Page 123 of Trusting Skulls

A few minutes later, it’s apparent that Graham’s been shot. He’s dead.

For the rest of the day, everyone who was in the courtroom is sequestered into another room in the courthouse. No one around me looks particularly worried, so I don’t know why I am.

Did someone from the club do this?

I’ll be so mad if anyone risked themselves for me.

Hours pass before we’re finally released. They determined the shots came from an unknown shooter over a half mile away on a roof top.

I think I’m in shock as we drive over to the warehouse. Ash keeps looking from me to the road. “You okay?”

“I don’t know. I feel like the only person I know who could have made that shot was you.” I turn to look at him.

He shrugs. “There are a lot of snipers out there. I’m nothing special.”

“Did you do this?”

He laughs. “I was with you, remember?”

I narrow my eyes. “You know what I mean.”

“I didn’t arrange it.”

“Then who?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. That fucker made a lot of enemies. You weren’t the only person who was hurt by that asshole.”

I’m sure there were plenty of people who wanted Graham dead, but this was done by an expert. Someone who knew what they were doing and left no trace behind.

The question befuddles me the rest of the evening as the club eats and drinks around me. Everyone gives me space, but comfort too. It’s strange. I guess the good thing is no one can be held responsible for the shooting because they were all accounted for at the courthouse. It couldn’t have been anyone from the club. Ugh, maybe I’m overthinking. Maybe Graham just pissed the wrong person off, and it has nothing to do with me or the other girls.

Ash heads upstairs to finish packing the last of his things so we can take them home with us when we leave. I’m watching Petey swing Charlotte around, making her squeal, when JD lowers himself beside me.

“Sometimes I wish I would have met you sooner,” he says quietly as we stare at the father-daughter duo who continue to tease each other.

I laugh sadly. “Yeah, me too.”

“But we have each other now.”

Something in his voice makes me turn. Our eyes lock.

Oh my god, it was him.

JD ordered the hit.

My bottom lip begins to quiver when I realize JD is the person I’ve been searching for. I went through one man after another not knowing what or who I was really looking for, but it was this. Someone who would love me unconditionally. Someone who would risk everything and expect absolutely nothing in return.

I cover my mouth, keeping my sob firmly behind my lips.

“From here on out, you come to me with any problem, and I promise you I will do my best to fix it or eliminate it. Understand?”

All I can do is nod.

He hugs me tightly, and I finally let go and cry. JD made a promise, and while I didn’t believe him at the time, he held onto it.

The fear of abandonment slips from my soul, and my heart sighs in relief.

“I love you, Dad.” I’ve said it before in a joking way, but this time I really mean it. Nothing has ever felt so right.

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