Page 113 of Jagged Line Paradise

Andrés’ hand lands on my thigh and my head snaps toward him. Our eyes catch and he holds onto me there. “Breathe, sunshine. Just breathe.”

His touch is comforting, grounding. His fingers on my skin remind me that I’m not in the past.

I’m not with amurderer in his death box.

I’m here, in thepresent.

Everything is going to be okay.

Andrés is withme and everything is going to be okay.

I slip my hand quickly from his back to his shoulder, all the way down his arm until my hand reaches his, and I grab hold of it. He lifts our hands and presses a quick kiss to my knuckles before setting our locked palms down in his lap.

When he gives me a small smile, I know I did the right thing coming with him. He needs me. I need him. We’re just better together. We can face this if we do it together.

A bright flash of orange draws our attention collectively to the right.

Just like that, he’s here.

The Canyon Carver.

My past tormentor.

Andrés’ father.

Chains hook around his ankles, connecting his legs together and his hands are similarly bound with handcuffs, though the chain between his wrists is longer than what I would normally expect to see. A new officer is right behind the demon in his orange suit, ushering him in. He shuffles around to the opposite side of the table and Andrés grips my hand tighter.

I expect to see a monster drop into the seat in front of us, but instead, I see…I see a man. I see a middle-aged prisoner.

He’s just a man.

He’s thinner than I remember and more wrinkles line his face.

Washe taller when I was younger?

The officer locks part of his wrist chain to an eye hook fastened to the table, I guess to offer extra security. But as I look at the man’s dark face, I don’t feel…I don’t feel as scared as I thought I would.

“Best behavior, Hernandez,” the officer who brought him in says. “I’ll be right over here.” He steps out of the space, though I still feel his presence at our backs, joining the other guard on the opposite side of the half-wall.

“Well, look at what the cat drug in. The prodigal son returns, and what’s this? He brought his girl with him. Peace offering for me? She finally getting on your nerves, son? Hoping I can finally finish her off for you?” He tosses his head back and laughs.

My shoulders lift with tension. I glance over at Andrés and see rage drip down his face, but he doesn’t speak, he just stares.

Mr. Hernandez turns his body to face us, leaning forward. The chains clank as he lifts his hands and puts his fists up on the table, clasping his palms together. “What are you doing here? I’ve got nothing to say to you, either of you.”

“I don’t care if you have anything to say for yourself,” Andrés finally says. “I came to tell you what I really think of you, and I don’t give a shit if you just sit there and take it.”

He chuckles. “And what do you really think of me? You think I can’t guess? Haven’t heard a word from you since you found out I took that one.” He lifts a finger and points it at me.

“That one?” Andrés’ voice is a cool, controlled kind of fury, slowly building. “That oneis the girl who ended you, Dad. Her name is Avalon. She’s a human fucking being, and I expect you to address her with respect.”

“Come on now, quit fooling yourself. That girl is as good as dead, isn’t she? I broke her.” He looks straight at me with piercing, black eyes. “You’re broken now, aren’t you,puta?” He purses his lips to make a kissing face at me and everything happens so fast.

Andrés pushes to his feet so harshly that his chair shifts back, the legs scraping along the concrete floor with a screech. He lets go of my hand and slaps his palms down on the table, leaning toward his father. “You’re the broken one, you sick son of a bitch!”

“Hey!” one of the officers shouts as he rushes in. “Sit down or you’re out!”

I watch Andrés as his chest heaves. His father laughs as Andrés straightens, pulls back, and slowly lowers into his seat. When he settles, he nods up at the officer, who gradually retreats.

---