Page 126 of Rev

Rev nods. Eyes me, hesitates, and then his arm slides around my waist, pulling me close, holding me there. “I won’t let anything happen to her, sir. Not while I’m breathing.”

“Heart and soul too, son?” Dad’s eyes are shrewd.

The bullish voice and wild energy and deep Southern accent aren’t an act, but it does somewhat obscure how insightful, intelligent, and emotionally mature my father really is.

Rev nods. “Yes, sir. Heart and soul too.” He seems to tighten, to stand a little taller.

“Dad.” I make a face at him. “This could have been a more private conversation. Or waited till you got to know him a bit.”

Dad shakes his head. “Didn’t fully take the measure of the man, when you brought thatDarrenhome.” He says the name like he’s spitting out something foul. “Know his old man, and I knewhisold man. Both good men, strong men. Men of God, men of character. Where Darren went wrong, I’ll never know, but I take it on myself that I didn’t see him for who he was and protect you from him.” He thumps the armrest of his wheelchair. “Didn’t do right by you, girl. That’s on me. And I’ll bedamnedif I let it happen again.”

There’s a collective gasp at the curse—I don’t think any of us have ever heard Dad curse even once.

My eyes burn, water. “I made the choice, Dad. Not you.”

He grabs my hand, squeezes. “Sure, sure. But you were just a girl. My baby girl, my youngest. Apple of my eye. Should’a seen ‘im for who he was.”

I crouch, both of Dad’s hands in mine. “He hid it, Dad. It’s onhim. Not you, not me. And I’m shot of him.” I glance up at Rev, back to Dad. “I’m past it. I’ve found better. Way,waybetter.”

Dad nods. “I think you have, at that.” He gestures at the island. “Ya’ll save me any pancakes?”

And with that, it’s over. Rev passes, and with flying colors.

16Bullet to The Heart

Rev

Midafternoon that day, my burner rings. I head outside into the drive to take it. “Yeah?”

“How’s North Carolina, brother?” Chance asks.

“It’s…a lot. Amazing. Loud. She has, like, a thousand family members, and they’re all here.”

“No shit? How’s that treatin’ you? How aretheytreating you?”

I swallow hard—I know he hears it, feels it. “Like family,” I whisper.

This is Chance, and I’ve never hidden a thing from him.

“Damn, dude. Okay, okay. So, this is for real, then?”

“I think it is.”

He’s quiet a moment. “Happy for you, brother. Deep down, bottom of my heart, I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks.”

He clears his throat. “Well, hate to say it, but we need you back.” Low, then. “Inez is hearing rumors that people are talking about you. I think you need to get back here, and Myka needs to stay close. Yeah?”

“Yeah, I’ll see if she’s good to head back today.”

“Be best if you did. I wish you could stay, but until the heat dies down, you need to be here. And now that Myka is on their radar, which we have to assume she is, she needs to be here too.”

“I hear you, Chance.”

A long pause. “You love her?”

“I think so.” I clear my throat. “Know so.”