Page 144 of Prey for You

“So, you’re out?”

“Not if I can help it,” I said honestly. “I’m never leaving, and I’ll always protect her if I can.”

He gave a skeptical huff. “Until your ass is on the line.”

“I don’t know if you noticed, Gordon, but my ass isalreadyon the line.”

“Nah, your freedom’s on the line. But your ass? Everyone’s got balls until they’re staring down the barrel.”

“My balls are just fine.”

He chuckled, but it faded fast. “Would you come back here for her? All that shit you talked about doing what’s best for her even if it doesn’t help you. Would you dothat?”

Sam swallowed hard. “Yes. But I think she needs to let go of all this. I’m not going to make her keep showing up at prison and have no life because I don’t. I’m not going to control her, Gordon.”

“So you’d just let her wander out in that world? You know what the fuckers out there are like. If I’m gone and she’s lost my protection she’s going to need more than someone on the other side of the phone.”

“It’s not what Iwant.I’m being realistic,” I growled, rubbing my forehead because my head was starting to ache. “Besides, you want her looked after? Then leave her the fuck alone.You’rethe one who’s going to take her from me because if she’s given up on me, it’s only a matter of time before she gives up on everything and gets herself killed. Literally.”

“You underestimate me,” he growled.

“No, Gordon, I don’t.”

“Better not, because if I give her to you and something happens to her, if you turn out to be the asshole here, Iwillhurt you. Even from this fucking bed.”

“You might want to turn that gun around, Gordon. She isn’t yours to give. You’re the one that fucked her up to begin with. I’ve been trying to fix the shit you broke. You expect me to listen to you about how to deal with her?”

“I expect you to make sure no one else fucks her up worse. Including you.”

I huffed. “Already tried and failed. Now she thinks I’m you.”

He stayed quiet for a while and I didn’t speak. I wasn’t going to make that easier for him. If he was getting close to dying he needed to know the truth about what he’d done to his daughter. And the price she was still paying—and I was too—because of the distrust and fear he’d spawned in her life.

“I hope you’re a man who knows yourself well, Sam. Lots of idiots here who talk a big game and fold under the pressure.”

“I don’t think you’d be having this conversation with me if you thought I was a coward.”

He grunted, but didn’t affirm me. And I was too tired to play games.

“So?” I said, letting him hear me losing my patience.

“Sowhat?”

“Are you going to help her? And if so, how?”

He didn’t answer right away again. I wasn’t going to play his games and was about to hang up the phone when he finally spoke.

“I haven’t decided. I’m gonna think about this conversation and make my decision.”

I shook my head and spat, “Asshole,” then ended the call.

But when I hung up, cursing, there was no satisfaction. No purpose.Nothing.I wasn’t sure what I’d expected from him, but it was just one more disappointment. One more power play by a manipulator who was feeling out of control and using us to get his kicks.

Then my eyes fell on the plea agreement papers. And something inside me broke.

Ibroke.

47. Are You There God?

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