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“I a out onto my cheeks He wiped them aith the pad of his thumb

“Don’t be sorry, Pup I’ll never be the good guy in the story I let hter because of who I as I’ve done That shit’s on me That’s my cross to carry”

The deep need to help reunite King with his daughter dictated rabbed his hands, folding them onto my lap

“What do we need to do next?”

“We?”

“Yeah” I let the word sink in “We”

“WE don’t need to do anything I’ll figure so out”

“But wait You said there was a second option”

King shook his head “It’s a worst-case scenario, and honestly, it’s going to be bad whether I decide to do it or not I can’t win either way”

“Tell me what exactly is it you’d have to do”

“It’s a dark road to travel down, and I’m not sure it’s one I could ever co sadness in his voice that made my heart break for him and made me not want to press him further “But it’s a worst-case scenario, so I’ll cross that bridge when and if it cohtfully “For now, I’ear and see e can come up with”

“Let ”

“I’ll re me onto his lap

“I mean it”

“So did I,” King replied, squeezing ht need you to stay with Grace a while”

“Why, is she okay? I mean…you know” I stammered

“Grace is fine for now, but wedown here soon, and I need you far away from it”

“The Isaac thing?” I asked

“Yeah, the Isaac thing But don’t worry about it Just know that when I say you need to go to Grace’s that’s where you need to be No questions asked No arguing bullshit You got me?”

“I got you”