“We spoke with the Bradleys, and it’s time to act.There are options,” Eddie begins.
His voice is clean and businesslike, which he probably uses in meetings.He explains what Arthur said—how the story will be arranged, how they’ll make it look like a life rerouted without anyone pinning blame in the wrong places.
They even have an alibi for them.When he finishes, he says, “It’s all up to you.Whatever you decide.We follow your lead.”
Lead?The word tastes sour in my mouth because I never wanted to lead anything.Not shows, not headlines ...not even when my mother tried to push me into becoming an actress, like her.If I couldn’t make it into the music business, I at least should be able to act like her.It was probably Clara projecting herself and trying to make me into someone she’ll never be.Maybe that’s why she wanted to pass me off as Caleb Wilder’s daughter.Not that Caleb ever gave two fucks about me.
He was good enough with me.Tried to be a father figure, but never loved me the way he loved his boys.Some days, I wish it were just him being a misogynistic asshole, only loving his sons.Nope, the guy doesn’t like me because I was never his.My mother cheated on him.
Finding out was challenging, and I made a lot of bad decisions ...hence, I’m still in the middle of a big predicament.Do I fake my last moments in the world, or ...?They have options that might land me in front of a judge and a jury, where I’ll have to tell them what I know about my fiancé—the criminal.
“Okay,” I say, and the room changes.“Let’s murder me.”
They’ll bring in a dentist to copy my dental records and create whatever illusion the authorities can’t question.They’ll fabricate gaps and leave breadcrumbs that point the story the right way.
“But ...can I talk to my brothers first?”I say.“Talk to Kit?She’s my best friend—before everything went sideways, she was my ride-or-die.”
Barret nods.
“We’ll set it up,” Eddie promises, and I hear the promise like a tether.
“I’ll leave whatever they need me to leave behind.Is this an ...are we faking an accident or?—?”
“It’ll be open,” Barret explains.“So the police will think it could’ve been an accident—or that someone carefully arranged it.They might interview anyone who’s been near you, or decide there wasn’t foul play.”
His hand finds the blanketed place by my foot and rests there, palm flat to the floor.The contact is small but sends something through me—an ache, equal parts comfort and panic.I glance down at him.He looks like a man who’s been asked to do things he wouldn’t choose for himself, yet he’s already stepped into the work.
I taste lemon and honey in the air.Outside, the ocean keeps insisting against the cliff.The sound reminds me that no matter what, we will keep going.As long as we remain together, we’ll be fine.
“What about us?”I suddenly ask.
Eddie’s hand comes up, palm open like he’s putting a word between us to hold.“We’ll remain here for as long as it’s necessary,” he says.“We’ll rotate.We’ll keep the place locked down.We’ll script what the world sees and control who gets to hear the truth.”
“A script,” I repeat.“Like a performance.Like Clara wanted.”My laugh is brittle.The thought of my life reduced to notes and cues makes bile rise in my throat.
Eddie nods.“Exactly.Arthur’s team will plant the rest.We make a version of you that’s impossible to disprove.”
“If you want to speak to Kit, we’ll arrange a controlled meeting,” Barret continues.“With everyone you need to be here, but they’ll know they have to be discreet.”
“What if they stay here until it’s over?”I ask because that could be a good solution, right?
Eddie taps his chin.“We could try, but it might be weird that your brothers disappear the moment they found out you ...”he trails off his voice as if it’s impossible to speak.“It’d make sense if Rod and Kit disappear, honestly.Sometimes they don’t come out of their farm for months.”
Barret laughs.“They wouldn’t leave their animals unattended for too long.”
“True, but we can pay for someone to help them.”Eddie sighs.
“Animals?”
“Remember all the land they bought when—” Eddie stops because I have no idea what they’re talking about.I was barely around after they figured out their way back together.
Instead of trying to be there for Kit, I avoided her because she was with Roderick, and back then, it felt like every Wilder betrayed me.Now ...I understand it wasn’t their fault.They had no idea I had so many daddy issues, and then when we found out that Daddy wasn’t even mine, I just rejected the entire family.
“It’ll be good to reconnect with them in any capacity,” I say instead of giving them a list of all my regrets.
Barret slides his hand from the blanket to my ankle, the pad of his thumb finding skin and pressing.“Is this okay?”he asks as my pulse stutters—part fear, part want.
I nod.“It’s always okay when it’s you—” then I turn to Eddie— “Or you.”
