Page 95 of Pretend You Love Me

I drop my hand. “Like what?”

“I don’t know. Try to find them on her own again.”

“I’m pretty sure her brothers have her locked down.”

He considers this for a moment. “It hasn’t leaked that they were here. No one in town found out about it, and it stayed out of the press. They were in and out so quickly. I think that’s good. If it gets out that she's the President’s sister, her family is going to disappear. I know that’s one of the reasons why she didn’t want anyone to know who she really was, and she was right about that.”

I nod. It’s why I'm continuing the charade that she’s my long distance girlfriend. At some point, we’ll break up, but for now, it’s calling less attention to her just to pretend she had to go back home. I’m not really a guy who shares a lot of personal information with those around me anyway, so no one is asking for details.

“Well, that’s all I came to say.” Hawk shifts uncomfortably.

I nod. “Thanks.”

“You okay?”

“What do you care?”

He sighs heavily. “You don’t have to be a miserable son of a bitch, you know?”

“Whatever,” I mumble as I open the door.

“She was good for you.”

“Well, she doesn’t think I’m good for her.”

There’s a crowd in the hallway. I stick my head out the door and yell, “What did I say earlier? Get the fuck back to work.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Brooklyn

I’m looking over my shoulder as I drive.I know. I know I shouldn’t be here. I should have called James or Will. I could even call Hawk right now, but I won’t.

It’s getting dark. I’m clutching the steering wheel so tight my knuckles are turning white. Adrenaline is pulsing through my veins.

I’m being reckless right now, but I don’t see any other options. When I snuck back to the abandoned house and left an envelope in the pillowcase, I had hoped it would find its way to my mom or my sister, but I never dreamed things would turn out like this.

I’d written everything in a letter, who I was and my contact information, and placed it in that pillowcase. I got a call this morning from Daryl, my stepdad. I nearly dropped the phone when I heard his voice. I recognized it immediately even before he said his name. It unlocked a wave of memories for me - none of them good. I shiver a little and check over my shoulder again.

He said he’d give me information about my mother and sister, but he wanted money. Of course he did. I’m not surprised.

I hopped on a plane. I have a purse full of money. I’ve debated calling someone, but he said I have to come alone. If I tell anyone, he’ll kill them. I know he will.

I’m so terrified right now, but I have to save them. I’m the only one who can. I’m supposed to meet him back at the house tonight and bring him the money.

When I pull up to the house, I look at my phone for a second, and then I text James.

Me: I know you won’t understand. I know you’ll be angry with me, but I have no other choice. I love you.

I close my eyes and press send. I slip the phone in my back pocket and head toward the house.I shiver when I step out of the car – it’s grown so much colder and darker here in the evenings compared to the summer.

I knock on the door. I’m trying desperately to control my breathing. I don’t want him to know I'm terrified.

The door swings open, and Daryl is standing on the other side. I forget to breathe for a moment. All of the sudden, I’m seven again, and he’s locked me in my closet. He’s beating the shit out of my brother. I’m curled up in the back of the dark closet listening to the screams.

“Well, look who it is?” he smirks. “I knew you’d show up. You were never too bright.”

He grabs my arm, pulls me inside the house, andslams the door behind me. He’s smaller than I remembered. He’s thinner now than he was when I was younger too. His jeans hang off his frame. His hair has thinned too. His face looks gaunt. I wonder what drugs he’s addicted to now.