Chapter Twenty-Five

"Your boss lied to cover up what he was doing?"

"He couldn't tell people the real reason he fired me. So he made up a story."

"But that story ruined your career. Your reputation." I pause. "Your marriage."

"My drinking ended my marriage, but as for my career and reputation? Yes. The fake story destroyed all that."

"Why did you let them do that to you?"

He puts his hand on my shoulder. "Because of you, honey. And your mom. I had to protect you. Both of you."

"You should've told someone. You shouldn't have let him get away with it."

"I had no choice. I couldn't put you or your mom at risk. My boss was working with some very powerful people. If I opened my mouth and said something, they might have done something to you or your mom. Kate, I'm telling you this because I need you to understand that you're putting yourself at risk by being with Gavin and being around his family. I didn't consider this before because I didn't think Niles would be involved with them. He didn't come from money like the rest of them."

"Who are you talking about?"

"The elite. The ultra-rich. The people who are able to use their money to make things happen."

"Make what happen? I don't understand."

"The power to cover things up. Do what they want and get away with it. Like Niles knocking that man unconscious and not getting charged. I used to see things like that all the time when I worked on the force. My boss had connections with some very wealthy, very powerful people. Businessmen. Politicians. He did them favors. Covered up things they should've been arrested for. And it was always the same people, like they had their own little group. A group of rich powerful men who could get away with most anything."

"But you don't know if Niles is part of that."

"At this point, yes, this could all just be a theory, but when you said that man disappeared after Niles hit him and it never got reported, that tells me there's more to the story than what you saw."

Thinking back to that night I remember something Niles said. Something about how I was in the middle of something big. Something larger than even Niles could imagine if he hadn't seen it for himself. I can't remember his exact words but it sounded kind of like what my dad is talking about. People with power can do things like...get rid of a body.

What if that's what happened? What if Niles is working with people who know what he did and covered it up? Who are these people and why would they do that? Do they know I saw what happened that night? If so, what are they going to do to me?

What have I gotten myself into? I can't be part of this!

I love Gavin. I thought we'd have a future together. I'd imagined it in my head. But that was before I knew all this.

Knowing his father is a killer is bad enough. But if Niles is connected with people who do things that are just as bad, and have the power to get away with it, then how can I stay with Gavin?

Why doesn't he know about this? How could he grow up around his father and not know this? Or is this all new? Maybe Niles didn't get involved in whatever this is until he decided to run for the Senate.

"I don't know what to do," I say, staring down at the floor.

"You have to get away from this."

I look up at my dad. "But we don't know what 'this' is?"

"I know enough that I know to stay away from it."

"But what does that mean?"

"It means that when you see things that don't add up, or things that should go punished and aren't, you get as far away as you can. I can't explain everything I saw when I worked on the force but I knew what I saw was wrong. So when they fired me, I was actually relieved. I didn't want any part of whatever it was that was going on."

"You never figured out what they were doing?"

"No. From the day I left the force, I never asked another question. I left it alone. Never investigated it. I just let it be. If I hadn't, I doubt I'd be alive right now."

I suck in a breath. "Are you serious? You think they would've..." I can't say it.

"Killed me? Yes. I do. Which is why I don't want you around those people. And why I hate that you're doing that catering job. Working for the ultra-rich. I don't trust them, Kate. That's why I—" He stops and takes a breath.

"That's why you what?"

He sighs. "I didn't want to tell you this but...about a month ago I hired a man to let the air out of your tire so you couldn't get to work."

"You're the one who did that? But why?"

"Your mother told me how strict Carol is about her employees missing work so I thought maybe if you didn't show up that night, Carol would fire you."

"You wanted me to lose my job?"

"I don't want you working around those people. I don't think it's safe. There are other jobs, Kate. Ones that don't put you in danger."

"You shouldn't have done that," I say in a curt tone. "If you were worried, you could've just talked to me about it."

"You wouldn't have believed me. You only do now because you saw what Niles is capable of. You saw that these rich people aren't as perfect as they appear. And if I'm right and Niles is involved with powerful men who can cover things up, then you need to stay away from his son. This can't wait. You need to end things with Gavin as soon as possible."

"But Gavin's not part of it. He has no idea what's going on with his dad."

"Are you sure about that?"

"He didn't act like it when I—" I stop, not wanting to tell him what I did.

"When you what?" 

I sigh and go sit on the couch. "I might've accidentally told Gavin his dad killed a guy."

My dad hurries over to me. "Killed? I thought you said—"

I shake my head really fast. "I was drunk. I didn't know what I was saying."

"Why would you say 'killed'?"

"It was just drunk rambling. I didn't mean it. I was confused."

My dad eyes me suspiciously. "What did Gavin say when you told him this?"

"He thought I made it up. Then he was mad that I would make up something like that. He obviously doesn't know what his dad's involved in, and I know for a fact he doesn't believe his dad would ever hurt anyone. He thinks his dad doesn't even own a gun."

"Does he?"

"Um...I don't know." I hesitated. Shit. That's a sure sign I'm lying.

