Page 52 of Fall onto me

“How?”

“Long story, but she won’t tell Grandma. She thinks you’re here for one too many speeding tickets.” I laugh.

He relaxes then.

“I’m going to get you out,” I tell him.

“No, I’m getting released, on New Year’s,” he assures me. “Like in your letter. Lay low, Sky.”

“How?”

“I finished my job.”

“Wait.” I halt. “You’re here for a job?”

“Apparently so.”

Barnes walks in and everything I want to say gets lodged in my throat. He says, “I’m sorry guys, we have to go,”

“Christmas.” I pout, knowing I could have kept that thought to myself.

Foster brings his left hand to cup my face as Barnes carefully shackles his right wrist. “I know, baby. Stay with Soph?”

“Of course,” I breathe out.

I allow the tears to fall when Foster slips away, only stopping when Barnes come back to get me. He frowns, hugs me like a brother, then leads me back out front. We pass by the woman with the last name Askena, and she gazes longingly at him.

“See?” I whisper.

He looks her direction, and Askena quickly looks away with a blush tinging her cheeks. He smiles, looks down, and replies, “Maybe I’ll ask her for coffee.”

* * *

I need him,and he’s locked away.

Whenever I’m in his arms I feelsafe.

Seeing him in there, so helpless and scared.

It ignites something in me.

I know he said to lay low, and I will, but not before I ask for one last question.

I look at the wall of names, scanning through to decide.

The common denominator of it all, is him.

My father.

I’ve sat still long enough, and now I need answers.

* * *

I barrel into the house. “Skyler?”Mom’s voice is small, filled with an ocean of meaning, but she never helped me. She wanted me to be more perfect, to lose weight, cheer, marry the richest man.

I pass her, heading straight to Kent’s office.

I slam my hands down on his desk to draw his attention.