Rory what? God, I fucking love her. Crazy as shit, but I do.
I clear my throat. “Rory is her sister. They were kids, Dad.”
“They were trying to get our reward.”
“Yeah.Everyonewanted that reward.”
He doesn’t reply.
“You can’t blame them for this. They were fucking kids. You know it, and I know it.”
“But Diana…”
“What Pat Lamone did to Diana is unforgivable. I agree with you. He’s not going to get a penny of Steel money, even if he is entitled to it. But Diana recovered. Diana recovered before Rory and Callie had the proof. And you have to understand, once Lamone took those pictures of them—”
“They still should’ve come to us.”
“Dad, are you listening to yourself? Two young women were violated.Violated. Along with Diana. They are victims of this just as she is. They were drugged, put in compromising positions, and photographed. They wereviolated.”
That finally gets him. His jaw softens…but not quite enough.
“But they were respon—”
I draw in a breath, force myself not to yell. “No, Dad. Go there, and I won’t forgive you. You will not say they put themselves in that position by Rory seducing Pat and getting the confession. You absolutely willnot.”
He nods then.
He knows. That would be taking it too far.
“You’re right, son. I’m sorry.”
“Callie’s going to be a member of this family,” I say again.
“I know. The Pikes… They’re good people.”
“Yes. Don’t forget that. Don’t forget that Callie and Rory were children.”
He opens his mouth, but I stop him.
“Don’t tell me she was eighteen. Don’t tell me that. You know as well as I do that an eighteen-year-old and a seventeen-year-old aren’t all that different. It’s simply an arbitrary line, Dad, and it has to be drawn somewhere.”
“She wasn’t a child. Not in the eyes of the law.”
“No. And believe me, she knows that. She’s punishing herself so much for this.”
“You really care for her, don’t you?”
“I do. Very much.”
Dad sighs then, and he turns to look at me. I don’t know what he sees on my face, but the tension in his countenance visibly lessens.
“I’m ready. I’ll apologize.”
“Thank you.” I take the phone off mute. “Don? You still there?”
“Yeah. What the hell are you doing?”
“He was telling off his old man,” Dad says. “And I hate to say it, but rightfully so. Rory, Callie, I apologize. This isn’t your fault.”