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THEO
It takes every ounce of strength I have to hold my hand steady and not show the entire room that I’m trembling. That the prospect of what’s about to happen isn’t rocking my entire foundation until it barely holds me up.
I’m doing the right thing, I know I am. But it’s still fucking terrifying.
His hand squeezes my shoulder a little too tightly.I know why. It’s because of that exchange with Raine in the hallway.
He fucking went after her.
I suspected he would, that her cover as Elliot’s date wouldn’t work. Anthony Ashworth sees and hears everything. There isn’t anything I’ve ever done he hasn’t known about and then ripped me a new one for. But I was also confident that Raine would be able to hold her own. She’s proven time and time again that she can go up against all of us, I had no doubt that would extend to my cunt of a father.
Power and position in this town means nothing to her. And I know that after seeing the evidence of him raising a hand to Millie, he really means nothing to her.
Lifting the mic to my lips, I inhale a deep breath and find her in the crowd.The second our eyes connect, something settles inside me. It doesn’t matter that her face is wrought with worry over what’s about to happen. She’s here. She’s with me and I know she’ll follow through on her promise of picking Millie up when the shit hits the fan.
“Thanks, Dad, for that glowing reference. And for this,” I say, gesturing to the room. “I’m so grateful that you managed to squeeze in a table at the back for my friends while the rest of the room is full of yours.”
An awkward chuckle fills the air while Dad bristles beside me.
Almost every other day of my life, I’ve pandered to his needs. Done anything I can so as not to light the very short fuse he walks around with.
But not today.
Today I’m going to light that motherfucker up and watch him implode.
“And you’re right,” I continue, my eyes shifting to Millie. “Mills and I have had it hard. Losing Mum at such a young age greatly impacted our lives. I’m sure it’s something we’ll never forget.
“I guess we should be grateful we were left with our one remaining parent, right?”
Maria’s spine straightens, her eyes narrowing on me. Nervous energy and fear radiate from her. I give her a very slight nod, letting her know that I know what I’m doing, that everything is going to be okay, before continuing.
“But I can speak for both of us when I honestly say that we’re not.”
The gasp that comes from the crowd, as I say that is large enough to suck all the air out of the room.
“Theodore,” Dad hisses angrily, but I ignore him. The time for abiding by his rules is over.
“Because the man we were left with hasn’t been the kind of father I would wish on anyone.” Dad lunges at me, attempting to steal the mic, but I’m faster. “I won’t go into all the reasons right now. There is just one I want to share with you all.”
A door at the back of the room is cracked open, letting me know that everyone is in place. Thank fuck because if they weren’t, this entire room might be witness to something they really never would forget.
“All of you know Anthony Ashworth as a distinguished lawyer, an upstanding citizen, and a generous philanthropist.”
Suddenly, a whole host of police officers surge into the room and my heart pounds faster than I swear it ever has in my life. I find Raine. Her face is pale, her eyes wide in shock as she shifts to the edge of her seat, ready to run. But her eyes aren’t on me.
They’re on Millie, just as I knew they would be.
“But it’s all a cover,” I state firmly. “Anthony Ashworth is nothing but an abusive, corrupt murderer.”
There is a beat of pure silence before the entire room erupts in chaos.
I catch sight of Raine darting toward Millie before my father grabs me and hauls me across the stage.
“What the hell is this?” he barks, fury etched into his features.
He shakes me, his grip tightening but I don’t fight. I let my body go limp and allow him to do whatever he wants. It’s just more evidence for the coppers closing in on us.
“The truth,” I spit. “I know you did it. I know you killed her,” I seethe.
