Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 90211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
“It was Luke,” I say, the words coming out like blood from a wound. Dad’s eyes flit past me and he waves dismissively. I hear the door shut again.
“What was Luke?” he says, calmly, like he’s talking to a child having a temper tantrum.
“The files Kieren took. There was no way he had access to all that data, remember? It felt wrong from the beginning, like how would Kieren even know where to look?”
“I assumed he got it from you. Perhaps you left open an email, or he was looking over your shoulder—“
“No, absolutely not. I was always careful when it came to the company’s books. I knew, Dad, I’ve always known how crooked this damn place is, and I wasn’t that stupid. You trusted Kieren, but I didn’t trust anyone.”
“This place isn’t crooked, Regan. I think you need to take some time off. Get yourself together. Spend a few days with your new husband—“
“No, stop it, don’t dismiss me. It was Luke, Dad, Luke’s the one who told Kieren where to look, Luke’s the one who stabbed us in the back.”
“You’re wrong.”
“I’m not fucking wrong! Liam told me, Kieren admitted it!”
“Then I would’ve heard this from someone else. The Whelans—“
“Are you that dense? I’m telling you the truth, and all you can say is you’d believe it if it were coming from someone else?”
Dad’s hands come down hard on the desk. The phone rattles from its cradle and falls to the floor. “My son would not do something like that, do you hear me, Regan? You’re being hysterical and I want you to stop.”
My jaw opens in astonishment.
I shouldn’t be surprised by his reaction. What did I expect? My father to suddenly take me seriously as a person? He’s been belittling me for as long as I can remember. Why would he change?
No, it isn’t him that’s different—
I’m the one who grew up.
Now I see it so clearly it hurts. All the ways I’ve been like my father, or at least the ways I’ve molded myself into the image he wanted to see. The perfect daughter, hiding behind her flawless facade, staying safe and happy and never once taking a single risk that might actually fulfill me.
Until I met Liam.
That night standing near Kieren’s car changed everything. It showed me I didn’t have to be the perfect daughter, the ideal mafia princess, keeping her mouth shut and carrying on the family’s secrets for her tyrant father.
I could be more than that.
I could be my own person.
The truth lands hard, all the ways I’ve failed. I wanted to save Luke from this life while also forcing myself into a little box. How was he supposed to find his way free of this if I couldn’t even do it for myself?
I’ve been so stupid and blind.
“You are wrong, Dad. You’re wrong and you’re going to get your son killed because you can’t see it.”
“How dare you talk back to me?”
“You’re a stubborn, stupid old man, and you’re going to ruin everything. I can’t believe I didn’t say this sooner, but you’re a petty little tyrant and I’m not going to take it anymore.”
Dad’s face turns red with anger. I’ve never seen him so pissed before. I’m terrified, trembling, despite knowing for certain that I’m doing the right thing. Still, years of conditioning taught me to be very, very scared of my father when he’s in a bad mood.
“Get out of my house,” he says softly, voice quaking with barely restrained anger. “Turn and walk out of here right now, Regan, and don’t you dare come back. If I see you in here again, I swear on my life, I will teach you the lesson I should’ve taught you a long time ago.”
“You wouldn’t dare touch me. You know why? Because you sold me to the Whelans. You don’t own me anymore. You think Liam’s going to let you hurt his wife?”
“Fuck Liam. And fuck you too, you selfish little bitch. You’re not my daughter. You’re nothing to me now.”
“At least we can agree on that.”
I stride to the door. Tears stream down my face, but I’m not crying for this relationship I’m torching.
I’m crying for Luke, for how I set the wrong example for him all these years.
I wanted him to escape, but instead, I showed him an older sister who was too afraid to do anything but obey.
I failed him so miserably, it kills me.
Dad’s rage follows me into the hall. I can still hear him shouting as I get another Uber out front. The driver drops me off in front of Luke’s apartment building, but I already know what I’ll find when I use the spare key he gave me years back to let myself into his place.
It’s been ransacked.
The couch is torn to pieces. Dishes lay shattered on the ground. His bedroom is a total wreck, clothes strewn around. It looks like someone thoroughly flipped it already, and I can’t tell who.