone signalled the end of Paul’s audience just as two security officers arrived.
The protective line held until the officers escorted Paul out of our line of sight.
“You okay?” Shane asked.
“Wouldn’t mind putting my fist through something, but otherwise, yeah.”
“Careful, Robinson, you only have one good hand,” Jay lightened the mood with a well-timed wisecrack.
“Fuck you, Sheppard.”
“Hey,” every Sheppard except Jay protested.
“Sorry. Fuck you, Jay.”
“That’s better,” Jack said.
“Hi, I’m Jack. You must be Shane.”
“It’s nice to put a face to the name,” Shane said, shaking Jack’s hand.
