Shivers raked over my body. I opened my car door, sliding inside before I slammed it. I risked one glance back and caught sight of my mother hurrying down the stairs.

I’ve never peeled away so quickly in my life.

What was I thinking? I shouldn’t have come back to this goddamn house.

My throat tightened, and my hands gripped the wheel so tightly it hurt. No matter what I did, my father was never going to give a damn. If I failed, he wouldn’t blink an eye. If I succeeded? He would still remember all the times I failed.

I’d tried so hard to change things between us, to prove that I wasn’t a pathetic screw-up. Now, I was sure that was how he would always see me.

A stoplight forced me to look into the rearview mirror. My cheek was still bleeding, as my face swelled.

Hospital, then a place to sleep tonight.

I wished I was going where Pen was. Never had I ever needed a warm, comforting hug more. My mind flashed to Enzo; the way he held me, talked to me, and kissed me. I felt the pricking of tears gathering behind my eyes and forced them down. My father’s words echoed in my head.

Real men don’t cry.

God, I needed something to numb the pain.

I looked at the bandage on my cheek. So far, it was clean. No more bleeding through the white cloth. Thankfully, the cut hadn’t been deep, but it still ached. I was on my fourth ibuprofen, and the pain was still there. Maybe it was all in my head, psychological throbbing instead of actual, physical pain.

“Caster, have you turned in your reports?”

Sargeant White peered at me, waiting expectantly. I heard what she said, but for some reason the words weren’t sticking in my brain. She raised a brow.

“Um, yes, reports. Yes, Ma’am, I turned them in already,” I said as I nodded to myself.

“Anything I need to be caught up on?”

“Not from my end,” I said slowly. “We’re still looking into things. Rourke went to grab something to eat, but he’ll be back. I have a meeting after work with someone to look into some digital footprint stuff.”

“An informant?”

I shook my head. “An independent contractor.”

She looked me up and down. “Well, see what you can find. The chief is on my ass.”

“I know.” I glanced at his office and made eye contact. A shiver ran up my spine before I turned back to her. “He’s been staring at me nonstop.”

“His job is on the line. You’d be staring too.” She patted me on the shoulder. “Come on, Tex. You can do it. This is what you always wanted, right?”

Right. A dream come true.

I watched her walk away as my phone started to ring. The button flashed, and I picked up the receiver, pressing it against my ear.