Page 133 of Rush
He looks at Pyro, who shrugs.
"Your call, Diesel."
My dad turns and looks at Rush. "Come here."
Rush walks over. His movements are controlled but I can see the effort it takes.
He stops next to me and his hand brushes mine briefly.
"You wanted to talk," Rush says. "So talk."
Diesel studies him for a long second. "You love my daughter?"
"Yes."
"You think you're good enough for her?"
"No."
The honesty surprises everyone, including me.
"Then why are you with her?" Diesel asks.
"Because she chose me anyway."
"And when you fuck it up? When you hurt her?"
"I won't."
"You can't promise that."
"You're right, I can't. But I can promise I'll do everything in my power not to."
Diesel leans forward. "I've read your file. I know what you did. You shot a woman when you were thirteen, spent five years in juvie learning how to be violent."
"I know what I did."
"Do you? Because from where I'm standing, you're a ticking time bomb waiting to go off."
Rush's jaw tightens but he doesn't react. "I'm not that kid anymore."
"Aren't you? Because I've seen men like you before. Angry, violent, convinced they can control it. And then one day they can't and someone gets hurt."
"I'm not going to hurt Everly."
"You can't know that."
"Yes, I can. Because I'd rather walk away from her than become the thing I'm afraid of."
The words hang in the air and I see my dad's expression shift slightly.
He didn't expect that answer.
"You think walking away makes you noble?" Diesel asks.
"No, but it makes me honest. I know what I'm capable of and I know my limits. If I ever cross a line with Everly, I'll leave before I hurt her."
"That's supposed to make me feel better?"
