When I’d received the email from Greyson, I’d been scared. I hadn’t expected the letter to work or to scare them. How could a letter scare men as powerful as they were? I stood in the shadows, waiting, watching. I couldn’t keep my eyes off Greyson. He looked so handsome, so dignified. I understood why someone could love him so much. I understood why someone could lose her head over him. He was that kind of man, had that kind of charisma and character.
I was about to step out of the alleyway and go and join them when my phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Don’t meet them,” she hissed into the phone at me. “You need to leave.”
“What? Why?”
“Just leave. Now is not the time to reveal yourself.”
“But I thought this is what we want.”
“It’s not enough.” Her voice was angry. “They need to pay.”
“I thought my coming out and telling the world I was his daughter was enough? It would destroy his relationship and the backlash to everything that went on would ruin their lives? I thought that’s what you wanted?” I spoke quietly, my eyes never leaving the table. I wanted to go over and speak to him. I wanted to say hello.
“That’s not enough.” She shook her head. “He didn’t care then and he won’t care now. There needs to be a greater retribution.”
“I don’t understand.”
“They did more than take our kids from us. They are murderers. They made people murderers.”
“What?” My heart dropped at her words. I didn’t understand what she was saying.
“When everything is taken from you, you are left with nothing.”
“You have me now,” I whispered, scared and unsure. None of this was feeling right anymore.
“They have to pay,” she spoke into the phone, but I could tell her mind wasn’t with it. “They will pay.” She hung up then and I stood there for a few minutes with tears streaming down my face.
I had to listen to her. She was the one who had told me the truth. I watched as the two men waited for me, both of them looking stressed. I ran my hands across my temple and then walked back down the alleyway, my stomach feeling empty. Today was not going to be the day I revealed myself to my father. I felt incredibly sad and relieved at the same time.
Part III
Two Weeks Later
Chapter 6
Greyson
“Do you have all your stuff packed up?” I pulled Meg towards me and she laughed. “Do you find my kisses funny now?”
“No.” She leaned up and kissed me. “I just think your question is funny. I don’t have much here, so there’s not much to pack up.”
“I didn’t even think about that.” My hands found their way to her butt cheeks and squeezed. “I forgot you only came with a small bag.”
“You mean you haven’t noticed I’ve been wearing the same three outfits?” She laughed at me and made a face.
“To be honest, I don’t really care about the clothes you’re wearing.”
“Greyson.” She pushed herself against me. “I swear all you think about is sex.”
“Well, of course that’s not true.” My hand made its way up to her breast. “I think about other things as well.”
“Uh huh,” she moaned against my lips as I pinched her nipple. I kissed down her neck and made my way to her breast, biting down and sucking on her flesh. “Greyson,” she murmured as I kissed her.
“Yes?” I muttered, my mind focused on taking her nipple in my mouth.
“Why are we going to Brandon’s house?” She ran her hands through my hair and I continued kissing her, even though warning bells were going off in my brain.
“I told you why.” I looked up at her. “I want us to get a place together.” That wasn’t a lie. I did want us to get a place together.
“Why can’t we just stay at my apartment? Why do we have to go to Brandon’s?”
“I just thought it would be fun. I know Katie has been missing you.” I looked away from her then. That wasn’t the complete truth.
We were going to stay at Brandon’s because he lived in a safe environment and had hired security. I didn’t want to tell Meg that though since I hadn’t told her about the death threat Brandon and I had received. I flinched as I remembered the note and the single bullet I’d found on my desk the day before. The note had been simple and brief:
To the founders of the private club,
A life for a life? Who do you love?
“What are you thinking about?” Meg’s voice was soft as she reached up and tilted my face to look at her.