Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77999 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77999 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Wes got up and walked over to the door, and when he opened it, I gasped at the sight of my father. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days. There were dark circles under his eyes, and his t-shirt and khakis looked like they’d been slept in. His salt and pepper hair was a mess, and he seemed pale like he was coming down with something. He started over to me with his arms spread wide. “Thank God you’re okay.”
He wrapped his arms around me and hugged me, but I didn’t return the embrace. I just stood there with my eyes closed and my arms at my side, trying to keep my anger in check as I snapped, “No thanks to you.”
“Oh, please don’t be like that, sweetheart. You know I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
“But it did Dad, and it happened because of you.”
“I know, and I’m so very sorry.” When I didn’t respond, he turned to Wes and asked, “Can I have a minute alone with my daughter?”
“He’s not going anywhere,” I answered. “Whatever you have to say, you can say it in front of him.”
“You have to know that I never meant for it to come to this.”
“What did you think was going to happen, Dad? Did you really think you could steal all that money and get away with it?”
“A piece of me did,” he admitted. “I was careful. I only took from crooks, and I always covered my tracks. I just needed a chance to get back on my feet, but then, I got greedy. It’s all on me. I only have myself to blame, and I’m sorry that you got pulled into this.”
“You make it sound so simple.” My voice trembled with anger as I said, “I killed that man, Dad. He was coming after you. He didn’t care if you came up with the money. It was never about that. He was going to sell me to make up for the money he’d lost, and then, he was going to kill you. So, I put a blade to his throat and killed him. I never thought I would be in a situation where I would have to take someone’s life, but because of what you did, I will forever have blood on my hands.”
“I don’t know what to say. I know I failed you. I failed you in so many ways.” His voice was strained and full of anguish as he said, “Not just now, but when your mother died. I wasn’t there for you like I should have been, and I will always regret that.”
It was a sincere, heartfelt apology, but I wasn’t quite ready to hear it. At the same time, I cared about my father. I didn’t want anything to happen to him, so I said, “What are you going to do now?”
“Wes’s father has been gracious enough to help me make arrangements to leave the country for a while.”
“So, where are you going?”
“I can’t really say.” Dad glanced over at Wes, then back to me. “I won’t be able to contact you for a while, but when I’m able, I’d really like to be able to talk to you and see how you are.”
I wasn’t sure how I wanted to answer that, so I asked, “What about Kay? Is she going with you?”
“No.” His eyes drifted to the ground. “She’s decided that it’s best for us to part ways, and I can’t really blame her. This isn’t the life that she signed up for.”
“But won’t it be dangerous for her to stay there? People will know about her connection to you.”
“We’ve made arrangements,” Wes interjected. “She’s going to come here and stay at the clubhouse for a while.”
“But how’s that going to work with your dad and...” There were so many questions running through my head—some I knew neither of them could answer. I would have to figure them out on my own, so I said, “Never mind. It doesn’t matter. I just want all this to be over.”
“It will be, but it’s going to take some time.” Dad stepped closer and placed his hand on my shoulder. “Please don’t give up on me. Give me a chance to make this right.”
“I’m not sure you can, but we’ll see.” I feigned a smile. “Just be careful.”
“And you do the same.” Dad turned to Wes and said, “Take care of my girl and love her the way she deserves.”
“Planning on it.”
Dad extended his hand. “Thank you for all your help. Be sure to tell your father how much I appreciate all he’s done.”
“Will do.” Wes shook his hand as he said, “Be safe out there, and if you need us, you know how to find us.”
“I do.” He turned his attention back to me as he said, “Bye, sweetheart.”