Chapter 19

• FRANKIE
• I collapse onto my bed, and a wave of relief washes over me, quickly replaced by a racing heart and a mind swirling with possibilities. The ceiling above me blurs as I fixate on a single, terrifying thought: Could it really have been my father I saw after all these years? Just when I'd found a sliver of peace in this fucked-up situation – Rafael's promise to keep my sister off his radar – the possibility of my father's presence threatens to shatter everything. The irony isn't lost on me; I shouldn't be surprised if that bastard managed to get himself recruited in prison. He never could tell right from wrong.
• Suddenly, a chilling thought strikes me, and I clap a hand over my mouth to stifle a gasp. What if Rafael discovers the connection? What if he decides to reunite us? The mere thought sends a shudder through my body. “Oh my God,” I whisper, running my fingers through my hair in agitation. If Rafael finds out, it would be tantamount to signing my own death warrant. After all, I'm the one who sent that monster to prison. He must be out for blood, seeking revenge, or worse – to continue the horrific abuse he subjected me to in the past.