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Though, thinking of the time when heaccidentallyfound me in one of the conference rooms alone, locked the door, and made me come with his fingers, it’s hard not to think that’s the only reason he finds my work helpful.
“I’m just thinking about the big test I have coming up,” Eve says, pulling me out of my thoughts.
Her eyes dart away from mine, and that sinking feeling in my stomach deepens.
“Eve, you know you can talk to me about anything. There’s nothing you could tell me that would make me love you any less than I already do. It’s just not possible.” I squeeze her shoulders.
“I know that.” Despite her words, she begins fidgeting from one foot to the other. “I’m tired, Aunt Ry. But I should probably study before I get to bed.”
“Ladybug, tomorrow’s Monday. Worry about school then.”
She’s shaking her head before I can get the full comment out of my mouth.
“I want to make you proud.”
I kiss the top of her head. “You already have. Anything else you do or accomplish is just icing on the cake.”
Her face wrinkles as she grins. “I love you, Aunt Ry.”
She throws her arms around my waist, and I hold her tight to me.
I don’t want to leave her.
“Let me help you carry your bag up.”
“No,” Eve bursts out. “It’s fine. I got it. You know I don’t like good-byes either,” she adds in a hurried tone.
“But—” My phone beeps. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t pay it any mind because I’m with my Ladybug, but the dread that’s been nothing more than a nuisance in the pit of my belly for the past six days grows.
“One sec.” I hold up my finger and pull out my cell. It’s a text from Charlotte.
Charlotte:Have you seen this?
In the text she’s included a link to an article from theWilliamsport Daily.
“Are the Townsends What They Seem?” The headline reads.
My stomach bottoms out because I just know this is somehow connected to Dean Walsh, and the information I passed over to him.
I skim the article.
“Sources say that for years, the Townsend family has manipulated, bribed, bullied, and possibly even committed crimes to expand their billion-dollar empire,” I mumble as I read.
“I’m going to head to my dorm room. Bye, Aunt Ry.”
I peer up to see Eve starting to walk away.
“Hey, wait,” I call out, stopping her. I shove my phone into my pocket. I’ll have to take care of that later. “Let me help you.” I try to take the backpack she brought for our weekend trip, but she holds it firmly.
“No, it’s okay.”
We’re in a brief standoff, and I start to wonder what’s going on with her. In my peripheral, I hear the door of the building open up. I keep my attention on my niece.
As I start to demand she tell me what’s going on, a woman calls my name.
“Ms. Martin?”
I recognize it as the Eve’s dorm leader, Scarlett Winters. When I break eye contact with Eve, she uses it as an opportunity to get away.
