Chapter 114

“You’re not allowed to touch,” the uniformed guard says, and I realize I’ve been about to hug my father—something I haven’t done since I was thirteen.

“Oh,” I say. “Okay.”

“I’ll be outside,” he adds. “I can’t hear you, but if you need anything, signal me.”

I nod, sit at the table, and my father sits across from me. The officer unlocks one cuff and reattaches it to the table. Then he turns, walks out, and closes the door with a definitive click.

“You killed Reed,” I say flatly—and as I say it, I realize this is the first time since I was a child that I feel this man’s protection. It’s true.

He looks me squarely in the eye, and I see sincere affection there.

“I should have killed him a long time ago.”

I stare at the table because I don’t want him to see that I agree. When I’ve composed myself, I lift my head, my gaze accusing.

“You left Marcus twisting in the wind. All this time. They almost arrested him. God, he was almost convicted.”