I shook my head.“It needs to be me.”
“It needs to be now.”Swallowing the lump in my throat, I reached into a compartment in James’ car where I knew he kept a gun.Justas I was about to grab it, James stopped me by putting a hand on my arm.“I’ll smooth things over with Harrison and Gabe. They won’t object once they knowthatyour dad hurt Kiera when she was part of Legion,”he said, referring to the other two board members. I gave him a grateful nod. At least James still had my back.“When this is done, you’ll take your father’s place,”he continued.“And we put it to a vote to reinstate Kiera back into Legion.”
My brows lifted. “We can do that?”
A small smirk lifted James’ lips.“I’m the head of the board. I can do what I want.”I snorted, grinning back at him despite the somber atmosphere, before he turned serious again.“Youreallylove her?”
“Yeah.”
He bobbed his head.“Thendo what needs to be done, and you’ll have my blessing.”
My heart raced like a galloping horse as James stopped outside my parents' house. The home I’d grown up in, the place filled with love and laughter throughout my childhood. After today, I’d never step foot inside ever again.
“I’ll wait here,”James said, pulling out his phone.“I’ve got a few favors owed to me from several members who might be able to start tracking Alec and Billie. I’ll get the ball rolling while you’re inside, and hopefully we’ll have something to go on by the time you’re finished.”
“Promise methatwhen we find Alec, we’ll take our time to murder the son-of-a-bitch?”
A vicious smile creased James’ mouth.“You better fucking believe it.”
Leaving him to make his calls, I headed up the driveway and the four stone steps to the front door. I usually had a key to let myself in, but leaving James’ place in a rush, and not thinking I’d be here yet, I’d left it in my car.
I banged my hand against the door several times, taking deep breaths as I waited for it to be opened. I didn’t know how I would feel at seeing my dad. Would Iwant to plant a bullet into his head as soon as I saw him, or would I change my mind like a coward and beg James to take my place?
Either option was a strong possibility.
The door flew open, and I was met with my mom's curious gaze, which quickly turned into a beaming smile at seeing me.“Jackson, honey. What are you doing here?”
She stepped aside to let me in. Like I always did, I pulled her into my arms and kissed the top of her head, only this time, I held onto her a little tighter. Her world was about to be shattered,justlike mine had been.
“I need to see dad. Is he here?”
Oblivious to what was about to happen, she pulled free of my arms and patted my cheek.“He’s in the games room having a cigarette, but he’s been in a funny mood since yesterday. Maybe seeing you will perk him up.”
A streak of white-hot fury rushed through me, although I didn’t know if it was the mention of the games room or if knowing my father's mood was likely because he tried to attack Kiera again and got a swift knee to the balls.
I kissed my mom on the cheek, telling herthatI’d find her shortly before heading toward the room where he’d raped Kiera. Ironicthatthe room he’d violated her in would be the room he’d die in.
Not bothering to knock, I pushed the door open and slipped inside. Much like my mom when she opened the door, his brows pulled together before an affectionate grin spread across his face.“Jackson, my boy. What brings you here?”
Closing the door behind me, I balled my hands into a fist to stop the tremor residing in them from spreading. James’ gun was tucked into the back of my waistband and hidden under my jacket, pressed against me, a constant reminderthatit would be the cause of my father’s death.
“Can I get you a drink?”he asked, waving to the rows of spirit bottles lining the wall behind the bar.
“No, I’m good. I want to talk,”I gritted out.
“Sure,take a seat.”
He pushed the stool opposite him with his foot, nodding to it. I didn’t move, unable to bear beingthatclose to him. NowthatI was in the same room as him, I wanted nothing more than to reach out and snap his neck with my bare hands. I wanted to pour gasoline over him, set fire to it, and watch his body burn until there was nothing but ash.
I guess I didn’t have to worry about running to James like a little pussy and asking him to do my dirty work after all.
Leaning back against the doorframe, pain speared my chest as I stared at him. Everything I thought about him was a lie. He wasn’t a good man with a kind heart. He wasn’t a man who cared about his family.
He was a stranger disguised as the man I once loved.
“What’s on your mind, Son?”he asked, tilting his head to the side, worry coating his voice.
His faux concern added to the acid bubbling in my stomach. If he genuinely cared about me or my mom, he wouldn’t have done somethingthatwould eventually tear us apart.
