Page 34 of Witness Protection

Her mouth fell agape.

“That was just over a month ago. Now it’s just me, but I guess it’s always been just me. It was stupid to think I belonged anywhere.” He ran a hand through the longer hair falling over his eyes. “I wanted to go back in time. To fix shit. To make sure they never died. I didn’t know about the extortion payments. And I was too late to save them.”

“I’m sorry.” She wanted to scream that she wasn’t her father. She wasn’t a monster.

He focused on her, his blue eyes piercing. “I wouldn’t be much better if I let Ricky sell you to your father’s enemies, would I? I couldn’t save them, but I could save you.”

She swallowed hard.

“Do you feel better now? Did killing my father bring you peace?”

He smirked. “I dreamt of killing him. It’s all I thought about day and night. All I did was plan that day. It was the only thing that helped me get through the grief. I honestly believed that bullet would bring me the best high in history. All it did was end my obsession, forcing me to mourn. Frank was the first person that made me believe I wasn’t a waste of space.”

“So we’re alike, you and I. We both have no one,” she said.

“And we both have a price on our heads.”

“Who wants you dead?”

He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms behind his head. “That would be your boyfriend Hawk, the one who broke into my apartment and stole my cat.”

“If you let me go, I’ll tell him not to track you. I’ll make sure he gives your cat back.”

Cayden shook his head. “Maybe I’ll keep you. I haven’t decided yet.”

“What does that mean?”

“No more chatting,” he said. “I have three bodies to deal with, and I’m going to order a pizza.”

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