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Once I manage to flip things so I’m on top of him, I swing and I don’t stop. This is the last time he threatens Ella. Or Mike. This is the last time I let the man he used to be blind me to who he’s become.

The people I love come first. My family comes first.

Strong hands grab my shoulders. “Dean. Stop.”

When I do, I’m shaking like crazy. I look up to find Mike standing over me. “What are you doing here?”

“Eve told me your dad was still causing trouble. I’ve been following him.”

“You…what?”

Mike hesitates. He’s shaking. We both are. “I thought someone needed to do it. I know you said you didn’t want my help anymore, but I couldn’t let you face this by yourself.”

Why can’t I stop shaking? “He threatened Ella.”

“I know.” Mike’s voice is sad.

“And you. He threatened to k-kill⁠—”

“Hey. It’s okay. I’m okay.” Mike’s arms go around me, and I don’t even think to question it. After everything I said to him, I’m not sure I deserve his comfort. I’ll take it anyway.

My face presses into Mike’s shoulder. “He said he was going to…” I can’t finish. I can’t.

“I know.”

I look up. “What are you doing here?” Did I ask that already?

“I came to help.”

“I don’t understand.”

He looks down at my father, pushing at his body with his foot. My father groans but makes no move to get up. “We need to end this, Dean.”

“I know. He threatened Ella. I was going to—” My bloody hands shake harder. “I can do it. I swear.”

“I know you can. Let me do this for you though, okay?”

“No.” That chases away some of the shock. “I can’t let you do that. You’ve never⁠—”

“Neither have you. And this is your father.”

“He threatened Ella.”

“Yes, he did.” Mike reaches down, finding the gun my father brought where it landed in the alley. I’m confused when he puts it in my father’s hand, wrapping a swollen finger around the trigger.

Understanding dawns. “Are you sure?”

In the sliver of light from a nearby streetlamp, Mike’s bottomless eyes meet mine. “Are you?”

When I look down, my father’s eyes are cracked open. Mike’s got a firm grip on his arm, keeping him from pulling the gun away from his head. But then, he blubbers.

“No. No. Please. Son, I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry. I’ll leave you alone. I’ll leave all of you alone. Dean, I’m sorry. I-I know I was terrible. Please. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

It makes my heart ache. It really does. Something sharp and sad and entirely different from what I’ve carried around all these years. But it isn’t the thought of my father dying that hurts so much.

It’s the betrayal.

Everything seems to slow down and go quiet. For the first time, Mike’s looking to me for what to do. And for the first time, I have an answer.