Page 169 of His Reckoning

I loosen my tie as I step inside, dropping my keys on the counter. “Kayla?”

“In here.”

Her voice comes from the living room. I follow the sound and stop just inside the middle of the room. She’s sitting cross-legged on the couch with a bottle of whiskey on the coffee table. Two glasses already poured.

For a second, neither of us says anything.

She picks up one of the glasses and holds it out toward me. “Liquid courage,” she says softly.

A quiet breath leaves me that almost sounds like a laugh.

“Planning something?”

“You promised me a story tonight.”

Right. I figured she was going to hold me to that promise.

I walk over slowly and take the glass from her hand.

The whiskey burns all the way down when I take the first sip.

Kayla watches me carefully. She doesn’t push … just waits.

I drop onto the couch beside her and lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees.

The glass turns slowly in my hand. For the first time in years, I have no idea where to start.

Kayla reaches over and lightly touches my arm. “You don’t have to rush,” she says quietly.

“That’s the problem.” I stare at the amber liquid in my glass. “Once I start … I can’t really take it back.”

Her voice is steady when she answers, “I’m not going anywhere.”

I nod once, then drain the rest of the whiskey in one swallow. The memories press harder against the edges of my control.

I pour myself another drink. Because if I’m going to do this … I’m going to need it.

I lean back against the couch and stare up at the ceiling.

“You remember the restaurant my family owns?” I say finally.

Kayla nods beside me. “Of course.”

I take another slow sip of whiskey. “My uncle Tony ran it with my father when I was a kid.”

Saying it out loud feels wrong somehow.

I let out a slow breath. “I was fifteen the first time he hit me.”

Kayla goes completely still beside me. And just like that … there’s no going back.

Kayla’s fingers tighten slightly around her glass, but she doesn’t interrupt right away.

She just watches me.

“How old was he?” she asks quietly after a moment.

“Tony?”