Clearly, Kevin knew his dad had hit close to the truth because he shrugged the comment off, focused on Bonnie and changed the subject. “A word to the wise—I turned location services off on your computer. If you’re smart, you’ll keep it that way.”

“What the hell’s location services?” Dad said.

Bonnie chimed in before the two of them could start going at it again. “It helps you find your computer if you lose it or someone steals it.”

Dad snapped his attention to Kevin. “That true?”

“Hell, yeah, it’s true. Phones, too. It’s the way things work today.”

“Well, that’s bullshit.” Dad flicked his hand toward her computer. “You do what your brother says and keep that location thing off. Government’s got no business messing in your affairs.”

Bonnie raised both hands in surrender. “Fine. Fine. I’ll leave it off. Now can we focus on these damned bills so I can get back home and enjoy my one day off?”

Her dad crossed his hands across his swollen belly. “Already told ya. Not gonna worry about bills and medicine and doctor’s appointments anymore. Gonna live my life the way I wanna live it with the time I have left. So, don’t go giving me any grief about it.”

His stare slid to Kevin and he added, “Not either of ya. Understand?”

No. She didn’t. Not even a little bit. She’d already lost her mom because of booze and partying. Just sitting back and accepting her dad giving up wasn’t even remotely in the cards.

Outside, the muted rumble of an engine pulling up and idling in front of the house made its way through the thin living room window. With their house being the last one on the dead-end street, that meant her dad’s buddies were rolling in early to help him get his drink on.

“Are you kidding me?” Bonnie said, twisting for a peek behind the blinds. “It’s barely after three o’clock in the afternoon.”

Before she could get a glimpse, Kevin shot to his feet, knocked her hand aside and looked for himself. He straightened and shot their dad a look that was all business. “It’s them.”

“God damn it, boy. I told you this wouldn’t be good.” He folded down his footrest the way a gunslinger stowed his gun, stood as quick as he could and waved toward the hallway. “Get Bonnie out of here.”

“She can’t leave. If they see her, she’s fucked.”

“Then get her to my room. Put her in the gun closet. I’ll stall.”

“Are both of you out of your mind?” Bonnie interjected.

Rather than answer, Kevin snagged her laptop, shoved it in her backpack and manhandled her down the hallway. He lowered his voice as they neared her dad’s room. “You gotta be quiet, Bonnie. No fucking around, all right? Not a single fucking word no matter what.”

“Are you for real right now?” Bonnie twisted as much as his pushing allowed and tried to look in his eyes. “What the hell is going on?”