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“I know,” I said glumly. “I’m good at virtual driving, but I’m scared to death to go on-road, especially after riding with Frankie. She’s the scariest thing behind the wheel I’ve ever experienced. What if I turn out like her?” I glanced over at him. “How about you, Dad? Are you a good driver?”

“I’m decent, but I’m sure you’ll eventually outperform me in this area.”

“I guess I’ll find out.” I stood up, and so did Dad. “Let’s go back inside. I’m getting cold out here, and I could use another piece of pizza.”

“Me, too, Bitsy.” He reached out and pulled me into his arms, hugging me tight. “Thank you for believing in me and never giving up hope for all those years. You’ll never know how much that means to me.”

I hugged him back, closing my eyes for a moment. He thought I didn’t know how much it meant, but I did. Because, despite his physical absence from my life, he’d never given up on me either.

Hand in hand, we returned to the noisy living room and sat down. As I ate my pizza, laughed, and looked around at the faces that surrounded me, I had a flashback to the first day of my last day of high school—the 5,802nd day of my existence. I got dumped into the swimming pool by the school bully and later surprised myself by standing up to that same bully for Frankie Chang, who’d become my first real friend.

So much had changed. I had changed…and for the better.

I’d never be that loner girl again, afraid to trust, even if I got hurt. I was still a work in progress, but aren’t we all? While I knew I’d likely face more problems and issues in the future, those problems didn’t have to be solved right now. Tonight, I would live in the present, count my blessings, and hang out with my friends and family.

I couldn’t think of any other place I’d rather be.

Chapter Forty-Eight

CANDACE KIM

“Slash, I’m glad I caught you. Are you still in Brazil?”

There was a little static, but his voice came through the phone strong and clear. “Yes. We’ll be heading home soon. How’s everything?”

“Good. The situation has been resolved.”

“He came in?” he asked in surprise.

“He came in, with a lot of help from his daughter and her UTOP team.”

“Knowing Angel as I do, I’m not surprised at all to hear that. I presume no one was hurt?”

“No. Thankfully, everyone is fine, and the suspected perpetrator has been arrested.”

He clearly knew whom she was referring to. “You don’t say.”

“Oh, I say. And I have a very interesting story to tell you. It’s been quite the upheaval around here.”

“I bet it has. I’m looking forward to hearing that story.”

“You should know the director is beyond pleased with your UTOP candidates, Slash. Their actions made a big impression on him and many others in various agencies. They’re already a legend in the making, and it’s only their first month at UTOP. I have no idea what’s next for them.”

He chuckled. “I never doubted them. But, Candace, now that Ethan has come in, what will happen to him?”

She fell quiet for a moment. “I got him the deal with the Justice Department after all. He’ll be free to go, no charges.”

“And the back door?”

“He’s agreed to open the door again for our intelligence agencies to use, as long as it’s not used against our own citizens and we provide proper administrative and legal oversight.”

“Then it is, indeed, excellent news.”

“Yes, it is. But I want you to know, Slash, I intend to rehire him. He’s lost fourteen years of his life due to no fault of his own.”

There was a pause, and then he asked, “Do you think he’ll agree to come back?”

“It’s too early to say.” Candace looked out the window of her office at the sprawl of buildings at the NSA campus. “I hope so, but, understandably, he needs some time. I intend to give him all he needs.”