One Wish Away by Kelley Lynn Read Free Book Online Page B

hard my voice cracks. I cry for my father like my life depends on it. Because it does. I’m only sixteen! My eyes roam, looking for my dad. Hoping this is the one time he’ll notice me. Put me before anything else. Before whatever work he does here.
    Through my panic I find him, almost hidden behind the movements of the security guards. Is this the last time I’ll ever see him?
    Dad’s eyes close tight and my breath catches at the sound of his voice.
    â€œSecretary Morgan, you can’t take her away. She’s my daughter.”
    â€œI realize this, David. Which makes it difficult, but she can’t have special privileges because her father works here. Do you know how many SEAD employees have children?”
    â€œShe overheard my conversation with you when I was in my home office.” My father gestures to the Secretary. Aunt Stephanie gasps.
    â€œDavid,” she scolds.
    â€œIt’s my fault.” Dad shrugs. “I should be the one punished, not her. I told her she had to keep quiet, not to go looking.” His eyes meet mine. I’ve never been so sorry in my life. I don’t even know why this is such a big deal, but it is. That much I understand.
    â€œI’m so sorry, Dad.”
    The Secretary clears his throat. “That’s unfortunate, but she knows too much.”
    â€œWe all know too much.” My aunt takes a step forward, arms on hips. A flitter of hope rises in my belly.
    â€œBut you work here. You sign a nondisclosure agreement that says you sacrifice your freedom if you divulge anything. Locked in maximum security forever,” the Secretary says in a tone that portrays his desire for this to be over.
    â€œLyra does too,” Dad explains in a calm voice, looking everywhere in the room but at the Secretary. “She’s our newest intern.”
    â€œAs of when?”
    My father’s eyes fly up at Morgan’s question.
    â€œRight now.” Dad’s gaze meets mine and he takes in a big breath. “Or I quit.”

Chapter Eight
    â€œDo they hurt?” Dad asks, gesturing to the cuts and bruises around my wrists, the ones I keep mindlessly circling as I pretend to watch TV.
    â€œA little,” I mumble and look up at him sitting on the couch. “My eye is worse.” That security guard had a really strong fist.
    We didn’t talk the whole way home. Dad announced he was taking a half-day, as if he had a cold he was going to try to get over. But before we left the building he rushed me to HR to sign the paperwork to be SEAD’s newest intern.
    As I signed on the dotted line my father explained that only those who worked for SEAD, or within the government, could know the details about the projects. The contract bound the employee to secrecy and sentenced you to life in prison if that confidentiality was broken. It was the only way to save me from what I had done.
    Considering my dream was to work there someday, you’d think I’d be more excited.
    To be completely honest, I’m surprised it worked.
    My dad threatening to quit surprised everyone, really. Dad assured me they could never continue his projects without him. He was too valuable.
    â€œI’m really sorry, Dad,” the words tumble out and fresh tears form in my eyes. “I’m really sorry.”
    â€œCome here, kiddo.” He gestures to the spot on the couch and I curl into his shoulder, rest my hand on his stomach. I haven’t been here since… God, I’m not sure I’ve ever been here, tucked into his side. I give him a squeeze, which gets him talking again.
    â€œAfter you overheard my conversation with the Secretary that night, I knew we were in trouble.” He’s silent for a few seconds and then says, “I knew you wouldn’t listen.”
    The knife of guilt gets pushed deeper.
    â€œI just had to know why you were so…scared,” I say into his stomach.
    â€œI was scared because I saw the look