CHAPTER 145

  “I have never really had a good man in my life to look up to,” he sighed. And that was as good an opening as I was ever going to get to find out more information, not only because of the situation today but it would also give me a chance to get to know more about Ryland and his past.

  “You don’t talk much about your dad or your brother. Do you speak to any of them” I asked cautiously, not wanting to push too much.

  “No. I haven’t spoken to my dad in years, well, not by choice. He was, and still is, a monster and the things he did to my mother made me want to kill him. I blame him for the way I was for all those years before I met Gracie. As for my brother, Matty, he is exactly like him: cruel and evil. I didn’t even know he was my brother until last year when my dad showed up at school to collect him, and that was when I found out.” I could hear the anger in his voice and his entire body was tense.