Page 103 of To Believe In You
Jesus, please light the way.
The darkness around her didn’t suddenly turn to light, but one step did present itself.
She might not foresee most threats, but she could do her best to ensure whatever pain befell her, it didn’t come through her father. “Goodbye, Dad.”
She hung up. Whatever her father’s involvement with this scheme, the police would have to sort it out.
* * *
Matt liftedKrissy’s carry-on into the overhead bin before shedding his backpack and stuffing it in next. The meekness of Krissy’s smile of thanks served as another reminder of how awfully this trip had gone. Leaving Texas wouldn’t erase what had happened here.
She took the window seat, and he dropped into the one next to her as a long line of passengers filed past, headed for coach.
Krissy wordlessly straightened her legs and wiggled her feet, then began exploring the options to recline the seat, the place to plug in earphones and a charger, the pocket with information about the flight. Watching her enjoy first-class gave him one thing to feel good about.
Or not.
Why hadn’t he treated her to fun trips when he’d had money the first time around? Because he had blown his funds on destroying himself. And now, Nadia thought he’d do the same thing all over again.
Krissy stilled, and when he looked over, her eyes tracked with the passing travelers.
Matt had been avoiding eye contact with them, but he risked it now to see what interested his sister. The curious glances seemed to flit over the other first-class passengers and linger on Matt. No one whispered. No one pointed him out to friends or family, the way they might if they’d recognized him and cared about Awestruck. They just stared, probably wondering how a guy like him could afford the upgrade.
Krissy’s shoulder pressed his as she leaned close. “It’s not too late if you want to make a break for it. I’d be right behind you.”
His surprise forced a chuckle, but he shook his head. Nadia had asked him to stay away from Axel. He couldn’t stand to remain close and honor her wish, so the sooner he left, the better.
Unfortunately, returning home meant facing other challenges. Could he manage Awestruck better this time? Could he in any way come through for Lina?
Or was he doomed to keep stacking up debts until the day he died?
“I suspect there’s something going on in that head of yours that I’d vehemently disagree with.”
“Nadia thinks the band’s a bad idea for me.” He left the name Awestruck out of it, in case of eavesdroppers.
“What would she know?”
Matt gave her a sidelong look. “You said the same thing.”
“I’m your sister.”
“Is it less true when it comes from someone else?”
“I speak the truth in love. If you’re retreating like this, whatever she said wasn’t loving.”
“She was thinking of her son. I’d rather have her act loving toward him than toward me.”
“She could’ve let you meet him.”
Matt hadn’t told her he’d begged for the opportunity. He studied his hands and the tattoos that had been part of her reason for refusing. The other part, the band. He’d worked, hoped, and prayed to get back in. But he hadn’t known that getting back in would cost the chance to meet his son. The price was steep, and what if Nadia was right, and the band would be part of his undoing?
“I was shocked the first time you joined them.” Krissy had dropped her voice. “I didn’t know you liked music that much. Up until then, you’d only dabbled. I figured it was more about the adventure than the music.”
It had been, at first. Music had won him over though.
“I think it suited you. You got a lot out of being chosen at a time when you were feeling lost. Remember how much you didn’t want to go to college? Of course, running off to California didn’t seem like a good career move, but I figured when the band fell apart, you’d come back and apply yourself to school.”
“Really? School?” Didn’t she know him better than that?
