Page 156 of Crash Course
Quickly, he walked to the chair, picked it up by the bottom, balanced himself and then set it on the floor so he could push it.
Positioning it just across from her, he left a couple of feet between them and sat. Before she could speak, he jumped in. "I’m sorry I hit him."
He’d apologized to her in the hospital, then again yesterday when he’d stopped to check on her, but it couldn’t hurt to do it again. Right?
"Cruz, you’ve apologized three times. I know you’re sorry. What I need to know is it’ll never happen again. With anyone. I don’t want us to be out somewhere having a nice dinner and you explode."
He raised one hand. "My behavior was inexcusable. I know that. I let my emotions take over. You were hurt and he’d basically admitted to playing a part in it. I turned into a juvenile and lost it. I know better and will do better."
"You know," she said, "I finally found someone who’s not afraid to stand up for me. Particularly with Dad. That means so much to me. Truly. It’s also terrifying. Doing what I do, sometimes people say nasty things about me. Online, in person, doesn’t matter. People take shots, Cruz. I can’t have you punching prosecutors who don’t like the way I question their witnesses. See where that can be a problem?"
In his own defense, he’d spent most of his adult life out of brawls. He’d matured, found other outlets for that form of aggression. He’d told her all this.
But, he supposed, he needed to do his penance here. Convince her to take a chance on him.
He jerked his head once. "I understand. It hasn’t happened in years. I swear to you. This was different. Something snapped in me and trust me, a night in jail and facing criminal charges was enough to get my head out of my ass. Then I had to face my mother. I realize now how much I could have lost. I brought embarrassment to you and my family. Cilla, I swear to you, it will never happen again. I’ll make sure of it."
She tilted her head and studied him. "Good. Because it’s not something I can tolerate."
"I get it. I grew up disappointing people. No interest in going backward."
"I’m not disappointed. Or embarrassed. Not by you anyway. My father? Different story."
"He dropped the charges."
Her eyebrows shot up. "Whoa."
"Yep. I got a call from the lawyer on the way here. I’m in the clear. You seem surprised."
"Stunned actually. He never backs down. Ever. He was here yesterday. I advised him to drop the charges. He didn’t take it well."
"Whatever you said, must have worked."
She let out a soft sigh. "At least something came out of it. The only thing I got from him was admitting he pulled my access to his company files. Other than that, he admitted nothing. So typical of him. We could have been killed and he’s still all about himself."
"Most narcissists operate that way."
"I know, but I’d hoped his love for his child might make a difference." She waved it off. "Anyway, it’s in detectives’ hands now. They came by to see me yesterday. You’ll probably hear from them. I told them everything I could remember about the explosion and the arguments with Dad. Threats from Paul. The Morgan contamination, everything. I also have Ed, my investigator on it. This morning he told me he spoke to one of his contacts at the PD. They'd gone dark on him—also my father's doing—but are now returning his calls after I called Dad out on it. Anyway, Ed heard from one of his contacts that Paul got nervous when questioned."
"He shit the bed?"
"Sounds like it. Ed's source told him Paul hired someone, at my father's request, to put the bullet on my car. Dad knows I've received veiled threats in the past. Somehow, he thought that was the way to, as he put it, teach me a lesson."
"That had to be hard to hear."
"Actually, not so much. I’m sad. Devastated, really, but not about what he did. About how I feel. I'm totally numb. It’s like a switch flipped in my head. He’ll always be my father and I’ll always love him, but I don’t want him in my life. I know that. I’ve had enough."
"Understandable. What about the bomb on your car?"
She nodded. "They hired someone for that, too."
"They have all sorts of lowlifes on the payroll."
"I suppose. Paul gave up the guy's name. They arrested him an hour ago."
Oh, man. That was the best news. With the guy locked up, she could put this mess behind her.
A buzzing noise sounded, and she slid her cell from under her thigh. "Sorry," she said. "I’m playing phone tag with Kayla."
