Page 213 of Never Die for a Sinner

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“That’s the problem. We don’t know.”

“Jesus fucking Christ.” I scrub a hand over my face. “You’re a real fucking asshole, you know that?”

“Of course, I know that. Why do you think I’ve never been a part of her life?”

“Yeah,” I grunt. “Father of the fucking year.”

I can’t fucking believe I’m considering this.

“And what’s going to stop him when he decides to come for her?”

“You.”

I should walk away right now. Leave him to figure it out on his own.

But . . . can I live with the alternative? Knowing what I know?

Fucking hell.

“If I do this . . . I have some demands.”

Marks cocks a brow, pulling out a letter from his jacket.

“This is a letter of release, stating you’re restored to your former job title. No therapy. No warming the bench. Fully reinstated agent status.”

I grit my teeth, my blood burning in my veins.

I should take it, get my life back.

There’s just one thing that’s standing in my way.

“No.”

“No?”

“I don’t want it.” I take a step towards him, ignoring the burn in my chest. “One million.”

Marks stares at me, his eyes dark and foreboding. I think he’s going to deny me before he finally speaks.

“One million is nothing.”

I shrug.

“It’s what I want.”

One million for being a shitty fucking father. One million for all the times she’s gone without because of him.

One million because that’s exactly what she told me it would take, and God knows I need all the help I can get.

Marks pauses for a moment before a grin spreads across his face.

“You’ve got yourself a deal.”

The blood that stains the bandage over Ava’s shoulder makes me sick.

I’ve been around it all my life, yet the sight of it now, knowing it’s hers and that I failed her, makes me wish it were mine instead.

Itshouldhave been me.

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