Chapter 18

FRANKIE

I collapse onto my bed, and a wave of relief washes over me, quickly replaced by a racing heart and a mind swirling with possibilities. The ceiling above me blurs as I fixate on a single, terrifying thought: Could it really have been my father I saw after all these years? Just when I'd found a sliver of peace in this fucked-up situation – Rafael's promise to keep my sister off his radar – the possibility of my father's presence threatens to shatter everything. The irony isn't lost on me; I shouldn't be surprised if that bastard managed to get himself recruited in prison. He never could tell right from wrong.

Suddenly, a chilling thought strikes me, and I clap a hand over my mouth to stifle a gasp. What if Rafael discovers the connection? What if he decides to reunite us? The mere thought sends a shudder through my body. "Oh my God," I whisper, running my fingers through my hair in agitation. If Rafael finds out, it would be tant