Page 136 of Samson

“He’s dead.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yeah. It’s a long story, but I had an encounter with him before I blew up the building.”

“Youblew it up?”

“Yeah. Like I said, long story.”

“I’m surprised he kept you alive.”

“He had work for me to do, building bombs for him.”

“Ah, I see. You took advantage of the situation.”

“I did. But I didn’t see Marc.”

“He’s in police custody. He’ll be going to prison for a long time.”

“Good.” He pressed his lips together and looked at the door. “You’re on your own?”

“I am now.”

“Now?”

“Is there someone in particular you’re looking for?”

Samson sighed back into his pillow. “Is it true that Delilah saved my daughter?”

“Yeah. She disarmed Demir, threatened him with his own gun, and pulled Riley to safety. She was also instrumental in getting Marc. She risked her life for that too.”

“You sound like you’re trying to convince me of something.”

“I know what she did, telling Marc about Riley, but I hope you don’t hold that against her. She wouldn’t have said anything if she had any other choice.”

“Did she ask you to come tell me that?”

“No. She thinks you don’t want to have anything to do with her. She stayed long enough to make sure you were okay, then she left.”

“I shouldn’t have gotten mixed up with her in the first place. I let myself become vulnerable, and that’s on me.”

“You haven’t learned anything, have you? Even after all of this, you’re still as thick-headed as ever.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Why didn’t you get to know your daughter all these years?”

“Because I was protecting her.”

“Maybe partly. But I think you were protecting yourself more. In all the years I’ve known you, you’ve never once let anyone in.”

“It’s dangerous.”

“Yeah, there are risks, and there are consequences, but there are risks and consequences when you cut yourself off from everyone around you too.”

“When did you become the wise monk?”

“I’m just saying, sometimes the pain is worth it for what you get.”

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