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And I know. Brendan Farrington has me on a hook where he calls all the shots. Wriggle as I might, I have no choice but to play by his rule.
“What?” I ask wearily.
“Leave Henderson. Now.”
“Leave?” Leave Bree?
“You have two hours. The jet is waiting to take you to Houston.”
Wow. Is it even blackmail if you played right into the trap? Why did Bobby have to do this?
“You are not to meet with that girl or go anywhere near her family,” my father continues. “If I so much as get a whiff of you being sighted anywhere near Henderson in the coming months, I will make that man and his entire family pay for dragging our family’s name in the mud.”
I believe him.
“You may not care about anyone apart from yourself and this so-called fling, but you’re not the only one who bears the Farrington name. It’s been scandal-free for more than a hundred years and by God, I will make sure that as long as I live it continues to have its impeccable reputation.”
I take a deep breath. I want to call his bluff. He can’t be serious about this.
“Look. Father, I get that—" I begin.
“Open your mouth to defy or question me and the slut’s thieving father rots in prison.” His eyes are like shards of ice.
I shut my mouth, helpless rage and hatred roiling inside me.
“I didn’t think so. Get out of my sight.”
I need to speak to Bree but I can’t take the risk of going to her school. She’s also in the middle of her final exams.
Although she didn’t want it, I insisted on giving her space to be able to focus on her finals, promising to make it up to her, so I had only seen her once in the past one and a half weeks.
Neither Drew nor Maria pick up their calls.
I had no choice but to take the waiting jet out of Henderson, believing Father would keep up his end of the deal and get Bobby released if I hold up mine.
I finally get hold of Bree late in the evening after I’d been out of my mind with worry.
“Bree?”
“Jordan.” She hiccups.
“Baby. You’ve been crying.” My heart twists. “I’m here okay, it’s going to be alright.”
“I don’t know how it happened but I swear daddy didn’t do it. There must have been a mistake. Jordan you have to believe me.”
I can’t believe he would do such a thing either. But how can I tell her there’s irrefutable evidence? That the police have his confession on tape? And that his only hope is the mercy of my father, which has come at an impossibly steep price?
“I believe you love,” I say instead.
She starts crying afresh. “Mom is in pieces about this. Jordan can you maybe help him? Do you think if you spoke to your dad...? The news says there’s evidence he really did it but that’s got to be a lie.”
“Listen baby, I’ve spoken to my father already, and he’s promised to look into it. It’ll all be okay.”
She sniffles. “Oh, I hope so. I really do. Jordan. I....Um.” She stutters.
“What do you need baby?” I already know, because I need the same thing. Badly.
“Can I see you? I know we agreed to wait until after exams but my head is scrambled now. I don’t even think I can do tomorrow’s paper. I—just come and get me. Please.”
