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“I was wrong. About so many things. Mostly you. And the threat you were under every day in that home. You’re a strong young man. I never suspected he was still laying his hands on you. I was under the impression it was only when you were younger. I was so very wrong. And I can’t apologize enough.”

Jonathan leans back and nods, taking it in.

“I’ve had four years to think about why you didn’t want Sadie to be with me. I’m not going to lie, I was furious. I understand why. But the way you set me up in your office… I hated you. And I wanted Sadie to hate you too. You know that’s why I didn’t tell her about our pact. That you hadn’t had the photos for years, like she assumed. I shouldn’t have done that.”

Losing my daughter to a boy I feared might put her in harm’s way was difficult enough. Knowing she had also seen me at my worst that day in my office… broke me. I intended to tell her the truth, but Jonathan reminded me of my oath. Of our confidentiality agreement. And when he nearly died because of my inaction, I knew I deserved to be despised by her. I’ve been carefully mending our relationship ever since she started talking to me again two years ago, but it’ll never be the same.

“I plan to make this right. I promised you and my daughter, separately, the same result. And I plan on honoring it.” I pause to be certain he’s listening. “I will honor it.”

When I first saw the pictures depicting years of abuse—bruises, broken bones, and mending scars—along with the detailed written accounts, I couldn’t sleep for a week.

“So you’re still going after him?”

“Your father will go to prison for what he did to you. I have investigators working on gathering what we need to prosecute him. Our office needs a bit more time to tighten up the case.”

Jonathan swallows, but the emotion still chokes his words. “Thank you.” He blows out a breath. “I want to make it right. I want to tell Sadie. She should know the truth. I’m the reason your relationship is damaged.”

“I did that all on my own, even if she’d never found the envelope. Clever girl. I should’ve locked it in the safe.”

He studies me a moment. “What are you saying? That I shouldn’t tell her? I don’t like keeping this from her—we promised to be honest.”

Hal Reeves is the reason I chose to become a defense attorney, with misguided ambitions to disrupt cycles of violence. Advocating for rehabilitation over jail time. Counseling and anger management. Providing a foundation to keep young men, and even some women, from continuing to perpetuate the cycle of abuse.

I failed.

Now his son is giving me the chance to correct a wrong. And I won’t fail again.

“I’d rather she be mad at me. And it’s my truth to tell. You’ve shared a lot with her since you started dating. This is between a lawyer and his client.

“Besides, you don’t want to start a marriage with her questioning if she can trust you. Trust is everything, but… Sometimes we must lie to protect the people we love.”

My grip on the steering wheel is the only thing keeping me in my body right now. I shouldn’t be driving. Hell, I shouldn’t be living. I just destroyed the only good thing in my life. I thought I knew her. That she saw me. Knew me.

I was wrong. I’m always wrong.

Or maybe I’m bloody and bruised right now because she does. She saw right through me to what always lay beneath the surface—my father.

I’m not worthy of her. Or Sadie. They’ve both chosen the better man—and I’m not that. The one who’s earned their love. I only destroy it. Emma was right—no one could ever love me. Not even my own parents.

The truck drives itself back to the place where my fear lives. Because I’m not in control. Not of my life. Or my emotions.

I don’t stop directly in front of the house. I’m not here to be seen. Not really sure why I’m here at all. I stare at the large white house with flowers blooming and the grass so green it looks fake.

My passenger door opens, but I don’t startle. There’s nothing in me that gives a shit about anything anymore. But the last person I expect to see seated next to me is Livvy Holister.

“You look like shit.” She eyes me—bloody knuckles, swollen eye and split lip.

“Stating the obvious.”

“Evidently, you’ve had a bad night. Or the usual night.”

I shoot her a side-eye. “What do you want, Livvy?”

“I never got to tell you how sorry I was about the fire—losing your mom and Ryan like that. Should never have happened.”

This gets my attention.

“Not your father, though. He was a piece of shit. May he keep burning in hell.”