AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah, I think I will. I… I feel kind of numb right now, if I’m honest. I just want to sleep.”
“Okay, baby girl. You get some rest, and your mom and I are going to have a long talk. I imagine in the morning she’s going to have a lot to say, but I’ll make sure she knows to wait until you’re ready to talk.”
Relief washes through me. I don’t get to spend a lot of time with my dad anymore, but it’s times like this that remind me how lucky I am to have such a kind, caring person as a parent.
And how shitty it is that I’m involved with the Vargas family, his nemeses as a police detective, behind his back.
Chapter25
Iget up early after a fitful night of sleep and am relieved to see my cheek is a little swollen, but there’s no longer a noticeable mark. My neck has a red mark, but I’m able to cover it with some concealer.
Before I went to bed, I texted Vincente and just told him things went poorly, asking if I could see him in the morning.
So early, before my parents even stir, I get dressed and slip out, making the drive to meet Vincente at the address he texted me.
My brain is a roil of confusion. I’ve experienced so many things in such a short period, I scarcely know which way is up anymore.
But what I do know is that Vincente feels safe to me at this moment, and that is where I want to be.
His instructions lead me to a fancy hi-rise on Sunny Isles Beach, and I enter the code he gave me to access the garage. The elevator is super fast, and when I knock on his door, Vincente opens it almost immediately.
Despite my attempts at makeup and a neutrally cheerful expression, I know I’ve failed miserably when he takes one look at my face. His eyes widen, and he immediately pulls me into his chest. This is exactly what I was hoping for, and my eyes close in relief, tears brimming already.
“Sloane, what happened? Are you okay? Come inside. Do you want something to drink?”
“Um, do you mind if we go for a walk instead? I feel restless.” Reluctantly, I pull back and glance up at him sheepishly. I want to tell him what happened, but my nerves are a jumble.
“Sure, let me grab my keys.”
Within minutes, we are striding out into the bright early morning sunshine. The back door to Vincent’s building lets out onto a private strip of beach, where men in polo shirts and khaki shorts are already setting up umbrellas and placing rolled towels on lounge chairs.
“Nice place you got here,” I comment as we walk toward the water. “Is this like a resort?”
“Sort of. It’s half hotel, half residences. So it has nice amenities that people always want but never use, like an on-site gym. And a pool, because who would be in a chlorine-filled pool when you could be out here?” He gestures at the low, gentle waves.
“Indeed,” I agree.
We walk along the shore, toeing the line between the surf and the deep sand. I’ve already slipped off my sandals and just enjoy the way my toes sink in the gritty surface. Vincente never bothered to put shoes on.
He waits until we’re a way up the beach before he finally asks, “So, what happened?”
And I lay it all out. When I get to the part about my mom ripping the necklace off and hitting me, Vincente’s posture stiffens, but he doesn’t say a word as we continue walking. Once I finish with my dad interceding and me finally going to bed, he sighs.
“I’m so sorry, Sloane. I had no idea that is what you were walking into. If I’d have known, I wouldn’t have let you go home. Has it always been that bad?”
“No, it’s not your fault. I didn’t know it’d be like that, either. She’s never struck me before. But I realized last night, I’ve always been afraid she might. I’ve seen her like that a few times, drunk and angry and looking for an outlet. I’ve just never made myself a target, I guess.”
Vincente stops and turns me to face him, his dark eyes stormy. “You didn’t make yourself a target, and you did nothing wrong.” his voice is firm. “This is more about her than it is about you, and clearly, even your father knows it.”
“Didn’t I, though?” I challenge. “I know what I did last night was illegal, and I know my parents are good people who are just trying to raise me and my siblings with morals. Look how I turned out, despite their best efforts. They’re cops, for crying out loud. My father is on a task force whose sole mission is to pin your dad to the crimes they believe he commits, or are committed on his behalf. And now I’m one of those people!”
I don’t know why I said it, but the cat is out of the bag now. My heart races, wondering how he’ll react to this revelation. I’ve been dancing around it, but he needed to know.
Vincente holds my gaze with unfathomable eyes for a drawn out moment. Finally, he speaks.
“Being a police officer doesn’t necessarily make someone a good person, just like being on the other side of the law doesn’t make them a bad person. You don’t lack morals because you did what you had to do in order to protect yourself, Sloane. Sometimes we’re born into situations that are out of our own control, where decisions are made for us and our only choice is to follow through on plans we had no part in making. I’m sorry you find yourself torn between your family and mine. I know it’s not fair, just like it’s not fair that my brothers and I never had a choice about our family.
“But if you thought the fact that your father is on the task force was a terrible secret you needed to keep, I’m doubly sorry. We have connections in every police department, every sheriff’s office, every city and county and state level of law enforcement. The long arm of the law is not as snowy white as you’ve imagined it, growing up with two parents I’m guessing were your heroes.”
