“How do I know you guys won’t turn against me?” I ask.
“You don’t. Just like I don’t know if you’ll turn againstme. None of us are safe. We could all turn against each other.”
“You’ve been friends with Parker and Finn forever. They’re not going to turn against you. But there’s a good chance the three of you will turn against me.”
“Guess you’ll find out. But I guarantee things won’t turn out well for any of us if I don’t keep Finn and Parker in line, and the only way I’ll do that is by taking the lead. Making the decisions. If you don’t believe me, try it your way. Challenge me in front of them and see what happens. But I can tell you right now you’re not going to like the outcome.”
I take a moment to consider it. I hate giving Briggs control, but it might be the only way to keep Finn and Parker from telling our secret.
“You’ll listen to me if I disagree?” I ask.
“If it’s in private, yes.”
I chew on my lip, my eyes lifting to Briggs. “Okay. I’ll do it. I’ll support you in front of them, but you better not make me regret it.”
He smiles. “There’s never regrets with me.”
Chapter 17
Ella
“Ella?” My dad knocks on my door. “You in there?”
“Yeah, hold on.” I set my laptop down and race over to open the door. “How was work?”
He smiles. “I missed having my partner with me.”
“Sorry. I really needed to study and finish some homework.”
“How’d it go? Are you all caught up?”
“Yeah.” I force out a smile, hoping he doesn’t notice I’m lying. I haven’t been studying. I’ve been looking online for stories about the man we hit. After the guys dropped me off, I did some research about hit-and-runs, like how often the people are caught and the penalties for those who get charged. The penalties aren’t that bad if the person you hit is injured, but if they die, the penalty could be prison time. Even if you’re just a passenger, you can still get charged.
Why didn’t I stay behind? If I’d stayed with the guy, I wouldn’t be in trouble. We were almost in town. My phone would’ve worked. I could’ve called for an ambulance and let Parker, Finn, and Briggs be the ones in trouble for leaving. But that’s not what I did, and I can’t go back and change it.
“Did you have dinner yet?” my dad asks.
“No, I was waiting for you.”
“Let me go clean up. We’ll stop and eat on our way to get the truck.”
I’m nervous about going there to get it. We’ll be passing by the spot where we hit the guy. I was hoping I’d never have to go back there.
“What if it doesn’t start?” I ask.
“I’m sure it will. I’m guessing it’s the battery. I should’ve replaced it when I had the oil changed. We’ll jump it and see, but I’m thinking that’s the issue.”
On the way there, we stop for fast food, but I struggle to finish my burger, already feeling sick knowing we’re about to drive past the scene of the crime. When we’re almost at that spot, my dad slows down, pointing to some flowers on the side of the road.
“Looks like some kind of memorial,” he says.
My stomach’s clenching, my heart’s racing, and I feel like I can’t get enough air in my lungs. I’ve never had a panic attack, but I might be having one now.
“It must be for that man who was hit,” my dad says, glancing at the handwritten sign someone put on the side of the road, right next to where we hit the guy. The sign reads,Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Proverbs 28:13.
A chill runs down my spine. It’s like whoever left that sign knows what we did, and that we’re trying to cover it up. I know that’s not actually true, but it feels like it, or maybe it’s God telling me to turn myself in. I don’t even go to church, but I feel like God is watching me, waiting for me to do the right thing, and ready to strike me with lightning if I don’t.
“Honey, you okay?” my dad asks.
