Danny Messer's Daughter

Chapter 10

June 4, 2016 1:03 a.m.

5 days

I was sitting on my coach next to Alex wrapped in a blanket. The cops had finished questioning us and were now asking Mom questions. Dad was at the hospital getting checked out. I felt so guilty. If I had never come home, if I had just gone off the grid, I wouldn't have put Mom and Dad and Alex in so much danger. They could have died because of me. I felt tears prickling the back of my eyes as all these thoughts flooded my mind. I was nothing but a nuisance to my family. I shouldn't be here. I should have just let Shane Casey put a bullet in my head. A single tear slipped from my left eye. I wiped it away before anyone saw it. I clenched the blanket in my fists to keep the tears back. I just wanted to go see Dad. I felt Alex slip his hand over mine. I looked over at him and he gave me a reassuring smile. I tried my best to smile back at him but the tears I was trying to hold back escaped. Alex looked surprised at me.  I put my left hand over my face to hide it.

"I'm sorry, Alex. I'm sorry I brought you into this mess. I'm sorry I almost got you killed. I'm sorry your parents probably won't let you see me anymore. I'm sorry-"

"Winter stop. You don't need to apologize. How were you supposed to know he would show up? My parents felt sorry for you that you're going through this. They're going to let me see you again. They're going to want to see you again. You didn't ask for this. It was his choice to hunt you down. There's nothing you could have done to stop him. Please darling, stop apologizing about stuff you can't control." He pulled me into his chest and I silently cried. I felt exhausted and I just want to sleep for the next five years, but I wanted to see Dad more. Mom was finally done being questioned. I walked over to her still wrapped in my blanket. She put both her hands on my face and ran her thumbs under my eyes as she smiled at me. I smiled back.

"Can we go see Dad now?"

"Check with Mac first, sweetie."

I walked over to Uncle Mac. I asked him if we could go see Dad at the Hospital. He said yes and I walked back over to Mom.

"We can. Are you coming with?" My voice was still scratchy.

"You two can. I have to finish some stuff here first, as per your father's request to quote on quote, "Find this bastard and take him down." I hugged Mom goodbye and Alex and I drove to the hospital. I kept looking out at the night sky as we drove. I don't  know how Dad will forgive me for this.