Page 173 of What's Left of Us

He doesn’t need to know that.

My father watches me with accusatory eyes. “And what could you possibly need help with?”

I say the first thing that comes to mind. The one thing that he wouldn’t question. “I wanted to know about filing divorce papers.”

Surprise arches one of his brows.

“I didn’t want to bother you about anything because you’ve been busy,” I add, releasing the doorknob and smiling at him. “I’m sorry if you feel I went behind your back.”

When he reaches out, it takes everything in me not to flinch when he brushes my cheek with the back of his hand. “That is good news. It was only a matter of time before you came to your senses.”

He walks toward the door, studying something on the wall. “You should be careful, Georgia.”

His words stiffen my shoulders.

Slowly, I turn around.

He tilts his head. “I can feel them watching us. There are people tracking our every move. I will not let anybody take what I have. That cop of yours is becoming too much of a threat, and I don’t trust him.”

Alarm settles in my nerves. “You don’t need to trust him. He’s gone, remember? I’m working with Maloney to make sure of that.”

His eyes scan my face. “He’ll always be around, daughter. That’s the problem.”

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

Lincoln/ Two Years Ago

I’ve been staringat the papers served to me since I got them forty-five minutes ago.

It’s been four and a half weeks since I spoke to Georgia.

Two since I saw her and Luca at the deli.

And this is what I get when I get home.

Fuckingdivorcepapers.

“Son of a bitch,” I yell, slamming them down onto the ground and walking away from the scattered mess they leave behind. I’m half-tempted to rip every goddamn book off the shelves that she left behind, but I don’t.

I want to hit something.

Scream.

Get in my truck and go somewhere.

Anywhere but here.

And just as I grab my keys, I see Conklin’s name glowing on my phone screen. “What?”

Conklin pauses. “You good?” he asks hesitantly.

“Define ‘good,’” I grumble, telling him about the unexpected delivery.

“Shit, man. I’m sorry.”

Not wanting to talk about it, I scrub my eyelids and stifle a sigh. “What’s going on?”

“I wanted to let you know that Volley has an arrest warrant out for him. He failed to appear in court. They’re going to try bringing him in today or tomorrow.”