Page 92 of Betrayed

I’d need Herculean strength to control my impulses and not kill every last fucker who showed up at the exchange site.

Chapter 44

Blake

Officer Campbell, who insisted I call her Sammie, tried making small talk to distract me, but it didn’t work. I was too keyed up. I couldn’t stop thinking of all the things that might happen, and what they might do to me.

And about my father’s involvement.

Alternating between tapping my feet and pacing around the small conference room did nothing to calm my nerves.

My father, the man I’d looked up to, the man who'd always made time for me, the man who'd encouraged and supported me my entire life, had a warrant out for his arrest.

Was he guilty? Maybe the evidence was wrong or planted. “It has to be a mistake.” I said during a lap around the table.

“What’s a mistake?” Sammie asked, disrupting my pacing.

“My father can’t be guilty. He’s a good man. A loving father.”

Sammie watched me for a second before answering, “He can be both.”

Could he? How could I think of him as a good man if he took bribes, helped criminals, violated his oath?

Betrayed me?

I didn’t think I could ever see him the same way again. He’d always told me to be honest, to do good in the world.

All the while, he was in bed with criminals.

Did AJ know? And for how long? I couldn’t handle another man I loved and trusted lying to me.

“How long have you known my father was…” I couldn’t bring myself to say the words out loud.

Sammie looked across the hall and into the large conference room. I couldn’t be sure, but I had a feeling she was trying to figure out if AJ wanted her to answer me.

I might not have military or police experience, or a PI license, but I wasn’t blind. If she was worried about what he’d say, the answer was obvious.

"You’ve known all along," I answered for her.

“Wesuspectedearly on, but didn’tknowuntil yesterday.” Her emphasis on the words to differentiate them did nothing to lessen my anger.

They knew.

“Blake, I know you’re angry, but no one at SSI wanted to upset you unnecessarily.”

“He should’ve told me.” It came out before I could stop it. I didn’t want to admit the truth—Andrew Janerek’s betrayal hurt almost as much as my father’s.

I tried to read her expression, hoping it would reveal something, but her face was a blank page.

It shouldn’t surprise me; she wouldn’t rat him out. They worked together, and I was no one to her.

“I know this is hard, and I can’t even begin to imagine what you must be feeling, but we’re on your side.”

What I’m feeling?Hurt. Scared. Frustrated. Betrayed.

I was feeling everything. So much so I couldn’t land on just one to express.

Movement caught my eye as AJ left the other conference room. Two steps later, he was opening our door. His eyes locked on mine; the intensity was almost too much to bear.

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