Page 86 of Lilly

"Things have happened. Dad just doesn't tell you because he doesn't want to scare you. Part of the reason I moved out here when I was your age was to get away from all people who were coming after Dad. But even then, I was worried, more for Jade than for myself. I knew if someone wanted to get to me, or get our money, they'd do something to Jade. That's why I put security cameras all around the beach house we rented. And why Jade and I ended up at Camsburg. It's one of the most secure campuses in the country."

"Did anything ever happen?"

He nods. "Jade was followed and so was I, and one time some guy showed up at our house pretending to be a cop."

"Why?" My heart's beating faster, my stomach twisting. I knew bad people had come after us in the past, but I thought it was isolated incidents and limited to my dad, not Garret or Jade.

"He was trying to get information about us," Garret says. "Probably so he could rob us. It doesn't matter. The point is, you're already a target because you're a Kensington. So why put yourself in even more danger by getting involved in whatever Dean's father is doing? I'm not saying you can never see Reed again but right now, by being with him, being seen with him, you're putting yourself at risk. If Dean has bad people watching him, it won't be long before they put it together that his son is dating a Kensington. For criminals, that's a freaking gold mine. They'll come after you, Lilly. They'll come after all of us."

Guilt fills me, making me feel sick to my stomach. I don't want anyone getting hurt. I would never put my family in danger.

"Are you telling me the truth?" I ask, a lump forming in my throat. "Because if you're making this up just to keep me away from Reed then that's just mean and I may never talk to you again."

"Lilly." He rests his hand on my shoulder. "I know you love Reed. I would never try to keep you two apart unless I knew you were in danger. I'm just trying to protect you. And so is Dad. Give him time to figure out what's going on."

A tear spills down my cheek. "So I'm just supposed to tell Reed I can't see him anymore?"

"Talk to Dad about it. Like I said, I'm trying to stay out of this. But Lilly, you need to trust Dad. He's not doing this because he doesn't like Reed. He's doing it because you're his daughter and he loves you and wants to make sure you're safe."

The patio door opens and Rachel and my dad come back inside.

"You can have Reed over," Rachel says to me. "We've decided not to go to Garret's house. Your father has some work to do and I could use some time in the garden."

I look at my dad. "And you're okay with this?"

"I don't want you running off to see him without telling me, so if this is what it takes to keep you from doing that, then yes. But I would still prefer that you stop seeing him."

His phone rings and he answers it as he walks off to his office.

"Guess we should get going," Garret says.

We hear tiny footsteps and see Ethan and Miles running down the hall. They stop in front of Garret.

"Daddy, can we go swimming?" Miles asks.

"Not here. We'll go when we get home."

"We're leaving?" Jade asks, coming up beside him.

"Yeah, but just us. Mom and Dad decided to stay here this afternoon. Dad has some work to do."

"I'll help clean up before we go." Jade goes to the table and starts stacking up plates.

"Jade, it's okay," Rachel says. "I can do it."

"I can't leave you with this syrupy mess." She laughs. "Ethan even got syrup in his hair."

Abi and Hannah run into the room and Hannah says to me, "Will you braid my hair?"

"You guys are leaving soon. I don't think we have time."

"Please?" With her sweet smile and sweet little face, she's too cute to say no to.

"Okay. Come here." I sit down on the chair and as I'm braiding her hair, I feel another wave of guilt pour over me. Am I really putting my family in danger by dating Reed? Am I making us a target? Are the people Reed's father is involved with going to come after us? Would they come after my nieces and nephews?

I can't let that happen. I'd never put them at risk. But I love Reed. I want a future with him. So what do I do?

Chapter Nineteen

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