Page 127 of The Daredevil

Mom embraced me. “Thank you, Royce.”

Dad joined the group hug. “I dreamed of this day for a long time.”

I peered over my dad’s head, looking for Michelle, who dabbed her eyes. She smiled and declined when I waved her to join us.

The family hug felt weird and wonderful. It was new to me. I never expected to have a complete family, but here I was, embracing them.

“Jett is moving down there to work for my excursion site and to be your bodyguard.”

“We don’t need one,” Dad said.

“It’s better to be safe. Besides, I need extra help at my excursion business. So he’s there for you and for me. It’s already done. Don’t argue with me.”

Mom narrowed her eyes and slid a glance at Michelle. “Crack the whip tonight for me.”

Michelle winked. “I’ll use the new one I just got.”

The entire room roared with laughter, and I didn’t even care that they were laughing about whipping my ass.

Dad looked at the plane tickets. “We fly out in five days?”

“It’s not that I don’t want you around, but I want you safe. It’s been a month since Dominic’s death and the truck explosion. You don’t know what these people are going to do. I don’t want to risk your safety. It’s easier for me to visit you. And I will.”

“Yeah, that explosion occurred at the right time,” Dad said. “I have to thank my friend before I leave for Costa Rica.”

“Who’s your friend?” I asked.

“He prefers to remain anonymous.”

I looked at my mom. “I’ll sell the house and transfer the money to you.”

“No, you keep it,” Mom said.

“I don’t need it. Use it for your retirement.”

Michelle leaned into Mom’s ear and whispered something that had her laughing instantly.

I had to know what they discussed since they both flicked their gazes at me before erupting with glee.

CHAPTERSEVENTY

MICHELLE

On our drive home,I asked Royce, “What’s going to happen to Brittany?”

With so much going on, I’d almost forgotten about her. I knew Fiona had gone off to some retreat. At least that was what she’d posted online. I was surprised when she suggested people visit my website for inspiration. The near-death experience seemed to have changed her for the better.

“She’s being extradited to Iceland in a few days for the crimes she’s committed there.”

“What’s going to happen to her daughter?”

Royce shrugged. “She’ll probably be in foster care for now. I don’t think Brittany knows where Lily’s father is.”

I listened as Royce explained what would happen to Brittany and Lily. It didn’t sit well with me.

“Royce,” I whispered. “Putting her in jail isn’t going to help her or her daughter. Brittany is mentally unstable. She needs treatment, not a jail cell. If you throw someone with an untreated injury in a cell, that wound will fester. She’s not going to understand what she did wrong. Her daughter will suffer too.”

I could only imagine what Lily would experience seeing her mom in prison and not having the love and support she needed to grow up. I saw myself in Lily.

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