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My breathing is thin and ragged, my chest rattling with every shaky breath I take. I wring my hands together, trying to keep my features deceptively composed, but I know I’m shaking too much to fool my father.
Law School?
That doesn’t make any sense. Why would he want me to pursue a career in law? Didn’t he want me to study politics instead?
“I’ll make sure you work directly under Benjamin Hale. And it won’t be too difficult with you being Grayson’s girlfriend. Once you get into his inner circle, it might just be my ticket to winning the Presidential Election one day.”
Oh…
It finally clicks to me.
Everything he does, every choice he makes for me is to further his career in politics. I am only ever useful to him if I help him accomplish his selfish, greedy ambitions.
His phone rings, briefly diverting his attention. He checks the Caller ID and then declines the call. “Get out,” he spits, “and make sure that Lila deletes every single photo she has taken. Don’t disappoint me, Riley. And most importantly, don’t fuck with me. You won’t like the consequences. I promise you…you will regret the day you ever defy me like this again. Get out of my sight now.”
I turn on my heels and run.
Lila is waiting for me outside the gates, leaning against Maddox’s black Bugatti. Her arms are crossed, a troubled expression on her face. I trip over my feet in my haste to get to her. “Delete those photos,” I demand, panic bleeding into my words until my voice is unrecognizable to my own ears. “You should have never taken them in the first place. What were you thinking?”
She scowls. “I was trying to help. Your father is an abusive jerk!”
She still doesn’t understand the danger she’s put herself in by threatening Thomas Johnson with evidence that could possibly ruin my father and his whole career. Does Lila not realize that the wealthy, high-society consists of filthy, corrupted people? “You had no right!” I cry, my heart rattling in dark terror. “You took those photos without my permission!”
From the corner of my eyes, I see Maddox taking a step toward us, his mouth opening to defend Lila, but I shake my head. “Don’t,” I warn Maddox. “This is between me and her.”
I swallow dryly, licking my lips before speaking again. “You shouldn’t have taken those photos. You don’t even realize what you’ve done, Lila.”
“I’m not scared of him,” she hisses angrily.
“Please, just…delete them. He’s letting me go to Harvard. Your threats worked, but delete those photos now.”
Lila is silent for a minute, her eyes searching mine. My chin wobbles and I hold in my tears. “Please, Lila.”
Finally, I see the moment she relents. Lila takes the phone out of her pocket, her thumb pausing over the screen. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. Delete all of them. And promise me you won’t do this again. You can’t confront my father like this ever again, do you understand? Promise me, Lila.”
She nods mutely, still scowling as she deletes the folder on her phone. “There, all gone.” She pockets her phone, her brows furrowing in concern. “Now, calm down. I deleted them, we’re going to Harvard. Everything is going to be okay.”
Lila reaches for my hand, entwining our fingers together and giving me a gentle squeeze. “Riley, breathe.”
“Okay,” I choke out. Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale.
Lila brings out a piece of mint gum from her pocket, taking the wrapper off before handing it to me. I shove it in my mouth, chewing. Slowly, my tense muscles loosen and the fist squeezing my lungs releases its tight grip on me. My ragged breathing slows down until my thoughts are no longer muddled. The awful, frantic terror slowly eases into a dull pain in my chest.
When Lila sees that I’m noticeably calmer, she gives my hand another squeeze. “Let’s go.” She opens the door for me, and I get into the back seat.
“Can you drop me off at Grayson’s?” I ask, my voice shaking with emotion.
Maddox nods as Lila gets in the front seat. He pulls out of the driveaway and my quiet sniffles fill the silence among us. Through blurry vision, I see Maddox reaching out and his hand grips Lila’s thigh. Almost in a comforting manner. Protective.
My chest shudders with realization.
In a moment of mindless panic, I had forgotten about Maddox Coulter and his undeniable adoration for my best friend. While my father can make Lila disappear if he wants to, Maddox will burn the whole world down to find her.
He will protect her…when I can’t, because I am powerless to do so.
Our eyes meet in the rearview mirror, the expression on her face concerned. I send her a tight smile, mouthing, I’m okay.
