Page 93 of Illicit

He nods slowly before glancing at the judge. “That will be all.”

The guy goes back to his table. I have no one else to focus on and can’t help but look at Dad arguing with his guy—lawyer, whatever he is. Their whispers are loud and angry. The guy is jabbing his finger into the table, and Dad leans in to get into his face.

I turn to the judge and frown. He’s about to say something, but Dad’s guy beats him to it and juts to his feet. “No questions, Your Honor.”

“Goddammit,” Dad yells. Papers fly off their table, and Dad throws himself back into his chair like he’s throwing a fucking baby fit.

The next thing I know, the judge turns to me. “That’ll be all, son. You can step down.”

Son.

No one’s ever called me that before. Hell, I doubt anyone’s put me and that word in the same thought.

What I do know is I’m ready to get the fuck outta here.

I stand and stuff my hands into my front jean pockets so no one can see what I did to myself. The lady in charge of me stands in the middle of the aisle waiting to usher me out, probably to Mom’s brother. I did what he told me to do. I told the truth, and I did it in front of Dad.

If he doesn’t go to prison forever and then some, I might die.

I stalk as fast as I can without running, but when I pass Dad’s table, the last thing I hear before I leave the courtroom are his words.

“You’ll pay for this, boy.”

21

BEFORE THE OBSESSION

Rocco

Present time

“Where do you think your dad will go?”

I look from the water to Teagan. “Let’s get something straight. He is not my dad. You have a dad. I do not. A dad and father are two very different things.”

She gives me a sad smile. As much as I hate sad smiles on anyone, I can’t hate anything on Teagan. “Sorry, you’re right. But do you know where he’ll go? He’s been in prison for fifteen years.”

I shake my head. “No fucking clue. I’m going to find out though. It was my testimony that put him away. And he’s not the kind of guy to be reformed. If I had to guess, he’ll come looking for me.”

“Do you think he knows you were a cop and now an agent? He’d be stupid to try to find you, let alone do anything to you, right?”

“Baby, he killed my mother in front of me while he was high. I can’t imagine that he all of a sudden found his softer, gentler side in prison. If he does try to find me, I doubt it will be to apologize.” I let go of her hand and wrap my arm around her neck to pull her in for a kiss. “For someone who lives and breathes unsolved crimes, I didn’t think you’d be so optimistic.”

“Only when it comes to you. Your past made me sad from the first day we met. I only want the best for you. Wishful thinking, I guess. You said yourself you have a ghost on your heels—I know it’s your father.”

She’s right. And the fact she knows everything about me is yet another reason my obsession with her has swelled into an emotion that is borderline unhealthy. The things that have gone through my mind to keep her in Miami...

We continue to walk this stretch of beach. We drove all day. When I told her I booked a room on the beach, her face lit up like it was Christmas morning, and I made all her dreams come true.

I do shit for people all the time. I might complain, but when someone needs something, I’ll bend over backwards to make it happen. But the look on her face when all I did was book a basic-but-clean room on the beach?

I had no idea that would make me want to do it over and over again. But here I am, wondering where I can secretly take her next.

But not to fucking New York City. Once I get her to Miami, I have no desire for her to take a step north without me.

That’s becoming a personal problem. Once this secret isn’t a secret any longer—and I know it won’t be since I’ll be the one shouting it from the rooftops—I’ll be sure to catch shit from every male in my small circle.

“I’m done talking about my fucking father. I want to talk about something else.”

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