“Explain this!” I threw the documents onto his desk, my voice raw with pain.
He glanced up, his eyes narrowing slightly.
“Antonio, what’s going on?”
“How could you live like nothing happened after killing your best friend?”
He froze, the color draining from his face.
“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb! Elon’s disappearance. The bribes. The threats. All of it!” My voice cracked under the strain.
“Calm down, son.” His tone remained even, though his gaze flicked to my stepmother. “I’m guessing you finally met with your mother.”
“Don’t call me that!” I shouted. “All this time, you acted like a saint, and now… what? What’s left of the truth?”
Father took a deep breath, his expression hardening. “Most of what’s in here is misinformation. I gave the lawyers and detectives money, yes. But it wasn't what you think.”
“Liar!”
“I didn’t kill Don.” His voice was calm, yet I saw the storm behind his eyes. “And I never threatened Elon. Everything I did was to protect our family.”
“And to protect your company!”
He turned away, tossing the papers into his shredder. The machine whirred, swallowing the damning evidence whole.
“Forget about this, Antonio. For your own sake. Leave it be.” End of discussion.
This man was as tight lipped as a clamp. He never said anything he didn't want to. While it was good for business, it wasn’t what I needed at that point. He didn't deny most facts, especially the money and Elon's movement but he didn't move further. Claiming to protect the family when the evidence available was against him, just seemed like an excuse.
I stared at him, heart pounding. His silence was more damning than any confession. Without another word, I turned and stormed out, my stepmother’s triumphant gaze searing into my back.
As soon as I slid into the car, I slammed the door shut and turned the ignition. The low hum of the engine did nothing to drown out my turmoil, so I let out a raw, desperate scream.
Was everything I knew a lie? Had my entire life been built on falsehoods? And how was Elon tangled up in all this? A chaotic swirl of questions churned inside me. I needed to think—no, I needed tobreathe.
Gripping the steering wheel, I pulled out and drove aimlessly through town, winding through familiar streets in a desperate attempt to find some semblance of clarity. After an hour, the ache in my chest eased just enough to let in a sliver of calm. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do.
I headed back to the apartment—my supposed sanctuary—but the thought of facing its empty silence made my throat tighten. Instead, I found myself veering toward Kendra’s place. It was past 7 p.m., so I knew she’d be home. I needed to see her—to feel the grounding warmth of her presence, the comfort of her arms around me.
I rapped a few impatient knocks on the door, then, remembering the doorbell, jabbed at it. My heart pounded as the seconds stretched. Finally, the door creaked open, and Kendra’s familiar smile peeked around the frame. Her expression shifted immediately when she caught sight of my face.
“What happened?” she asked softly, concern etching her brow as she stepped aside to let me in. The door clicked shut behind us, and she reached up, her hand brushing tenderly against my cheek.
I closed my eyes, leaning into her touch, savoring the brief moment of peace it brought. When I finally opened them, I saw the worry swimming in hers. I knew I’d promised to take things slow, but right now, I needed more than a comforting touch.
Without a word, I pulled her closer, before she could say anything, I cupped her face and captured her lips in a searing kiss.
I needed to feel something real.
***
I woke up the next morning to a text from my father. It was simple, it was straight to the point –
“Come home. It is time you know the truth.”
Chapter Nineteen
