We both laughed, and I found myself leaning against him.
Roman called Dad, and before I knew it, we were surrounded by a billion guardsmen, my dad, and Tan.
I was still pissed at Dad, but I still let him hug me when he arrived.
And maybe I even liked it… just a little.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Oakley
“Why now? Why attack you after all this time? It’s been over a year since the last assassination attempt.” My dad was pacing around his office, clearly upset and worried, even though we’d been in here for over an hour already.
The parking lot was clean, the bodies were in the morgue, and the captured cultist was in the dungeon. After he was questioned, he’d be moved to the prison, off-site.
From his place on the small couch beside me, Roman added, “Actually, it’s been seventeen months.”
Dad grunted in acknowledgement, but didn’t stop his pacing.
My phone buzzed, so I pulled it out of my pocket to check my text.
Keryth: Holy shit, I heard you and Rome were attacked. Are you okay?
I rolled my eyes. The gossip mill in my family was fast and ridiculous.
Me: We’re both fine. We killed four guys, captured one, and two got away.
I was still mad at myself for not realizing the guy in the van was a part of their team. A getaway driver.
Keryth: That’s crazy. But I’m glad you’re both okay. Do you guys need anything?
Me: A way to leave this office. I’m still mad at my dad, but I know he’s worried, so I’m trying not to be an asshole and just leave.
Keryth: I’m impressed.
Me: By what?
Keryth: I’ve never known you not to be an asshole.
I snorted out a laugh, but covered it with a cough since Dad was still pacing and pissed. Roman shot me an amused expression, and I shrugged at him.
Me: I think you’re the asshole right now.
He sent me back a kissy face emoji, and I had to stifle a laugh again. Scales, he was a dork, but in the best way possible. Keryth always made me feel lighter, and I needed that. I needed that so badly right now.
I was trying so damn hard to make sure the memories didn’t suck me in. I didn’t want to think about those people. I didn’t want to think about our history. At all.
I should probably call my therapist and talk, though.
Tomorrow. I’d call her tomorrow, and it would help. I hadn’t talked to her in a long time, but I had no doubt that she’d at least have a conversation with me on the phone. She’d likely let me come in to her office tomorrow for an emergency session. She was good like that.
“Gar,” Tan said from his spot on top of Dad’s desk—any other day, I would’ve thought my dad would complain about Tan’s ass on his desk, but he hadn’t even blinked when Tan had hopped up there earlier. And he didn’t yell at Orangelica for using his pile of folders as a bed either.
My dad stopped and faced his viramore.
“You need to calm down. Oak and Rome are safe. You watched the footage. You know they handled the attack quickly. Those guys were no match for them.”
Apparently, the mall’s parking lot had cameras all over, so everyone got to watch our little fight from several angles.
