Page 78 of Angels & Whiskey

“You barely know him,” Mom protested.

“I know, but we all thought we knew who Rich was and he turned out to be the devil.”

“What happened at the party tonight?” Dad asked.

“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “I do know Rich’s job isn’t what we all think it is.”

“How do you know?” Dad asked, crossing his arms again.

“I’ve heard him on the phone and he’s said stuff around me. I don’t know for a fact, but I think he hurts people when they don’t pay him back the money he loans them.”

“Like a loan shark?”

I snorted. “Yeah, like a loan shark.”

“Fuck.” Dad groaned.

“How is this possible?” Mom sobbed.

“How do you explain criminals? You can’t. They are just bad people and somehow Rich fooled us all.”

“I’m going to kill him!” Dad groaned as he stood and started to pace.

“Don’t do anything stupid. Let me handle this,” I protested.

“You’re my daughter. I’m supposed to protect you.”

“I know, Daddy, but I’ve thought a lot about this and it’s best to just divorce him and move on with my life.”

“If he’s as bad as you say—he won’t let you just divorce him,” Mom advised.

“I know he won’t,” I sighed. “But I think he’ll be less likely to do anything now that he’s announced he’s running for mayor.”

“Aw fuck!” Dad groaned. “I forgot he’s running for mayor.”

“Tonight didn’t go as planned. I didn’t know I’d leave him tonight, but I saw an opportunity to slip away without him knowing and I took it. Gabe’s been a part of the plan and I didn’t know he was going to be at the party. Tonight has been exhausting and crazy and scary and any other terrifying words you want to use. I’m sorry I’m making you stay in a hotel, but I can’t take the risk of Rich hurting you,” I cried.

“Sunshine …” Dad stopped pacing and reached for my hand for me to stand so he could wrap me in his arms. “I’m tough. It’s going to take a lot more than some ex-army major to bring me down.”

I smiled briefly. “Rich has people who work for him. Did you see that big ass dude storm in when shit went down?”

Dad nodded.

“I think that’s his muscle.”

“You forget I’m a good shot.”

“And you forget Rich is too.”

“Oh my God, I can’t take this. This can’t be happening,” Mom said, starting to freak out as she paced back and forth at the foot of the bed.

Before I could say anything else, there was a knock on the door.

“Go hug Mom. I’ll let Gabe in.”