Page 86 of Counterfeit Connection

I’m forced to take several deep breaths as Tobias gets up to answer the door. When he pulls it open, I lift my head to see my blond angel standing in the doorway, equal parts scared and concerned. “I think this is where I take my leave. Griff, you can fill me in tomorrow. Take things easy.” I watch him place a comforting hand on Kaitlyn’s shoulder as he passes by her.

“What is it?” she asks.

“I think we need to talk.”

Her eyes follow Tobias down the hallway before she turns back to me. “That wasn’t normal. What’s going on?”

I can feel my insides burning like hot lava. I want to breathe fire to let it go, but I don’t want any of it to hurt Kaitlyn. The fact I have to even dig deeper into this is like glass in my eyes. “My father called. Let’s just say it was less than pleasant.”

“Um, okay. It’s not like either one of us expected sunshine and rainbows. Look. The only way I can help you is if you’re honest with me.”

“Are you sure you want that? My shattered phone on the floor over there should give you an indication of how bad it is. He was quite vile and made statements I’m still boiling over.”

“Yes. I want to know. Tell me.”

I take in a breath that fills my lungs before I let it all go. “He called you a little slut and I should have investigated you before we…. had relations. I can’t say what he said. I won’t.”

Some of the color leaves my beauty’s face before she walks toward me. Her eyes glance down at my now destroyed phone before she takes my hand. “I mean, I guess I didn’t expect any less. It still sucks. I don’t think your phone should have suffered for it.”

“That’s not all.”

“Then tell me the rest.”

I squeeze her hand tightly. I want to feel connected to her when I utter my next words. “He asked if I wanted to be with someone whose brother-in-law was labeled an attempted murderer.”

I watch all of the color drain away from her already pale skin. “Why would he ask something like that?”

“I want to know the same. I haven’t asked you much about Jason, but the press has clearly gotten their hands on something. We need to get in front of it.”

She leans down and puts her face in her hands for a moment then sits up, inhaling a sharp breath. “About a year and a half ago, my sister worked for a truly horrible woman named Vivian. That’s how she met Jason. He was hired to be private security. Long story short, Vivian went crazy and held Jason’s mother hostage. Jason and Gillian intervened and he ended up shooting her. He had to. It was self-defense and he was protecting his mom and my sister.” She pulls all of her hair over one shoulder. She always does that when she’s anxious. “Why would anyone even care or know about that?”

“I’ve been under the microscope of the media my entire life, Kaitlyn. They’re sleuths to the tenth degree. They find everything and spin it to make it all seem worse than it is, especially when they dislike someone.”

“They dislike me? They don’t even know me, and they aren’t just attacking me now. It’s my family.”

“I’m sorry. It’s something I’ll have to help you through somehow. You may have a microphone shoved in your face and have to answer for this. We need to get you to a place where you don’t look like you’re going to be blown down like a feather. I will defend your family. I promise you that.”

Kaitlyn

Griffin is looking at me with such confidence and concern. It’s so confusing and the idea of people calling into question people I love, just because they want to be in every part of my boyfriend’s life, is ludicrous. I don’t know. “I hate this celebrity status thing. The media in the U.S. sucks, but this is a whole other level.”

“What do you want to do? Is this intrusiveness a deal breaker?”

I know what he’s asking without asking. Is our entire relationship in the spotlight more important than what it feels like to be us. “No. No, Griffin. It’s not a deal-breaker. It just makes things more difficult for the long term since I never thought there’d be a long term until a little more than a week ago.”

He closes the distance between us and wraps me up in his arms. They are so strong and make me feel safer than I have in my whole life. I breathe in the scent of him. It’s masculine, oaky, and a little sweet with the faintest hint of mint. It’s intoxicating.

“I can’t make it go away, but I can shield you as best I can.”

“Was your father angry? Is he going to accept me? Accept this? Did this mess everything up?”

“I don’t think so, but we should go speak with him. I think it’s time.”

I push back just enough to look up at him. “I just got really anxious when you said that.”

He cups my cheek and brushes his thumb along my lips. “Don’t be. Fuck my father. I don’t care what he thinks anymore.”

I sigh. “Griffin, that’s not what I want either. We started this so you could have what you deserve. Let’s finish it that way too. We need to care what he thinks for just a bit longer.”

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