Thought of my father doing anything to Bray filled my veins with courage. And anger. I slid across the back seat and reached for the door.
“Go ahead and ask,” my father said, and I could hear the sinister sneer in his voice. TheI’m smarter than youcondescension had been the melody of my childhood. He already thought he’d won the game we’d only just started playing.
But we had a move he didn’t know about.
“Not me,” Bray said. He pulled open the door at the same time I pushed it from the inside.
I stepped out onto the pavement, both my feet firm, and stared at the man who’d ruined my life.
“Hi, Dad.”
His jaw fell open. True shock filled his face hardened by years behind bars. The only other time I’d seen his mask slip was that night in the hotel room. A surge of pride swelled my chest at the thoughtIcould have that effect on him. The master of grift.
He wore an orange jumpsuit and had chains linking his ankles and wrists and wrapping around his waist. His dark hair streaked with gray had grown wavy and long, but his beard was cropped short. His blue eyes still shone like constantly scheming torches. Even so, he was truly stunned to see me.
“Erin.” The word floated on the air like a ghost. He continued gaping at me, taking in every inch of the woman I’d become. “My God, you’re beautiful. What are you doing here?”
My jaw had grown tight with resistance at the same time my traitorous heart tugged toward him. I hadn’t known how I’d react when I saw him in the flesh, but I expected it to be painful and complicated. So far, the experience was delivering.
“We’re here to ask you some questions,” Bray filled in for me when I didn’t respond.
My father glanced at him then looked back to me. “We?Baby, don’t tell me you work forthemnow.”
The nickname slid down my spine like ice. Instantly, I was a child again. “You didn’t leave me much of a choice,” I hissed between my teeth.
He took a step forward but the chains around his ankles, along with the arm one of his guards held out, stopped him. “Baby, I know I made mistakes, and I’m sorry. It’s just been so long. I can’t believe you’re here.” He lifted his arms as far as they could go, like he was reaching out to hug me. We still stood some ten feet apart. Bray shifted his weight toward me, and the guards reached for my father once more.
The complex push and pull inside me tipped me over into a decision I hoped I wouldn’t regret. “It’s okay,” I said.
My father’s head snapped up; his eyes met mine. I saw a glint in them, a plea, and it tugged on my last resisting heart-string.
“It’s okay,” I said again. I nodded at Bray and at the guards. “It’s been years. Would it be okay if I gave him a hug?”
“Erin—” Bray started to protest, but I shook my head.
“I want to. It’s okay.”
The guards looked to Bray, because clearly, he was the one in charge.
“Are you sure?” he asked me.
“I’m sure.”
Bray released a stiff breath and nodded at the guards. “Just his wrists.”
My father shrugged out of their grip. “You heard him, fellas. My baby wants to hug her old man.”
One of the guards pulled at the keys connected to his belt by a retractable cord and set about unlocking the cuffs around my father’s wrists. The smile on my father’s face continued to stretch until it matched the crescent moon in the sky.
I braced myself once more and took a step forward. The primitive part of my brain battled over screaming at me to run away, or to run into my original protector’s arms. Each step was a conflicted fight, but soon, I was standing right in front of him.
“Hi, Dad,” I said again.
With a deep breath, he softened into the man I once knew. The one who’d give me piggybacks and buy me ice cream and tell me ghost stories in the backyard tent. Not the one who’d served me up as bait, nearly gotten me killed, and stolen my innocence. I let myself believe as I wrapped my arms around his shoulders he was that original man, and he really was happy to see me.
“My sweet girl. I’ve missed you so much.” His voice turned warm and paternal as his arms circled my back. He pulled me close, the chains around his waist digging into my belly, but his upper body otherwise free.
Some sliver of my hardened heart had missed him too. And it felt good to be held in his arms. I lingered and let him give me another squeeze.
