“Yo, Stone!” Tank’s deep voice calls out, pulling me from my ideas.

I flip and arch a forehead within the massive man’s path. “What’s up?”

“Ace desires to speak to you.” He offers me a glance I can’t decipher. “Did you fuck one thing up?”

I grin. “Me? I by no means fuck shit up. He in all probability desires to place me in command of the entire rattling factor.” I chortle on the look Tank offers me that claims he thinks I’m filled with shit. “I’ll be proper there.”

“Make it snappy, Viking.”

I chortle and flip him the hen, rolling my eyes on the nickname the membership whores and previous women assume I don’t learn about. I stamp out the cigarette within the ashtray and head inside, discovering Ace in his workplace. I faucet on the door and he turns, his smile fading as he motions me inside. “Are available, Stone.”

Tank was proper. This doesn’t sound good. “What’s up?”

Ace extends his arm in my path, handing me his telephone with the heavy-duty black case. “Name for you.”

“For me?” I frown on the telephone after which Ace as a result of it doesn’t make sense. “Who the fuck would name your telephone for me?”

His critical expression shifts. “Take the rattling telephone and discover out.” He shoves it ahead till I seize the telephone. “Don’t contact something,” he motions to his desk earlier than leaving me alone in his workplace.

“Whats up?”

“Stone.” My father’s deep voice sounds over the telephone, and I freeze.

“Dad. This can be a shock. Every part all proper?” Pressure coils in my stomach as a result of the one factor I can assume is that my dad is looking as a result of one thing is flawed. “How’s Ma?”

“She’s good. Superb. As loopy as ever.”

I let loose an extended exhale of aid. “Okay.”

“It’s protected, son. You possibly can come dwelling now. Again to Texas.” The silence between us is heavy with expectation.

Adjusting my grip on the telephone, I scoff. “Secure? Dad, when have I ever made my strikes primarily based on what’s protected?” My voice drips with defiance. That is me he’s speaking to. Since when did I decide the straightforward path?

Dad’s response is calm, unfazed by my pushback. “Stone, I get you. I do. Greater than you give me credit score for. Yeah, you’ve carved out your spot in Angel Harbor, however Opey is looking you again. It’s over. Lastly.”

I run a hand by means of my hair, my frustration tangling with curiosity. “Dad, I actually respect all that. What you and Mother have carried out, however I didn’t simply discover a parking spot right here, Dad. I’ve laid down roots.”

There’s a persistence in his voice that nearly pisses me off extra. “I’m conscious, and I respect that. However household is household, and the mess that drove you away? It’s been cleaned up.”

“Cleaned up? All of it? I’m good now? Free?” The concept appears too good to be true. I left to flee bother and discover a slice of peace, one thing I wasn’t certain I may have again dwelling. And now Dad’s suggesting I simply throw within the towel on Angel Harbor.

“Yeah, Stone. It’s over.” His voice carries a certainty that’s arduous to disregard. “Time to come back dwelling, son. Your home on the desk awaits. Time for a brand new chapter.”

Leaning towards the desk, I let these phrases sink in. “And if I’m not prepared to show the web page?”

Dad lets out a weary sigh. “Then keep put. It’s your life, Stone. However bear in mind, you’re my son. Texas, Angel Harbor, the moon—doesn’t matter. You’ll at all times be my son and have a house right here.”

That will get to me. Greater than I need to admit.

I take a deep, fortifying breath. My defiance begins to soften into one thing resembling acceptance. “All proper, Dad. I’ll head again. However give me just a few days. I gotta get my head proper.”

Dad says, “Get with Ace. He’ll make the preparations to get you again right here.”

I blink, a bit thrown by the point out of Ace. “Preparations? What, like a farewell tour?” There’s a touch of my ordinary sarcasm, but it surely’s tempered by curiosity now.

“No, son,” Dad chuckles, the sound gruff however amused. “Logistics, you recognize? He’s within the loop on this.”

My eyebrows shoot up. Belief Dad to have issues extra organized than I anticipated. “Within the loop, huh? And right here I used to be pondering I’d simply pack up and go.”

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