Jet engine was the most be

Mach 1, Candy Apple R

on, all of it led to this moment. It sat gleaming in the driv

eekend. A tradition. But this year was

etal. My wife, Gabby, came out onto the porch. She

tiful, Jay

she? Pe

waist. "You know who would absolutely die t

h us for three months, a guy who supposedly needed help getting on his feet. I didn't l

from the porch,

? Jayden, be nice. He's family. He's been so excited. He asked if he

my good mood evapora

t's jus

now it. It's my car. And Wesley doesn't

"You checked? You ran a bac

Yeah, I checked. He's got two DUIs in Oklahoma.

t's always about your money, your things. You can

bout common sense. The answer i

er's side, pulling the keys from my pocket.

ted fury. I didn't know that my "no" wasn't the end of the disc

over some preliminary reports for my father's company, Scott Oil.

wouldn'

e main road. I couldn't see the driver clearly, but he was wearing my signature black leather jacket, the one I always left o

od ran

pty. I went back inside, my heart pounding with a rage I hadn't

s he?" I

t look at

by. Where is Wesley? He took

unreadable. "He just wanted to feel

t with no license! Wh

lert. Serious multi-car pile-up on the Dallas North Tollw

fe. The blood drained from my face.

eway. The front end was a mess of crumpled metal and shattered fibe

on. Then Wesley and Gabby were there, rushing out of the ho

I don't know what happened. This car, it's j

fists. "You panicked? You left someone b

grabbing my arm. "You have to

y low. "Help him? He's going to pris

e will be ruined! He's just a kid from a small town, he

. "And what about the person h

thaniel can make this go away. You know he can. A few calls, some money... it'll

ords hitting me like a physical blow. S

I did this? That I'm going to put my name, my family's name, on a hit-an

ming down her face. "I love you. We can get

ord like a stone in

call my father, to call a

ext words sto

chilling calm in her voice. She was ho

ck slowly.

fresh tears welling in her eyes, a flawless performance. "I told them my husband, Jay

t sirens began to c

ighteousness. "He tried to pay me to take the blame, officer! When y

e a wail of betrayal, a screaming announcement that my life was over. The Dallas Police Department cars pulled into

y put me in handcuffs. I didn't resist. I was in shock,