"Don't speak for me, Barnes," I reply, crossing my arms over my chest. "You can ask the plain and simple question and get the answer; I get no benefit out of lying to you about this. He's my son. And that's not going to change regardless of what mistakes I've made in the past. The only question is whether my presence is wanted and beneficial at this point."

My fingers rest under my chin. "Going in with knowledge precludes the idea of this being at all the same if repeated. If that man was being held at gunpoint by Jason again, I would still try to stop him. But my aim would be better. I would have hit the gun and the gun alone."