KEELEY: I wasn’t
SALVATORE: Sure, you weren’t.
I picture her standing tall and projecting her strength to the others around her, and my concern deepens. I’m sure she’s putting on a front, always making sure she’s helping others first.
She doesn’t respond, and that’s all the confirmation I need as I silently vow to make this all better.
Tim sighs as he gets in the car, running a hand down his face.
“What exactly are we doing?” I ask hesitantly, and he immediately perks up, turning my way with a grin.
“We’re paying Zane’s dad a little visit. Long story short, he goaded Zane into throwing the first punch yesterday, and he’s been manipulating Blair for the past seven years.”
“Jesus. I’m guessing you want to hurt him?” I wouldn’t usually encourage violence, but I know without a doubt that if someone was hurting Paige, I’d stop at nothing to make them pay. I’ve been there. Only the issue was resolved before I had to take that particular path.
“I would love nothing more than to rearrange his cowardly face,” Tim seethes. “But that’s not my plan. I’m here so he can beat the shit out of me.”
“Come again?”
“I need you as my witness. This time, I’m doing the goading, though I don’t think it’s going to take much effort on my part. One mention of Zane should do it.”
“I can’t believe any of this is happening. Have you seen him?”
“Only after the fight. None of us have seen him since the police took him away.”
My heart pounds in my chest but I smile through it. “He’s lucky to have you.”
“And you, I hear. Blair tells me you arranged a private jet to be here today.”
“I did. The commercial flights would have taken too long.” I shrug softly, though he’s not even looking my way. Still, he smiles.
“I’ve followed football my entire life. My dad played for South Carolina. I’m proud to say I know a lot about the sport in general. I can’t think of another team owner that would go to bat for his players like this.”
“I’m here because I’d made the assumption that Zane didn’t have many people in his corner. I’m happy to discover I was wrong.”
Tim points out Zane’s parents’ house when we pull up across the street, and within a few minutes, Zane’s dad appears at the front door. Possibly on his way to Zane’s hearing. Who knows.
“Wait here.” Tim nods before jumping out of the driver’s seat and jogging across the road. “Ron, I think it’s time we had a word.”
Ron’s eyes widen, moving from Tim to his car and I duck, hoping he doesn’t notice me. I wait a few seconds before taking a look, and when my eyes lock on Ron, I’m the one that’s seething.
Tim was right. It’s not going to take much to push his buttons. He’s ready for a fight.
Chapter Five
KEELEY
The clock ticks ridiculously loud above my head, and it takes everything in my power not to rip it from the wall and throw it across the room.
Hayley suggested we write character statements for Zane while waiting for news, and while that was good in theory, it only worked to make me feel worse about the position he’s in.
I thought I knew the gist of what was happening to Zane before I arrived, until Blair filled us in on more details after her dad left. And I still can’t wrap my head around everything that’s happened.
Zane’s dad pushed him into a fight and then called the police to have him arrested.His dad. I can’t even fathom what kind of a person, what kind ofparent, could disown their child, then accuse him of trespassing when he came back.
That’s shocking enough on its own, but to then start a fight and blame him for it?What the actual fuck?A wave of nausea hits me, thinking about all that Zane’s endured.
It’s just one thing after another. He’s stuck in a cell alone just for visiting his childhood home, while we’re here writing about how good of a guy he is.
