This is exhausting. And it makes me wonder if I’m not safer back in the bedroom after all.
Liam follows me into the kitchen. “I’m upping security around here, in case you haven’t noticed,” he explains while pouring a cup of coffee. “Obviously, I’ve left too much to chance.”
“I thought everything was already locked down pretty tight.”
“Obviously not.” He still doesn’t sound mad. I think I would feel better if he did. There is something beyond unnerving about his quiet acceptance of what I did. All I can do is wait for him to pounce… while hoping he doesn’t.
Maggie is in the kitchen again. She has a breakfast quesadilla waiting for me, keeping warm on the griddle. She doesn’t look at me. For the first time since I committed murder in this room, I feel genuinely ashamed. How could I ever explain why I did it? Would she ever understand? Not unless she’s been in my shoes.
“Thank you,” I offer, and all I get in response is a brief, tight smile before she goes back to her work. Then again, she’s the one working for Liam, right? She has to know the kind of man he is. I’m probably projecting.
Liam’s phone rings loudly, which is strange since he usually keeps it on silent. He grumbles something before he answers. “Yes? Send him up.” He lowers the phone. “Crawford’s here. I wasn’t expecting him yet.” He checks the time before gulping down the last of his coffee and getting up from the table.
The lawyer. I feel cold and clammy all over. Projecting again, making assumptions. I’m sure this has nothing to do with me.
But I’m interested, of course. Paranoia will do that. I take my time with my food, listening as Liam greets him by the elevator. “I have those reports ready for you,” Crawford tells him. “Looks like a busy day around here.”
“Very.” The two of them come to a stop outside the kitchen, where Liam eyes me like he’s trying to make a decision. “You should go to the bedroom,” he decides. “This is private business.”
“You can’t just go to your office?” I’m pressing my luck, for sure, but it’s a good question. Since when would he not conduct business in there?
His eyes harden in a way that tells me I pushed too far. It’s like all the air is sucked out of the room.
Thank God one of the security guys calls out. “Mr. Knight? Question for you.” He waves Liam over to where he is attaching sensors to the bedroom door. He even wants to keep track of whether or not I leave the room. Well, I guess I did it to myself. I don’t have anybody else to blame.
Liam turns away to find out what the guy wants. Crawford is looking at me in a funny way—great, does he know, too? Probably. And now he’s staring, judging me.
That’s what I think until he glances toward Liam, then at me again. “Here,” he whispers. His hand disappears inside his briefcase before he pulls out a small phone. “This is for you.” He looks toward Liam’s back again, and I get the message. He doesn’t have to say it out loud.Don’t let him see.
Is this another test? Am I supposed to hand this over to Liam to prove I’m a good girl? The device feels heavier than it should in my hand before I make the decision to shove it into the waistband of my leggings before sidestepping the men and retreating to the bedroom.
What the hell is happening now? Can I trust him? Why would he have a phone for me?
I’m not even sure at first whether I should look at it. I get the feeling it’s going to unlock a whole other mess. I’m tired of messes. But I open the phone anyway—it doesn’t ask me to unlock it or anything. Maybe he set it up that way so I could access whatever this is all about. On the safe side, I go to the bathroom, closing and locking the door, then sitting on the closed toilet lid.
There’s a text message waiting. Just one. This has to be the reason he gave it to me, right? To read whatever this message says. Still, I hesitate before finding the courage to open it. And when I do, I almost drop the phone on the floor.
Aurora, it’s me. Your father.
I can’t see anything in front of me and all I hear is my heart thumping. No, this can’t be real. There’s no way. Not after what Liam did to him. It’s impossible. Somebody is tricking me.
I escaped the fire and have been in hiding ever since. The only thing that keeps me going is knowing I will have my revenge—but in the meantime, I have to be sure that Knight doesn’t retaliate by hurting you. I hope you’ve been able to stay strong through all of this. I didn’t raise you to be weak.
God, it even sounds like him. That is exactly the kind of thing he has said to me so many times before.You’re my daughter. I didn’t raise you to be weak.
Somebody else could’ve known that, right? Can I believe this? Am I insane to even consider it?
I am putting a plan together, and I will need your help when the time comes. Crawford will keep me in contact with you. You can trust him, he’s on our side. Beyond that, wait, and I will send another message when it’s time to put my plan into action. I’m going to need you to make all of this possible, Aurora. You are my only hope of taking back what’s mine. Should you have second thoughts…
It can’t be him, but it is. I feel it. He’s not really dead. The one thought that has been the only thing able to soothe me through all of this is knowing he’s gone, that he could never come back, but I’m holding proof that’s not true. How is this even possible? Better question: Does Liam know?
Whenever your courage starts to fail, think about your mother. You didn’t lose her. She is still out there, and only I know where she is.
I have to clamp a hand over my mouth when a sob breaks loose. This is impossible. I’m still in bed, sleeping. None of this is real. It can’t be! First, he’s alive, and now, so is my mom?
I will tell you everything. Where she is, why she’s been away, all of it. It’s time you knew the full truth. But not until my plan is complete, meaning my freedom—and yours. Remember, I’m doing this for you as much as I am for myself. No one gets away with what Liam Knight tried to do to us.
Keep the phone hidden. I’ll reach out with more information when I know it’s safe.
