Page 31

Julian ignores her and takes my hand, and we speed-walk toward an office with glass doors.

Warren stands when we walk in, clad in an expensive suit. He smiles, his teeth pearly white, and shakes Julian’s hand first.

When he takes mine, it’s warm, and his grip is tight. “Hello, Genesis. It’s nice to meet you.”

He gestures for us to sit and takes his chair behind his desk.

I make myself comfortable on the leather chair while Julian stands behind me, like a guard protecting me from harm.

Warren doesn’t seem surprised at Julian’s lack of sitting and goes straight into questioning me. I answer as honestly as I can.

I had no idea what my father was doing and still don’t understand why he did any of it. Reputation meant everything tohim. I guess he preferred to die rather than hear how people are talking about him now.

My mother was also worried about her status and image. I’m sure she’s reading and watching everything the media says about her.

Good. She deserves their harsh words after what she did.

She knew what he was doing and helped him.

People have left comments about her fleeing the country, claiming it makes her look guilty.

They can’t say the same about me.

I’m here, dealing with their consequences.

I deleted all pictures on my socials and disabled my accounts. I also removed all my connections to the shelter I volunteered at, worried the chaos would follow me there.

“Genesis,” Julian says, snapping my attention back to the conversation.

I wrinkle my nose. “Does pleading the Fifth make me look guilty?”

“No, it makes you look smart,” Julian fires back.

I glare up at him.

“They’ll have no problem twisting your words,” he says. “Inform them you had no idea of your father’s crimes and you’re learning the details at the same time as the media. Let Warren work his magic, and we’ll get you out of this mess. Only answer a question when he nods toward you.”

Julian’s all business right now.

I need to be the same.

My freedom is on the line.

People could try to pin my father’s crimes on me.

Just like with the Russians, I could be the one to face the consequences.

I offer Julian and then Warren a simple smile and nod. “Sit there and say nothing unless you nod an okay to me. Got it.”

8

Genesis isa bucket of nerves when we sit for the interview.

Derrick’s partner tried to stop me from being in the room with them but immediately shut his mouth when I told him, Fed or not, I’d have no problem slitting his sagging fucking throat.

My statement was before they turned on the camera, obviously.

I never leave traces of my threats.