“Of course. Take care, Sloane.” She hangs up.
I stare at my phone and then at the office door. I can’t let this go, and I know one person who can give me answers. I run back inside to tell Alex that I’m heading into the field for the rest of the day, and then I get in my car and head toward the redwoods on the outskirts of town.
I pull up to Van’s house, get out of my car, and head straight for his front door before I lose the nerve. I stand there for a few seconds, considering whether this is a terrible idea. Then, I remember the last time I was running out of this door. I look around, eyeing the forest as memories of what happened inside of them resurface.
The door opens, and my head snaps in the direction of Van. He’s wearing his off-stage mask, a black V-neck tee, and a black pair of jogger pants. I’m beginning to wonder if he owns any other type of clothing.
“Sloane?” he questions. “What are you doing here?” There’s unease in his voice.
“Someone took the photos.” I look away, still pissed off at him about them. “And I need you to tell me everything you know about David Galinsky.”
33
Riven
Imagine my surprise when Sloane pulls up to my house.Van’shouse. I heard her car drive up, and I quickly pulled my camera to see that it was her. I ran to my room to throw on a mask and opened the door before she could even knock.
“Someone took the photos.” She looks away, a glint of anger in her eyes. She’s still pissed atthisme. “And I need you to tell me everything you know about David Galinsky.”
“Come in,” I say, motioning with my hand and opening the door for her. She hesitates, standing in the doorway.
“You aren’t going to murder me and string me up from a tree in the forest, are you?” I flinch. I would very much like to string her up from a tree, but not tomurderher. I brush the thought away, reminding myself that she isn’t in a relationship with Van.
“No, Sloane. I’ll explain everything. Have a seat,” I say, motioning to the sofa. She walks over, never taking her eyes offme, and sits. Her posture remains tense and on guard. I sit in a lounge chair to the right of the sofa, keeping a safe distance between us.
“Okay. Those photos, I know you took them. I’m not angry about that, by the way.” I pause, assessing her. She remains tense. “And it sounds like you already know David is the guy in them with your father.” I’m guessing Elle told her as much. I can only hope that Elle stuck to the plan to keep things surface-level.
“Yes, and I want to know who he is.” She tilts her head up, letting me know she means business. I love it when she’s like this. I have to restrain myself from grabbing her, throwing her over my shoulder, and smacking her ass for the little attitude. I remind myself,again, that she isn’t here for that.
“He’s a chairman on the board at Sonus. He’s working on the new frequency. The Eden Frequency,” I say, letting her in on the inside stuff because she’s an outlier, and she needs to know. It was inevitable that it would come out eventually.
“The … what?” she asks, confused.
“The guys and I were told that there’s a new frequency that Sonus is working on. It’s called the Eden Frequency. We think that Sabel is going to use it to implant something into the minds of those who hear it. We think it will subconsciously signal brain waves that respond to hypnosis.”
“Uh-huh,” she says, taking it all in, “and what is Sabel planning to do with it?” She looks afraid, and it makes me want to comfort her. I hold myself back from reaching for her.
“Well, we don’t know exactly. We believe that she will be able to activate hypnosis with a single keyword at any time. We think that she will be able to control the person however she wishes.” Sloane looks like she’s holding her breath, like she’s on the verge of panic. My muscles burn from the resistance to go to her. Right as I’m about to say fuck it, she exhales deeply.
“Wow, that’s terrifying. What do you think my father has to do with any of this? Since you’re the one who had the photos in the first place.” She grinds out that last part through clenched teeth, remembering that I’m still a wild card.
“I had them because I was looking into David. Your father so happened to be in them, too,” I lie. It’s effortless, like I’ve rehearsed it a million times in my head. Her posture relaxes at my confession. “I think that your father was trying to get in on it.” The truth, this time.
“In on the frequency?” she asks.
“Yes. I think he was buying in to have a seat on the board. Your father wasn’t …” I struggle to find the words to cushion the blow, but there truly isn’t any better way to say it. He was a piece of shit, and you can’t make that sound any other way than what it is. She interrupts me before I can continue.
“I know. I know my father was not a good person. Iknowthat. I know that he was a corrupt lawyer, but that’s all I was aware of. I know that he cheated on my mom, which led to their divorce. I know that he was never the kind of father who was present.” She pauses, a frown pulling at the corner of her mouth. “But I also know that he was still my father. And seeing him dead was … not something any daughter should have to see.” She leans her head back against the sofa. She looks defeated, and I want to go to her so badly. Fuck this double life shit. I’m driving myself insane.
“I’m sorry, Sloane. You’re right, no daughter should ever have to see what you saw. But also know this, that man was not worthy to call himself your father. He was not worthy of all that you were, are, and will become.” I stop myself before I go too far. “He was a corrupt lawyer, and David had some dirt on him. Your father was paying David off to clear his name for a spot on the board.” I decide to allow Sloane to partially see her father for what he was. She isn’t ready for the whole truth, though.
Gideon deserves exactly what he got: to be rotting deep in the ground where he can never lay a single hand on Sloane again. I don’t have a single remorseful bone in my body for what I did to Gideon Keenan. Sloane isn’t ready to know who her father was, and what he had planned. And I’m not ready to lose Sloane for what I’ve done. Even if I’d do it again, and again, and again, if it meant that Gideon would never be able to harm her. Taking away Gideon’s last breath was an easy choice. A choice that I’d make a million times over.
Sloane’s bright eyes are rimmed with tears, and I’m internallybeggingher not to cry. She manages to pull it together, sitting up straighter.
“I—I figured. I somehow always knew who my father truly was deep down. I guess I was holding out hope that the imaginary version of him inside my head was real.” She bites her bottom lip, fiddling with her hands in her lap.
“I am sorry. And I’m also sorry about all of this shit with Sabel and Sonus,” I say, truthfully. I wish I hadn’t dragged her this far into it, but she’s stuck with me now.
