Every Little Dream(18)
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He chuckles. “I know you have this paranoia that I follow you around. Really. I have more important things to do than follow my teenage miscreant son around.”
The anger drives up through my chest. “You know who I’m talking about. Your little threatening act almost went too far.”
A silence settles over the room. His growing rage is palpable, but he’ll never let it show. Something I was never able to master. “If a little friend of yours got in trouble, did you ever think it might be her association with you? The group you choose to hang around with.”
If Dad had nothing to do with it, and this guy’s not part of my crowd, then it’s coincidence that he’s tailing Katie. That scares me even more because there’s no one I can call to intervene.
“But, if you need help in any area all you have to do is ask.”
The tight grip loosens. The almighty has decided it’s the appropriate dramatic moment to let me go. Give me a chance to talk without staring at his shoes. The point is not lost on me. It never is. And he knows it.
Slowly, I get to my feet, refusing to show the pain or rub my arms, which tingle back to life. He says nothing. Waiting for me to ask. I suck it up. For her.
“I’m ready to accept your offer. See where it goes. But if you let anyone lay a fucking hand on her, I’ll kill you myself.”
A second later, I’m back on the floor. My chest hits hard enough that my breath gasps out. I can’t fight it again. This time I know he won’t let me up. Pressure builds behind my eyes. I refuse to show weakness in front of him.
“I thought you’d see reason in your life.”
What he means to say is that I’d see life his way. I still struggle to find my breath.
He clears his throat and moves behind his desk. “Your decision to intern with this law office comes at a most opportune time. I’m in the middle of a case that needs a light touch. That needs someone with your qualifications.”
Understanding sinks in. It’s no coincidence that he put the squeeze on me and used money to do it. He had me in mind for this job the whole time. It was never about me. But always about him. What he wants. What he needs. A small part of me dies, gives up. And a tiny voice whispers that that will never change. He’ll never change.
He doesn’t let me up. But the guy loosens his vice-like grip. Probably because he feels bad for me. My father states the facts. What he needs me to do. Where he needs me to go. That I’m to stay away from the office. We’re only to communicate through texts, which will be immediately deleted. That my living situation is taken care of. That he paid off Jimmy so nothing will look suspicious if I suddenly moved to my father’s home.
“Is everything understood, Chadwick?”
The grip loosens again. This time, my father helps me to my feet. He straightens my sleeves and brushes the lint from the front of my coat. “Make me proud, son.”
I’m at the entrance, about to leave his office, wondering why the hell I signed up for this. All it takes is remembering Katie’s innocent smile and the joy that shines from her eyes to know why. For some reason this same guy I need to tail has noticed Katie.
“And don’t worry about your little girlfriend. She’ll be safe.”
I leave the office, barely holding back my fury. I drive through the streets, pushing the speed limits, rounding corners so low to the ground my knees skim the pavement. When the rage fades, I find myself back near the ocean, back near the Inn and Katie. I just need to see her, make sure she’s okay and accept her proposition. It’s the only way to know she’s safe.
I park down the street and walk toward the Inn. She’ll probably never want to see me again after this morning. And she shouldn’t. From the side, I stare through the glass into the restaurant. It’s packed. I recognize the one girl who’s doing about fifty jobs at the same time. But I don’t see any flashes of blonde hair. I don’t see my angel.
The waitress looks right at me. Shit. I walk away.
“Hey!” I slow and turn back. “Are you Katie’s friend?” she asks, her head poked out the front door.
“Yeah.” Suddenly I feel ashamed, unworthy of Katie.
The waitress points to the back of the restaurant and the swinging doors that must lead to the kitchen. “Stairs on the right, first bedroom on the left. You’re welcome.” She holds the door, waiting for me to accept her invitation.
Chapter 5
Katie
I sit in my room, absolutely flabbergasted. The stacks of money are more than I’ve ever seen in one spot in my life. I flip through the bills, and not tens or twenties. It must be close to one hundred big ones. These guys were serious. All they want me to do is stick with Chad? Encourage him to finish his internship? There must be more to it.