Page 124 of Torin

He crosses the room quickly, and the deputies move aside to let him through.

“Oh, thank God.”

He pulls me into his arms.

I go rigid.

His arms close tightly around me, one hand cradling the back of my head as though he’s afraid to let me go.

Around us, nobody speaks.

“I’ve been worried sick,” he exclaims.

Of course he has. He has an entire room watching. When he finally releases me, he looks over the bruises still fading beneath my cheekbone and the scrape on my forearm.

“Are you hurt?”

“No.”

He lets out a long breath. “Thank God.”

“I need to speak to you.”

“Of course.” He puts an arm around my shoulders. “Let’s get you home.”

“I’m not coming home,” I say in a low voice.

His arm goes still.

“I came to make you an offer.”

For a moment, he just looks at me. Then he lowers his arm.

“All right. Come with me.”

He turns towards his office. I follow him down the short corridor, aware of every face watching us go. He holds the door open for me, then closes it behind us.

The moment the door clicks shut, the concerned father disappears.

He walks behind his desk and takes his seat.

“Sit down.”

I do.

He leans back in his chair and looks at me.

“I’m listening.”

I draw a slow breath. “You win.”

My father narrows his eyes.

“I’m coming back. I’ll drop the investigation. Everything I found about you and East Ridge, I’ll bury it. I won’t give it to a journalist. I won’t take it to the state police. I won’t speak about it to anyone.”

His expression doesn’t change, but I know I have his attention.

“And I’ll retract everything I’ve said about you. Publicly, if that’s what you want.”