My dad stands in front of me, his arms crossed. "He owns a gun and he shot that man."

I look away. "I never said that."

"You didn't have to. It's the things we don't say that give away the truth. Niles didn't hit that man. He killed him."

I shoot up from the couch. "He didn't kill him. I swear. He punched him, just like I said."

"Why did you come here, Kate?"

"Because you're hurt. I wanted to make sure you're okay."

"And because you needed to tell someone this. You've always had a hard time keeping a secret, and this is the biggest secret you've ever had to keep. You knew if you came here, I'd get the truth out of you without you even having to tell me."

Is that really what I did? If so, that wasn't my plan. It must've been my guilt eating away at me.

"That's not why I came here. And you're wrong about—"

"Stop." He grips my shoulders. "Stop trying to cover it up. Does anyone know that you saw?"

My dad already knows this much of the story. He might as well know it all.

"Niles," I say.

"Shit," he mutters, rubbing his head as he walks away from me. "Anyone else?"

"No. Unless Niles told someone."

"Have they threatened you?" He stares out the window, his back to me, and I wonder if he's doing it because he thinks I'll tell him more if he's not looking at me.

"Niles said he would do something..." I swallow. "To you."

My dad turns around. "Why me?"

"Because he..." I look down. "He knows how much I love my dad." A tear slips down my face.

"Honey." He comes up to me and wraps me in a hug.

"Dad, I'm afraid."

"Don't be afraid. I'd never let him do anything to you."

I pull back. "I'm afraid for you. I'm afraid he'll hurt you."

"He's not gonna hurt me."

"He already tried. I think he's the one who blew up your shed."

He steps back and gets out his phone.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"Seeing if the shed wasn't an accident." He calls someone. "Yeah, it's Craig. I want you to run some tests on the debris." He listens. "I don't know, but it's better to be safe than sorry." He nods. "Yeah. Stop over tomorrow morning. I'll have the samples ready." He ends the call.

"What if we find out he did this? What do we do?"

"Running these tests won't prove that he did it. It'll just tell us if this was intentional or an accident." He puts his phone in his pocket. "How much time can you take off from work?"

"Not much. Why?"

"I want you to stay here."

"For how long?"

"As long as it takes you to not be tempted to get back with Gavin. And long enough that Niles knows you aren't a threat."

"That could take months. Or longer. And as for Gavin, I don't want to break up with him." I pause. "I love him."

"I know you do but you'll find someone else. Someone who isn't involved in this."

"But Gavin's not involved in it. He doesn't even know about it."

My phone rings and when I check it, I see it's Gavin.

I hold my phone up. "He must've known we were talking about him."

"I'll give you some privacy," my dad says.

"I'll just go to my room." I answer the phone as I walk down the hall. "Hey, sorry I didn't call. I was talking to my dad."

"How's he doing?"

"He seems to be okay but his arm is all bandaged up. He has to change the bandage every day and can't do it himself so I'm going to stay here for a while."

It's a good enough excuse for now. I can't avoid Gavin forever but this will at least buy me some time until I figure out what to do.

"How long's a while?" he asks.

"I'm not sure yet. We'll see how it goes."

"Can I come there and see you? I could drive up tonight. My study group decided not to meet so I'm free."

"I don't think that's a good idea. My dad's kind of cranky with his arm hurting. I don't think he wants visitors."

"Actually, never mind. I just got a text saying the study group is back on." He pauses. "But it looks like it'll only be me and one other person."

"Who else will be there?"

He sighs. "Jacklyn. She just sent me a text. Says she can meet at seven."

Despite how much it hurts to know he'll be spending time with her tonight, maybe it's for the best. If he has someone else, he won't be as upset when I break up with him. IF I break up with him. But I have to. I have no choice. Being with him means putting myself and my family at risk and I can't do that.

"You're mad," he says.

"I'm not mad."

"Then why are you so quiet?"

"I didn't mean to be. I'm just—"

"I don't have to meet with her. I'll tell her we should wait and meet when everyone else can."

"Just go ahead and meet. I'm sure you guys have work to do."

"We do. We're way behind, but I don't feel right about this. You saw how she was flirting with me."

"It's not like she can force herself on you. You're twice her size. If she tries anything, just get up and walk away."

"You're right. Besides, she knows how much I love you. She knows I'd never break up with you. I want to be with you forever."

My heart aches hearing him say it. I love him so much. And he loves me back, which no other guy ever has.

Why did this have to happen? Why did I have to see Niles shoot that man? If I'd never seen that, I'd be continuing on with my life. Dating Gavin. Planning our future.

"I'm really tired from the drive," I tell Gavin. "Could we talk tomorrow?"

"We just got on the phone."

"I know. I'm sorry, but I can barely stay awake."

"Then I'll call you first thing tomorrow."

"Sounds good."

"I miss you, Kate."

"I miss you too."

"I love you." He pauses. "I love you so much."

I swallow past the lump in my throat. "I love you too."

Later that night as I'm lying in bed, I practice how to tell Gavin it's over. I keep thinking there has to be a way to say it that will make it easier. But no matter how I say it, it's going to hurt. I haven't even said the words and my heart is already breaking.

