She stretches her hand. Weston holds her by the waist instead and leads her to the dance floor. “I need to get something inside!” The girl shouts above the sound of the song.“I'll wait for you!” Weston shouts back.“It's hard looking around for people. I promise I won't be long,” the girl says. “Alright. Let's go.” Getting away from the damn floor, Weston swears, is the biggest task he's ever done in his life. The smell of expensive colognes mixed with sweat and alcohol almost suffocates him before they get away from the place. Weston has never been grateful for breath as much as he is when they finally get a quiet place. “Will be back soon,” the girl disappears inside one of the doors around. Weston leans on the wall. Damn. He feels a dull pain in his back. He should be in the dorm resting right now. He stretches his limbs. He groans. He might need a massage.“How many you've got?” Weston hears

Weston almost turns on the light to ask Jose if he is kidding. “But I don't give a shit about the money, it's just…the mental aspects. You get what I mean?” Jose adds “If you're tired of it, then leave the group.”“I would have if I could. The second-in-command doesn't leave the group just like that,” Jose mutters. “You could change to another college.”“I'm scared.”“Of?” “I don't want to go back to the life when I had no friends. It's scary.” Again, Weston doesn't know what to say so he just keeps quiet.“I really miss my parents. I just…I wish I could just spend some time with them.”“I'mma grant that wish,” Weston says.Jose chuckles. “Are you Santa Claus or something?” “I'm serious.”Jose chuckles again. “Thanks for making me laugh.” ***By the time Weston opens his eyes again, sunlight is coming through the window. He jumps out of b

Weston bites back the urge to ask his brother to stop the boring talk and get right into business. Who does he think he wants to fool? “Weston, you know, you don't have to forgive anyone. If possible, make dad carry the guilt of how he treated you to the grave,” his brother says.“Okay, sir.”“I've been guilty…I can't stop thinking I was one of those who made life hard…I…” his voice quavers. He clears his throat. “I'm sorry. I've been tearing up so easily lately. So…I…I've been checking up on you, so that's how I found out about your wife and kid.”“I'll appreciate it if you don't check on me behind my back,” Weston says.“I'm sorry, Weston. I really am. You're the last born in our family and…” his voice turns quavers again. Damn! His brother is not crying, right? “You know…Weston, I…saw…I saw her.” Weston glances at the line. The last person on the line is getting checked now. “What are you saying

A car Damien provided is waiting for Weston outside. Weston looks at them as the car drives past them. They really look sad. Maybe they are not bad after all. Ivy has a lot to explain today. She had better have a reasonable explanation as to why she left Hannah on her own.Weston isn't sure of his feelings all the drive to where his daughter is. One moment, he's feeling guilty for leaving this daughter with his girlfriend even after knowing how little she cares about Hannah. Another moment, he's feeling damn angry with his damn self for being this stupid father. The car comes to a halt some distance to an abandoned warehouse. As soon as he steps out of the car, his phone rings. The call is from a restricted number. He answers the call as the car drives off.“You come here with a fucking gun and he dies,” a voice says at the other end. “I'm not with anything but if you dare touch her, you will regret the rest of your

Back then, he thinks, he never did confront them about why they made him do stuff for them and get punished for it. And he's doing that right now. No. He has to show them he isn't the same pushover.They messed with him back then but they won't get away with dragging his daughter in this shit.They will probably do it again if he allows them to get away with it. Weston looks around. He glances at himself. He's a mess. Anyone seeing him wil mistake him for a serial killer. He takes his phone from his pocket and searches for a public restroom. He soon finds one.Cautiously, he walks over. Luckily for him, he doesn't come across anyone all the while he goes there. Inside, he places orders for new shirts and pants. His bag from which he could have gotten new clothes is in his siblings’ office.He washed his hands first. It takes a lot of time before he's able to wash the blood off his hands. He's dryin