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Avery.

“Nothing,” I say as the breath stalls in my lungs, unable to believe my ears or eyes.

This is exactly what Avery was afraid would happen.

My parents weren’t just worried your father knew the truth. He was blackmailing them.

I need to call my dad.

Turning, I head for the bathroom as the guys call out, wanting to know where the hell I’m going so close to boarding. Ignoring them, I push into a family restroom, checking to ensure I’m alone before bolting the door shut.

With shaking hands, I dial my father’s number, relieved when he picks up on the third ring. “Did you see the news?” I ask, without wasting any time.

“About Reginald Astor?”

Is it my imagination, or does he sound happy?

“Yeah.”

“Sure did. Doesn’t surprise me any. Bastard’s getting what he deserves, if you ask me.” His voice is cold, uncaring.

My heart hammers against my ribs. All I can think about is Avery’s face when she sees the news. Her worst fear has been realized, broadcast on national television for everyone to see.

I need to ask my father about his involvement. I need to see if he knew Reginald Astor was guilty. I need the truth.

But when I open my mouth, nothing comes out. I can’t seem to find the words.

“Maybe I was right, son,” my father says in the answering silence. “Maybe it’s time you distance yourself from that girl, once and for all.”

I freeze, heart lodging in my throat as I choke out a pained, “What?”

“Maybe you should take this time apart and really think this through.” He sighs over the line, like saying it pains him. “Son, this is going to get messy. We’re talking about the Astor empire. Every news station across the country will be covering this story. Now is not the time to get yourself tangled up in this mess.”

I narrow my eyes as something cold slides down my spine. “What exactly are you saying?” I ask, my voice dropping low. “Because it sounds like you’re suggesting I abandon Avery when she needs me most.”

“What about what you need? You’re looking at this all wrong. You need to consider the implications of this and how it will look if you support her through this.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“I’m dead serious,” he says, and I wish I could see him?wish I could read the truth in his eyes as he talks to me. “You’ve got a lot on your plate. Your entire future is right in front of you. You don’t want to throw it away by tying yourself to a family that’s about to become poison.”

I blink, gripping my phone harder. “She’s my girlfriend, not a PR problem.”

“She’s an Astor!” he snaps. “Think about what that means for your career. Teams are already watching everything you do. You think they want their potential first-round pick mixed up with the daughter of a man who killed six people?”

“It’s funny that you’re jumping to conclusions when he hasn’t even been arrested yet,” I say, though the defense feels hollow. Avery herself said he’s guilty.

“Do you know who Colby Williams’s daughter is?”

I swallow, wondering what the hell he’s talking about. “The NFL commissioner?”

“Angel Hall is his daughter. She was one of the six killed in the walkway collapse. Do you think he’s going to let a young man dating the daughter of the man responsible for his own daughter’s death anywhere near the NFL?”

A hiss of air escapes my lungs as I’m smacked in the face with the truth, a truth I hadn’t wanted to believe.

I stumble back, stunned, my voice a whisper as I say, “She was right.”

“Who?”