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My father and Matthew’s were basically enemies. He never told me.
Bennett Andrews and John McClaren, the two senators representing Virginia. Two senators who were like oil and water.
Did I trust Matthew? With my life.
Did I trust John McClaren? Not one chance in hell.
Did Matthew trust me? Not enough.
It blew my mind that two people could be so different but also irrevocably intertwined. Matthew Prism and John McClaren. Father and son.
“I think we should take a step back. Everyone should go,” my father told the room.
“I’m sorry, Senator, but it doesn’t work that way.” Detective Paul interrupted. “Your son and his friend have been arrested.”
“And I’m pressing charges against the other one!” Niles was sure to remind the room.
What a fucking tool. If I disliked him before, I outright hated him now.
“The charges are bullshit,” Dad intoned. “I’m not sure of everything right now, but of that, I am.” He turned toward Elite. “Take your friend and go. I’ll stay behind with my lawyer and son and work this out.”
Detective Paul opened his mouth, but my father shot him a hard look. “I’m not in the mood for an argument. My authority outranks yours.”
I glanced toward Matthew, expecting him to protest. He’d been so adamant about not leaving here without me. Loyal even when it cost him.
The thought was a hefty punch to the gut. Everything he endured tonight was because he hadn’t wanted to abandon me.
I have no right to my anger.
“Prism.” Kruger’s concerned voice made me look up.
Matthew was hunched in on himself, struggling to breathe.
“You’re all right, P. Just breathe,” Kruger told him, laying a hand on his shoulder.
Jess rushed toward them, arms reaching for her brother while her eyes found me across the room.
He needs you.
Nothing else mattered in that moment. Not our fathers. Not my misplaced anger.
All that truly mattered to me was him.
27
Prism
He didn’t believe me.
It didn’t matter that I knew I hadn’t done what was accused. My body didn’t get the memo. My nervous system was already malfunctioning, mind overruled. My heart pumped rapidly, adrenaline flooding my limbs so fast it was hard to stay still. I focused on my breathing, on trying to slow it down while staring at my feet, sight blinded by the voracious ringing between my ears. The ASMR Arsen had turned on earlier had since gone quiet, and I reached for the buds in my ears, trying to push them deeper into my ear canals, trying to drown out all the noise.
There was no blocking it out, though, because it was coming from within.
I let out a gruff shout, the pressure in my chest building to unbearable. A vise locked around me, and my biceps strained as I struggled to get free. Feet scuffled.
The low rumble of voices was no match for everything else.
My back collided with a rough, unforgiving surface, and the jacket snagged as I shoved off, only to be forced back.
