Page 54 of Pack Kasen: Part 2

A knock sounds at the door, and it swings open. “Kataleya?”

My dad sticks his head in, and I smile.

The name tickles a distant memory that feels a little less distant whenever I hear it. But it’s mine. Deep down in my bones, that name is mine in a way no other name has ever been.

“Yeah?”

“Do you have a minute?”

I glance at Aren, who is frowning at my dad.

“Sure.”

I follow my dad out of the house. I’m not the least bit surprised when I glance back and spot Aren standing right outside the meeting room, arms crossed, watching me.

“We’re having a problem back home, and I need to get back to deal with it,” he says. “It’s nothing serious, but I don’t want to leave your mom to deal with it alone.”

I’m used to people throwing me away. In foster care, they always preferred an easier-going child than me. But I never expected that I’d meet my dad and he would throw me away as soon as he found me.

I force a smile to my lips as I turn to walk away, my eyes prickling. “Sure. No big deal. I’d better?—”

He stops me, looking at me like he can’t believe he has to say this. “I want you to come homewithme. Did you think I was leaving you?”

I don’t respond, but he pulls me into a hug and holds me.

I breathe in the scent of his skin. It’s still not as familiar as it should be or as I want it to be, but sometimes, I get a tickle of a memory. Not a place, a thing, or a face. The memory isn’t as tangible as that. It’s the warmth of the sun on my cheek. The wind tunneling through my hair as I run, and the sweetest, most incredible floral scent enveloping me in the sense of home.

Hugging never came easily before. I don’t think it does to most foster kids used to being carted from one home to the next, like a never-ending conveyor belt.

But I don’t even think before I wrap my arms around my dad and I hug him back, wishing I could go back with him and see the field of sunflowers he told me I used to run through, and meet the mom and little sister who are strangers to me.

“I can’t go with you,” I speak quietly, knowing Aren is probably listening. “People died on my college campus and they died because of me. I have to find out who did it, and they have to pay.”

He releases me, reluctantly pulling his arms from around me as he steps back.

Cradling the back of my head with both hands, he peers down at me, blue eyes fierce. “I can stay.”

“You said you have trouble.”

“If my little girl needs me, then I’ll stay.”

“I’m not a little girl.” Even if some tiny part of me wishes I were so, I could relive my life without so much pain and rejection. Another part of me wouldn’t change things even if I could. Those experiences made me into the person I am now. I’m stronger because of what I went through.

He kisses my forehead. “You willalwaysbe my little girl. Do you have your cell phone?”

“I do.”

He holds his hand out for it, and I hand it over.

He types as he speaks. “Every single number you should need to know is here. Me, your mom, Leonore, and your little sister Karlie.” He sighs and shakes his head. “Karlie is seventeen and has the attitude to match. How long do you think your hunt will take?”

I shrug. “Not sure. I’m hoping no longer than a week.” Hopefully less than that so I can have some actual downtime before I start my new job in the city. “Why?”

“Call whenever you need us. I’ll try to resolve this problem as soon as possible and will be happy to help you.”

“You don’t have to do that.” But I wish he would. Iwanthim to come back, and I’m scared that if I put something I want that badly out into the universe, then it won’t come true.

He hands me my phone back. “I will. Leonore and Karlie will want to come as well. We can deal with this killer and you can come home.”

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