Page 52 of Red Zone

I felt like I’d been sucker punched. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He shrugged, reaching for the bottle of Jack Daniels I hadn’t noticed sitting on the buffet along the wall, behind a vase, and near his chair. “Look at your mother. Things were great between us until you and Fiona came along. Then it all went to hell. Kids complicate things, Liam. They ruin everything.”

I stared at him, my hands clenched into fists at my sides. I should’ve been angry—furious—but instead, all I felt was a deep, aching sadness.

“That’s not what’s gonna happen to me.” Despite my best efforts to steady it, my voice trembled.

He barked a bitter laugh. “Oh, isn’t it? You’re a damned fool if you think otherwise. And you’re a bigger fool for thinking you can do any better.”

For a long moment, I didn’t say anything. I just stood there, staring at the man who had spent years making sure I knew how little he believed in me in everything except maybe football—and for that I suspected it was only because he saw me as a meal ticket.

As Dad spewed his usual bitterness, I felt the familiar sting of his words, the doubt he’d planted in me years ago. It waspossible I wasn’t cut out for this—being a father, building a family. But then I thought of Lily, her tiny hand clutching her bunny, and Skye, standing tall even when she was clearly overwhelmed. They deserved better. I could be the one to give it to them.

The memory of Fiona’s voice floating in from the living room, soft and gentle as she talked to Lily, sifted through my mind. I thought of Skye, her hands trembling as she tucked Bunny into Lily’s bag. And Lily herself, looking up at me with those big, trusting eyes.

“You’re wrong.” I squared my shoulders, my voice firm. “Love isn’t the problem. You were.” I turned and walked away before he could respond, heading to the living room where Fiona sat on the couch.

Fiona looked up at me, her brow furrowing. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” I lied, sitting down beside her. “I’m fine.”

“You’re nothing like him, you know,” Fiona murmured, her hand resting on my arm. “You’ve already proved that.”

Her words settled something deep inside me, the knot of tension loosening just a little. “Thanks, Fio,” I said, my voice rough. “I just hope I don’t screw this up.”

I didn’t just want to prove my father wrong—I needed to.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

SKYE

The tension in my chest didn’t ease, even as I drove farther from Fiona’s house. My fingers gripped the steering wheel, my knuckles white as I glanced in the rearview mirror. Lily sat quietly in her car seat, clutching Bunny like it was her lifeline. At least she wasn’t about to lose it—unlike me.

Liam’s father’s words replayed in my mind on an endless loop, sharp and cutting. I couldn’t shake how his smirk lingered, or the way his gaze seemed to peel away every layer of my composure as he remarked on Liam’s involvement with Lily.“Doesn’t look much like you.”And if that wasn’t hurtful enough, I got the distinct impression that he thought I viewed Liam as a meal ticket by his veiled comments.

As I turned onto a quieter road, my thoughts were interrupted by the steady glow of headlights in the rearview mirror. Hot tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, my nerves stretched to the breaking point after meeting Liam’s dad. I blinked them back, focusing on the road. The last thing I wanted was to cry in front of Lily. Not when I’d embarrassed myself enough by letting that man get to me.

The streetlights grew fewer as I turned onto my usual route home from school, hoping the drive would help clear my head. But the ache in my chest only deepened. Liam had defended me. That much was clear. He’d been firm, protective even. But the fact that his father thought so little of me—or maybe so little of Liam—hurt more than I wanted to admit.

As I replayed the evening in my mind, the constant glare of headlights behind me began to tug at my attention. At first, I dismissed it as paranoia—just another car on the road. But as the miles passed, unease crept in.

I glanced in the rearview mirror again, checking on Lily. The bright headlights hurting my eyes.How long has that car been following me? Since I left Fiona’s house?

Something about the way the car hung back, just far enough to stay in view but not close enough to feel intentional, sent a chill crawling up my spine.

I inhaled deeply realizing how much darker it was with the trees looming overhead, their branches cutting shadows across the road. My heart skipped a beat.Plenty of people take this road—but where are they tonight?

I took a sharp left onto a narrower road, sure I would shake my shadow with this move. The dark trees pressed in from both sides. My pulse quickened as the headlights stayed behind me, unwavering. When I slowed, they slowed. When I sped up, they surged forward.

My grip on the wheel tightened.It’s just a coincidence.But deep down, I knew better. My breath hitched as I sped up more, despite the road’s winding curves. The car followed without hesitation.

“Okay,” I whispered, glancing at Lily in the mirror.

Her little head rested against her car seat, unaware of the danger. That steadied me. I couldn’t panic—not with her in the car.

The other vehicle surged forward, cutting around me with a roar of its engine then swerved sharply in front. I slammed on the brakes, the tires skidding on roadside gravel. Our car jerked sideways, the world tilting as we careened into the ditch. The airbag deployed, slamming into me before it deflated. The metallic tang of blood filled my mouth. The world tilted, and for a moment, everything was silent—until Lily’s scream pierced the haze.

I blinked hard, trying to focus. The car was tilted awkwardly. I twisted to the side, my gaze frantically searching out Lily, but she was safe in her car seat, her bunny now on the floor.

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