“Hunter—”
“Let me finish,” he said gruffly. “Through the years, I made some really bad, really stupid choices. The one smart decision I made, helping Lacey, landed me in juvy thanks to her bastard uncle. But in a way, he did me a favor because I was forced into a scared-straight program with real-life convicts, and I caught a glimpse of where my future might lie if I didn’t get my act together immediately.” Hunter closed his eyes and recalled the clanging sound of the prison bars shutting behind him, something the program made sure the kids heard loud and clear.
He forced his eyelids open. “All this is a long way of me saying, if I had done something like what Seth did—and believe me, but for the grace of God, I didn’t—there wouldn’t have been anybody who cared enough to bail me out.”
“I am so sorry.” A tear fell from Molly’s eyes.
He pretended not to notice. He didn’t want her feeling sorry for him. Not at this point in his life. “It’s just that being so close to Seth and his family has made me realize, maybe for the first time, how lucky I am that the mistakes I made didn’t destroy me.”
“It wasn’t luck,” Molly said as she leaned closer, her knee wedged behind the gearshift in the center console. “It was you who kept yourself together, when someone with less strength would have fallen apart or taken the wrong path. Give yourself the credit you deserve.” She planted a kiss on his cheek.
He shook his head, warmed by her compassion and support and more afraid than ever that when this was over, he’d lose the only woman he’d ever loved. “I still say there was an element of luck involved. But Seth does have people on his side and we have to go get him and convince him we can fix this somehow.”
Molly moved back to her own side of the car. “You’re right about that. And he doesn’t just have family and friends who care, he has the best damn criminal attorney ever on his side.”
Hunter met her gaze and laughed at her fierce determination. “So let’s go bring him home.”
***
HOURS LATER, Seth was home safely, surrounded by his family, telling his painful tale. As for Hunter, he was still in shock about the turn of events. He’d never considered Seth as a suspect and his heart broke for the boy now. Although he was happy for Molly because Frank would finally be free, Hunter was determined to see Seth through the legal process. He’d do everything in his power to secure a deal and ensure a solid future for the teen.
With Molly by his side, Hunter had found Seth in the back of the church in a pew. Apparently he’d been to confession and the priest had heard and given absolution. After counseling the boy to return home, the priest had allowed him to sit and think. Hunter had settled into a seat beside Seth, put an arm around his shoulders and talked, echoing the father’s sentiments and urging him to return home.
But he’d also opened up to the boy in a way he’d never done before, except earlier, to Molly. Hunter had talked about his life, his mistakes, the turnaround he’d made and the things Seth had in his own life that Hunter had never had. Family could turn Seth’s life around if he let it, he’d promised.
What Hunter didn’t tell Seth was how bad things could be if Hunter didn’t get the teen off. Hunter had been through juvy but he’d already been toughened by the system. Seth, with his softer lifestyle, wouldn’t survive that kind of punishment. And considering the kind of abuser his father had been, Seth shouldn’t have to. Hunter would make it his mission to see justice done in Seth’s case.
Still, Hunter had been careful. He never promised Seth no punishment or repercussions. In fact, Hunter had assured the boy he’d pay for this mistake for the rest of his life, in the one place that it counted. In his heart. But Hunter had also explained that eventually Seth would grow stronger and overcome the pain, heartache and guilt. And he’d do it all with his family’s support and forgiveness.
Seth found proof of Hunter’s words here at home. After the shock and the disbelief of Seth’s confession subsided, both families not only forgave him but rallied around him in a show of support.
Hunter had work ahead of him on Seth’s behalf. The first order of business would be to deal with the district attorney prior to Seth’s confession. Once Seth officially confessed, the charges against the general would be dismissed. Seth would be arraigned and with any luck, a deal could be reached on the teenager’s behalf. Of course, Sonya, Seth and the general would have to testify to Paul Markham’s abuse, but Hunter doubted that would be an issue.
And once the deal was cut, Hunter could wrap things up long-distance. He’d come here determined to win Molly’s father’s case and free himself from her at the same time. He’d been so sure he could get her out of his system and then be the one to walk away. He didn’t miss the irony. He was walking away but it wasn’t part of any agenda or desire for revenge.
He was leaving Molly because she’d given him no choice. And he felt absolutely no satisfaction in moving on.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
A WEEK AFTER Seth’s admission to his family, things had begun to settle down. Just as Hunter hoped, the murder charges against Molly’s father had been dismissed. Seth had confessed and been processed. They lived in a small town with few secrets, and the police had no trouble believing that Paul’s dark personality had turned even darker at home. And since Seth had been able to tell the authorities where he’d tossed the gun, they found the missing weapon after a long, drawn-out search of the garbage dump.
Hunter’s job was done and he was no longer needed in Connecticut. Which was why, when the family decided to celebrate, Hunter remained in the office that had been his bedroom for the last few weeks and packed up his belongings. He’d been invited but he’d decided he had to start pulling away.
He wasn’t a part of the family, therefore he shouldn’t be part of their get-together. It should have been simple. It was anything but.
With past clients, he found it all in a day’s work to walk away when the case ended. But Hunter had bonded with everyone here and not simply because he’d lived with them.
These people had gotten to him. They’d opened their home and their hearts. They’d trusted him unconditionally. And he could tell, from the eccentric commander whose current hair color was a gothic black, to Jessie, whose mood swings he couldn’t keep up with, that they genuinely liked him, too.