Everyone was carrying on as if there wasn't a ticking-time-bomb next to me. From the years I have spent with this bomb, I should know which wires to cut. Honestly, I am lost. The beeping keeps getting louder. If I don't do something now, then something bad is going to happen. There isn't a manual, nor will there ever be one to help me stop the man close to detonating, and I was scared. We are in a restaurant full of casualties, and my kids are here.

My hand rubbed over Kinnick's thigh, hoping to soothe him. He kept telling me everything was fine, but I knew otherwise. Calm Kinnick is never the best one. The more he bottles in his emotions, the bigger the explosion will be. I told him we needed to leave, but it didn't happen that way.

Now I am trying to dry my sweaty palms over the pea coat wrapped around my body. I tried avoiding Luke's gaze because I didn't want him to look over here. That would be all Kinnick needed to get up from his seat.

Our friends were doing the best they could to keep the attention on them. Despite the cups of ranch in front of me, I didn't know how to eat. I was nervous. My hands were shaking. Kinnick had his arm over the back of my chair as his hand rested over my shoulder. I was looking over at Collins to make sure she was okay while she laid in her car seat.

"Will you show me where the restrooms are?" Chase asked.

I turned to him with a smile. "Of course. Come on."

Before I moved away from my seat, I turned to Kinnick. "Are you going to be okay?"

"Of course."

Chase followed me, asking if everything was okay between Kinnick and me. He worried we were fighting. I told him everything was fine. The only problem I had was convincing him of that unless I told him what was happening. So, he stood there, listening to me.

"Dad won't do anything, will he?"

"Your dad will do something," I gulped. "That is why I am worried."

"What if he does?"

"You grab your sister and go out to the car," I tell him. "But I would hope nothing happens."

"Everything will be fine," he promised before slipping into the bathroom.

Yet, I should have known better than that. The second I stepped away from the door, Luke came into the hallway. Not once did I ever fear him until he blocked my way of leaving. After knowing what he was capable of, I didn't know what to do. All I know is that if something happens, I have broken his nose before. I won't wait to do it again.

"Bo -"

I held up my hand. "Walk away. The second Kinnick knows you aren't in your seat anymore. He will come looking, and my kids are here."

"Kids?"

"My son is using the bathroom, and my daughter is out at the table," I snapped. "Please, walk away."

"I wanted to apologize," he winced. "Please. I tried calling."

"Why are you doing this? This makes you look like an idiot -"

"Momma?" Chase stepped out of the bathroom. "Is everything okay?"

Luke looked up at Chase. "Who is this?"

Chase's eye narrowed. "Who are you? Is this the guy giving you trouble?"

"Let's go," I wrapped my arm around Chase's.

Chase obliged, tightening his hold on me as he pulled me to his side. I should be the one protecting him, but he was holding me, and I felt safe. Luke tried to speak again, but Chase cut him off by pulling me further down the hallway.

"I have the video."

I flipped around. "Are you trying to blackmail me?"

"No," he let out a deep breath. "I want you to have it and do whatever you need to."

"Why?"

"You deserve to get your justice too, Bo."

"What video, momma?"

"Chase, please go sit down."

"I don't want to leave you alone."

I placed my hand on his chest. "Everything is okay. I promise."

He placed a kiss on the top of my head. "Be careful."

When he walked away, I turned to Luke who had an SD card in his hand. I looked down at the black chip as tears welled in my eyes. Everything that happened that night was on the card in front of me. Now that I have the chance to know, I wasn't sure if I wanted it.

"How did you get this?"

"I wanted to tell you one day," he sighed. "I was going to, but I didn't know how."

"You've kept this?" I played with the chip in my hand. "For what? Were you going to use it against me?"

"No," his head moved back and forth. "I wanted to help you. I wanted to give you the chance to move on."

"You couldn't have done this years ago?"

"That would have meant you were leaving me."

I scoff. "Luke -"

"I know," he shrugs. "I fucked up, but I am trying to make it right. All I wanted to do was move on. I wanted to give you this a while ago, but I didn't know how to."

"Thank you," I choked.

"I'll leave you alone," he moved away. "You won't have to deal with me anymore."

"If I turn this in -"

"I am aware I will get in trouble," he told me. "This is the only video. No one else has it."

"How do you know?"

"I made sure," he looked down at me. "Warren came over -"

"Warren is back in town?"

"I figured I would make it easier on you if you wanted him arrested," he admitted. "He is staying with his parents."

I thanked him before he walked away. He left me standing in the hallway. As I came toward the end of the hallway, I saw Kinnick standing there. He was fully aware of what happened, and I knew what he wanted to do about it.

"Where is he?"

I held up the SD card. "The video is on here."

"Video?" He asked until it dawned on him. "The video."

"What do I do with it?"

"Whatever you want," he came to me, pulling me into his chest. "He is giving you chance to do whatever you want."

"Warren is back in town."

"What?" He pulled away. "I told him -"

"Luke said he moved back in with his parents," I sigh. "If I want to arrest him, I know where he is."

"Is that what you want?"

"I don't know what I want."

When I thought about what I wanted to do, like I said, I wasn't sure. I worried because I didn't know if I wanted to go forward with telling the whole world my story. In the end, I wasn't sure if I wanted to sit in a courtroom where I would have to watch my video being played in front of strangers.

Kinnick listened to me as I explained that to him. I wondered what kind of lives everyone involved was living. Did I want to rip them from that? I was going to ruin their lives. No matter how badly they hurt me, I knew I wasn't capable of doing the same because even if it was the right thing to do, I felt as if it was not.

He cupped my cheeks. "Do you feel like you have moved on?"

"Will I ever really feel like I have moved on?"

"Probably not."

"Why do I feel like I shouldn't do it?"

"What would you tell another girl who went through the same thing?"

"I would tell her to go through with it."

"You aren't putting them in prison for the rest of their lives," he looked at me. "You are holding them accountable for their actions."

"So, I should do it?"

"Do you want to do it?"

"I don't want to do it alone."

"Never going to happen," he kissed me. "I would never let you do it alone."

His hand dropped to mine, lacing his fingers with mine as he led me back out to the table. Kinnick stayed next to me. By my side. I thought something else was going to happen today. Honestly, I expected more. I expected a big mess and it never happened. And I was fucking happy. Now, my mind is in a mess.

"So, I gave some great news," John announced as he looked down at his phone. "Leonard agreed to the fight. You have your first fight kid!"

Chase looked up from his plate with a smile on his face. "What?"

My mouth dropped as I looked at Kinnick who had the proudest look etched into his features. "When?"

"Three weeks," John smiled with excitement.

"Chase Carson versus Leonard Ray," Chase bit his lip.

"Carson?" Kinnick choked. "You want to take our last name?"

He looked at us. "Is that okay?"

"Of course," Kinnick stood to pull him into a hug. "I love you, kid."

"I love you guys," Chase said as they pulled me to hug him. "I love you guys so much."