When Gavin calls the next morning, I don't answer. I text him that I'm having breakfast with my dad and will call him later.

After breakfast, I get up from the table and put my dishes in the sink.

"I need to go into the office this morning," my dad says. "I have to take care of some things. Shouldn't take more than an hour or two and then I'll come home."

"I won't be here."

"Where are you going?"

"Back to my apartment to pack some more stuff. I only brought enough for a day." I turn away from the sink and face my dad, who's still sitting at the table. "I'm gonna tell him."

I already feel the tears forming. How am I going to do this? I'll start crying before I can even get the words out.

"You're ending things with Gavin?"

I nod, squeezing my eyes shut to stop the tears but I feel them sliding down my cheeks.

I hear the chair scrape against the floor as my dad gets up. Then I feel his arms around me. "Honey, I'm sorry."

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

"I know you don't. And I know you may not want to hear this right now, but someday down the road, I promise you, you will find someone else."

"I don't want anyone else. I want Gavin. I love him." I pull away and wipe my face. "Is there any way to fix this? Like what if I just pretended it never happened?"

"You can't change what you saw. And the fact that Niles knows you saw him that night means he'll always be threatening you to keep quiet. You'll never be able to prove what you saw so he knows you have no power over him. He's the one in control and he'll use that against you. You can't live that way, Kate. As long as Niles is in your life, he'll always be trying to control you, and if you ever step out of line, chances are he'll come after your mother or me to punish you."

"I know," I say quietly. "Which is why I have to do this."

As I walk away, I hear him talking. "Honey, I'm sorry. I know you're hurting."

I nod, and continue on to my bedroom.

Back at my apartment, I pack up some clothes and leave Megan a note that I'll be spending the week with my dad. At this point, I don't know if it'll be a week or more than that, but for now I'm planning on a week.

At ten-thirty, I go to Moorhurst. Gavin doesn't have class until eleven. That gives me a half hour to tell him, but I don't need that long. This needs to be fast or I'll never get through it.

I knock on his door, my heart beating out of my chest like it's telling me not to do this. To turn back and think about it some more. But if I do that, I'll have to keep pretending. I'll have to keep lying to Gavin. And I can't do that to him.

"Hey." He answers the door with a huge smile. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you." I already sound nervous, my voice weak and breathy. "Can I come in?"

"Can I get a kiss first?"

I reach up and give him a kiss then realize that might be the last kiss I ever give him. I feel tears forming but I choke them back and hurry past him into his room.

"You in a hurry?" he asks.

"Yeah, I have to get back to my dad."

"I thought you said he's doing okay."

"He is, but I told him I wouldn't be here long."

"How long can you stay? I can skip my next class. We could have lunch." He smiles and wraps his arms around my waist. "Or do other things." He leans down and kisses me. "I love you."

I don't say it back. I can't.

I gently push him away and go stand by the window. "I have to talk to you."

"About what?" His tone is serious. He knows something's wrong.

"I need to..." The words get stuck in my throat. I memorized what I was going to say but now I can't remember any of it.

He walks over to me. "You need to what?"

Keeping my head down, I say, "We can't keep seeing each other."

"What do you mean? Like while you're helping your dad?"

"No. At all. We can't do this anymore."

"Kate, what the hell? Are you breaking up with me?"

I nod, tears falling down my cheeks.

"Why?" I hear the hurt in his voice and it nearly kills me.

"We're too different. We grew up differently. We come from different backgrounds. It would never work."

"It already has worked. You and I are great together."

"It's always great in the beginning. And then reality hits and things change." My throat is burning as I force myself not to cry. If I do, he'll know I don't want this. He'll know it's all fake. "I wanted us to be together. I really did. But it just won't work."

"How long have you felt this way?"

"Ever since we started talking about the future. I couldn't see it, Gavin. I couldn't see us having a life together." It's true, but only since I saw his dad kill that man. Before that, I could definitely see a future with Gavin. It's what I wanted. It's what we both wanted.

"No." Gavin walks away from me. "We're not doing this. We're not breaking up."

"Gavin, I'm sorry...but it's over."

He storms back to me. "It's not over. Why would you even say that? Nothing has happened to cause this. You wanted a future with me. We talked about it. You were excited about it."

"I know, but when I really thought about it, I realized it would never work. We're just too different."

He shakes his head. "This doesn't make sense. None of this makes sense."

Tears are threatening to fall. If I don't get out of here soon, I'm going to break down.

"I have to go." I try to get around him but he catches me around the waist.

"Kate, no. You can't go. We have to talk about this."

"There's nothing more to say." I yank away from him, tears now running down my face. I bolt out the door before he can stop me.

"Kate!" I hear him behind me and I take off, racing down the stairs and out to the parking lot. When I reach my car, I get inside and take off. I look back in my mirror and see Gavin standing there, watching me leave.

As I drive down the road that takes me out of town, tears cloud my vision and I'm forced to pull over. I turn the car off and sob into my hands, my body shaking.

I did it. It's over. But I already want him back.