Page 7 of Love Me

Brokenhearted, my spirit annihilated.

“Surprised?” I say instead.

“Why did the matriarch send you away?”

“I chose wrong.” I regretted that choice. But now, with my father here, offering me a semblance of the familial connection I never thought I’d experience again, I don’t.

“You chose well. It was the only way for us to reunite without raising suspicion. From changing my physical appearance, family name, and starting over across the ocean, it was a lengthy process.”

I’m shocked to see my father alive. So many questions swirl in my head, but first, I need to know who is at this school and if I can trust them. “Who were those two guys?”

“Cillian Prescott, one of the original families, and his son. Cillian’s grandfather staged his family’s death and he moved to England with his wife and son, starting over with new identities. But for everyone else, he’s Cillian Lockwood, the principal of Preston school.”

As if he’s as overwhelmed as me, he pulls me again into his arms. His love and warmth melt a bit of the glacier that has become my heart.

“Are you tired?”

I shake my head, but a small yawn parts my lips.

“Let me show you to your room.”

My life has shifted so suddenly it tips into surreal territory. I can only nod and follow him while my brain tries to compute my new reality.

We pass another hall and walk up a curved staircase, passing more doors until we stop. The room unfolds into an open living space, with a bedroom on the right, a lounge area on the left, and a desk below the window. The green on the walls contrasts nicely with the hardwood floor. Golden lamps add a touch of sophistication, making the room appear precious. Unlike the rest of the building, it’s warm, with enormous windows and a fireplace, creating a cozy ambiance.

“You’ll stay here until we return to Greenville. I won’t be here all the time, but Cillian will.”

“But I don’t want to go back.” There’s nothing left for me there. Why should I return when here is my father and the chance for me to start over? We should remain here and forget about the Family—move on and heal.

He puts his hands on my shoulders. “Your mother is alive.”

I whip my head to him, blinking in incredulity. “What?”

Another abrupt change that threatens to tear my sanity apart. I pinch myself, and the light sting only proves that this is happening for real.

“They’re keeping her somewhere. I don’t know where.” Frustration and despair mix in his voice. My legs threaten to give out on me, and I drop onto the edge of the bed.

“We have to search for her.”

Both my parents are alive? Maybe I’ve tripped into an alternate reality.

His lips press into a thin line, but then his features relax. “You’re just like your mother. We wanted to leave that day. We didn’t plan a vacation but we were getting away from the Family’s legacy. We should have known better.”

“What happened?”

“Someone cut our brakes, and we crashed.”

I thought it was my fault.

“I had to leave you there, and that has been the most painful thing to do. Knowing I was alive would have put you in danger. I had to start over in a new country, but I was always looking out for you from the shadows. There was no other way for me to enact my vengeance. It needed time, preparation, and a lot of money. But together with Cillian, I know we can. I made a name for myself in business consulting, and while I have been getting as close to them as possible business-wise, it’s not enough. I need inside intel.”

Rage burns in his eyes. Mom always said it was his eyes that she saw her future in. Strange, I thought the same about… No.

“You must go back. Convince her how repentant you are.”

“I will.”

“Cillian will send her reports on you and how well you can follow orders. We want her to believe you’re a good little soldier, ready to do everything she expects. It won’t be easy.”

---