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Her eyes welled, and she glanced up at the man next to her. “No, I just mean, he did what he would do. He wasn’t the type of man just to stand back and save himself. He wanted to save everyone.”
“But he didn’t save everyone.”
No, he didn’t. He sacrificed himself.
“But he tried.” Her voice shook as a tear escaped, and she quickly brushed it away and took another breath. “Tried really hard. And everyone else in the store lived. He’d be proud of that ’cause that’s the kind of man he was. You know—” Her breath hitched, and she waved her hand, trying to take the focus off her tears. “—a hero, I guess. That’s what the papers called him.”
“Is that what you call him?”
It was a shaky line. Was her father a hero? Yes. He’d saved others. That was the true definition. But was it worth what he sacrificed? She battened down her response and bowed her head. She’d decided a long time ago to never answer that question. It was selfish on her part because if she could have rewritten history, there would have been a different outcome. But… Her father did what he believed was right. That was good enough. It has to be.
She placed her hands in her lap and breathed deeply. Memories of her father always hit her hard. It was impossible to explain to those who’d never experienced that kind of loss. Those who didn’t quite understand didn’t know the magnitude of loss and grief. As if grief had a timeline or an expiration date. After so many years, it couldn’t hit as hard, right? Wrong. Loss changed people. It altered who they would’ve or should’ve been. Who they were meant to be. It shifted alignment, changed direction, the choices, the decisions. It changed everything. Not everyone understood it. But Dahlia did. She’d lived it.
“Let me pay the bill, and Sloane and I will get out of here.” She rummaged through her purse in search of her card. The sooner she found it, the quicker she and Sloane could leave. It was only a matter of minutes. Or so she thought.
“As if you don’t already cause enough shit at our club, now you’re extending your fucking reach?”
Dahlia jumped in her seat, jerking her eyes across the room. Rogue stood front and center, but just beyond his shoulder was Trey. He did not look happy.
“I’m sorry, we…”
“You took the fucking passes, didn’t you?” Rogue stalked to the edge of the table.
There was no getting past his anger and accusations. How can I? Rogue was right.
“I will reimburse the cost of them. I’ve already spoken to…” What was his name? It was the first time she realized he’d never given it during introductions. She turned to the owner. “I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name.”
He arched his brow and then glanced across the room at Trey before turning back to her.
“Oz.”
Oz. Interesting.
“Like the wizard?” Dahlia smiled, but when his gaze hardened, she cleared her throat. “Sorry, bad joke.”
Fuck my life!
She reached in her bag just as Trey took a seat beside her.
Her hands shook, knowing all eyes were on her. Anxiety had never been a thing for her, but it was now. It took her a few seconds to peel her debit card from her wallet. Trey grasped her wrist, and she glanced up.
“I’ll pay for it.”
“No,” Trey said.
“I don’t mind…”
Trey narrowed his gaze. “Put the card away.”
She bit her lip, side-eyeing Oz. She’d pay without argument, but she forced herself to tuck her card back into the slot, settling back in her chair.
“Does Blade know Sloane is here?” Trey asked.
Oh fuck. This was bad.
“I’m not sure. Maybe.” She was trying to save her friend. It didn’t work.
Trey narrowed his gaze. “Dahlia.”
