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“I was worried if I didn't, I'd never get to watch you live past thirty. The guilt of sitting back and doing nothing would have eaten me alive. So when he came to me, I took his offer. I didn't think I’d get another opportunity like it and he promised us protection in the process.”
“Who?” My eyes widen when I remember everything Everett said about meeting my mom at the station and how he'd explain everything soon. He’s in on this. Who's the fool now? All this time he's been in our house for the wrong reasons. He didn't care about us. He was only doing a job and once it’s done, he'll disappear from our lives forever.
“Everett. He isn't who you think he is…he's a—”
“Federal agent,” I finish for her.
She nods, her fingers squeezing around mine. “We worked together to bring your father down. We needed evidence, and today when I asked him to meet me at the shop, I was able to get him to confess everything during our moment together in his office.”
“You set him up.”
“Yes.”
I yank back my hand, taking a step back. “After all he's done to make sure we stayed alive and well, you fucking sell him out. No, my dad isn’t a good man, but he's still my dad.”
“Ignacio, please, try to understand I did this for you.”
“More like for yourself. Is it because Dad got a new girlfriend? You couldn't stand seeing him with someone else and wanted to make him pay with your new cop husband by your side.”
“No. It's not like that, and our marriage isn't even real.”
“You've been lying to me this whole time. How could you?”
“I had to, mijo. Please—”
“Fuck you and fuck him.” I rush toward the front entrance, pushing my way through the door, ignoring her pleas and cries. Without looking back, I hurry to my car and drive away, not knowing where I'm going. Ripping my necklace from my neck, I toss it on the floor of the passenger side, wanting nothing to do with it or him.
My hands grip the steering wheel, and I drive down an empty dirt road, trying to think of a plan. My dad told me to run and I'm not sure that's the right choice. Turning the car around, I head to my uncle's place.
A figure moves in the rearview mirror, and I quickly pull to the side, my heart wanting to escape my chest. My eyes are frantic, a tinge of fear crawling up my back.
I'm going to die today.
I spoke so many ugly words to my mom, and her frowning while reaching for me will be my last memory of her. Me running away like some fucking coward will be the last thing she remembers about me.
Before I can push my way out of the car, the man who was hiding in my back seat, waiting for me, grabs me by the arm and my stomach lurches. He jabs a needle in my neck. “No. Don't,” I say as my entire world fades, my heart breaking from the disloyalty and distrust.
Everett didn't only trick my father, he played me too and I let him.
One
Everett
14monthslater
“You got those files I sent over?” my boss, Lennon, asks, standing in the doorway of my office.
I nod, peeking around my computer. “Yeah, I got ’em. I'll look them over first thing in the morning. It's been a long day.”
“I'm sure it has. You've worked your ass off this year. You should think about taking a vacation.”
I sigh, rolling back in my chair. “I have thought about going home to visit my parents. Not sure they'll remember who I am at this point, though.”
He laughs, crossing his arms. “Trust me, I know the feeling all too well. Not sure my own kids and wife know who I am. We live together too.”
I stand up from my chair and grab my jacket from the rack. “Yeah, I don't know how you do it. I hope to be here less when I have a family.”
“You mean a real one?”
