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“This is insane.” With my legs now feeling a little unsteady, I lean against the nearest wall. “Dad, what in god’s name are you doing? You can’t just box up everything I own and get rid of me like I’m a stray dog.”
He sighs and looks to Fred. “These kids sure don’t stop breaking your heart even after they grow up.”
Fred makes a grunt of sympathy. “I can relate. Got a daughter who works the streets, in and out of lockup. We’re raising her kid. No idea who the father is.”
With each passing second I can’t escape the sense that I have hurtled deep into the Twilight Zone. I dig my nails into my palm, just to make sure I’m really awake.
My father doesn’t even glance my way. “Stand by.” He pats Fred on the shoulder and opens the front door. “I’ll have an answer for you soon.”
Fred throws me a glare and jabs a finger in the air. “It’s tough being a father. But sometimes you’ve just got to cut your losses.”
“Amen to that.” My father shuts the door behind Fred, leaving us alone together.
Stuart Ballerini has always been stern and intimidating but I’ve never actuallyfearedhim until this moment.
I stand in the midst of fallen trophies and scattered books. “What are you doing, Dad?”
“I’m sorry it has to come to this,” he replies. “But I swore an oath to protect the citizens of Emerald City.”
“And Emerald City needs to be protected fromme?”
His phone buzzes. He peers at the screen and holds up a finger. “Just a moment. I need to take this call. I suggest you use the time to figure out where you would like your possessions to be taken.”
To say I’m astonished would be a pitiful understatement.
My first thought is to call Micah.
Just as quickly, I reject this idea.
Micah would come charging in here like a raging bull. I have a feeling my father would love nothing better than to provoke him into a confrontation. That might even be my father’s intention.
I can see it all play out as if it’s already happened.
Micah runs to my rescue. My father taunts him. Micah throws a punch, or worse. Micah leaves in handcuffs while the mayor grins with victory.
Anyway, Micah is all the way over on the east side.
Dani is closer, much closer. Right here in the neighborhood.
My father keeps his back to me as he talks on the phone. He wants me to hear what he’s saying, though.
“A tragic decision,” he says. “But my obligation to the city will always come first, even if it means turning in my own daughter.”
What the ACTUAL FUCK?
My head spins and my intuition whispers that I won’t like the answer to that question.
Dani picks up her phone and I almost crumple with relief when I hear her voice.
“Are you home?”
“No, I’m downtown. Had some meetings this morning to make plans for the charity.” She pauses. “What’s going on?”
“Dani.” I have to inhale deeply to chase away the panic. It doesn’t work. “My father’s throwing me out of the house. I don’t know what’s going on. He has a moving truck here and everything and he’s saying stuff about ethics and protecting Emerald City and I would say he’s lost his mind but I don’t think that’s true and can I please keep my stuff in your garage for a little while until I figure this out?”
A beat of stunned silence.
“Are you there at your house?” she says.
