He’d walked away all those years ago to make me happy. Now he was here when I needed him most.

I had no idea how much he’d heard, but based on the look on his face, enough.

We both knew the truth of what had happened. How my dad had ripped us apart. How he was willing to do anything to… keep tabs on me? Control me? Steer my life in the direction he wanted it to go?

Huck didn’t say anything, just held out his hand. It was right then that I had a choice. I could go to Huck. Take back what we’d lost all those years ago. To take him for the man he was now. Go blindly into a thing with Huck based on the man I’d known all those years ago. Not the lies. The whispers. Not even my assumptions, but based on the fact that he’d loved me once. Proved it. Walked away to do so.

I went to him. Put my hand in his, and walked out of the shop.

12

HUCK

I helped her into my police SUV, taking care with her as if she were breakable, even though I was in a rush to get the fuck out of here. Reaching across, I buckled her seat belt. She took my hand, looked up at me, her eyes watery and desperate. “Don’t leave.”

I gritted my teeth for a second, willing back the desire to go and shoot Bill like a rabid dog. “No, baby girl. No more leaving.”

When she released me, I went around and climbed into the driver’s seat. I gave the dark garage bay a long look. I didn’t see Bill anywhere, but that was fine with me. I didn’t want to see the fucker’s face again.

He’d made Sarah cry. Said cruel shit. What kind of father gave an ultimatum? That he’d ensure she couldn’t get a job in a career she loved solely out of spite? Out of… jealousy? He might set shit in motion, but there was no fucking way he was taking Sarah down. I might have cowered once at his threats. No longer.

Tears slid down her cheeks, but she remained quiet looking out the side window as I cut across town. She had on the same clothes from earlier, jeans and a T-shirt, but she’d ditched the sweatshirt.

I got on the radio with Noreen. “I’m 10-7,” I said to her, telling her I was off duty.

“That’s what I figured, Chief. We’ve got you covered, and the other guys will tackle any leftover paperwork.”

“Copy that. Thanks.”

I took a right at the central intersection on Main.

“It slipped out of gear,” she murmured.

I glanced at her, confused. “Huh?”

“Your transmission’s going.”

I chuckled and slowly shook my head. I knew what she was talking about, the lag, but had never considered what it was. “I can change my truck’s oil. Replace a fan belt. That’s as far as I can go when it comes to car repairs. As for police vehicles, Noreen takes care of handling any fixes.”