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He’s there. Erick catches me and guides me to a chair. Big, strong hands, a soft, soothing voice. I’m too weak to fight him. I lean forward, face between my knees.
“Did you hurt him?” I whisper.
Erick crouches by my side, one hand on my thigh. “No. I promise. You can ask him yourself.”
“Why not? I mean, why didn’t you just hand him over? I don’t get it.”
“You’ll see. Come talk to him, Hellie.”
“I’m nervous this is another trap.” I lift my head, staring into his eyes. He looks so beautiful. So sincere, like he really does give a damn about me.
“No games. No tests. This is just me and you.” His fingers dig into my thigh. “I should’ve believed you from the start. We should have talked about it, and I’m sorry we didn’t. But it’s okay now. Come downstairs.”
“I’m afraid.”
“You don’t have to be.” He stands and holds out a hand. “Come on. Come see your father.”
I hesitate, but I take his big palm, and I follow him.
Chapter37
Hellie
Erick takes me to an empty guest room at the back of the house. It’s sparse, simple, with only a big bed and a chair shoved in the corner.
Dad’s standing near the window. He’s looking outside, his hands folded behind his back. I recognize him from the way he stands with his shoulders square and his chin up like he’s taking on the entire world. But the moment he turns around, my hand comes up to my mouth.
He’s thin. So much thinner than I’ve ever seen him. Gaunt, emaciated, his eyes sunken. His hair’s gray and short, and his beard’s gone wiry and long. His gaze is still sharp and blue, but his hands are gnarled, his knuckles swollen, and his clothes hang off him like they’re two sizes too big.
“Hi, honey,” he says, smiling broadly. “How are you, Heloise?”
“Dad?” I step into the room. Tears threaten and I struggle against them. Erick remains near the door, watching. “You’re seriously here?”
“I’m here.” He spreads his arms, as if for a hug, but I don’t get closer. He lets his arms drop after an awkward moment. “It’s not often a big crime lord like Erick Costa invites me to his home. I couldn’t turn him down, you know?” His eyes shine like he knows it wasn’t really an invitation.
Dad. After all this time. There he is, standing in the flesh.
I finally rush over and give him a hug. It’s so strange, he’s all skin and bones, which shocks me. He laughs gently as I pull back and wipe my eyes, the tears finally winning. “Are you hurt?” I ask.
“I’m fine,” Dad says, his smile sadder now. Like he’s not telling the full truth. “All things considered, Erick’s been easy on me.”
“He deserved at least a beating,” Erick grumbles.
Dad laughs. “That’s very true. At least.”
“I don’t understand what’s going on.” I look between the two men. “Are you two going to explain? Why are you acting like you’re friendly?”
“You can talk.” Erick steps through the door. “I’ll be nearby if you need me. I can’t hear what you’re saying, so you’ll have to yell.”
He shuts the door.
I shake my head in shock, trying to comprehend this situation. Erick has Dad, and Dad stole from Erick, and Dad should be extremely dead—but he’s not.
Instead, Dad’s standing in this room, and he’s alive.
“What’s happening?” I ask as he walks over to the bed and sits down with a sigh like it was hard for him to stay on his feet for long. His breathing is labored. He was always in such good shape, and seeing him now, like this, it’s disturbing.
“Well, I got caught. Lucky for me, I got caught by Erick, instead of by Gallo or Frost. Those sadistic fucking pricks.”
