Page 92 of Octane

“Pictures of dead people. Tortured people. He said that they were victims of some of the people that Daddy borrowed money from. And if he stopped making payments to them, they would come after him and Carissa and kill them.”

“That motherfucker,” Jackson scorns, his features darkening.

“I told him I wanted proof and that I would meet up with him after we got home from the race so he could show me. But he said we needed to leave right then, or the deal was off. So I left with him. You know the rest.”

Jackson takes a deep breath as he tries to digest the story I just told him.

“I’m so sorry I made you worry. I didn’t know what else to do.”

“Hey,” he leaves his seat and squats in front of me, grabbing my hands in his. “It’s not your fault. None of this is your fault. Okay? But now that I know, I need to speak with your father. Do you know how much he still owes?”

“I saw the numbers but didn’t do the math. I didn’t need to. The total was in the billions.”

He pauses, thinking, before speaking again. “I can’t believe I’m about to say this,” he sighs.

“Say what?”

“That you need to go back there and pretend like this conversation never happened until after I speak with your father.”

“I can do that.”

“Ifthat weasel is telling the truth, then I don’t want his actions to turn into a hit on your father.” Jackson lowers his voice, and the look on his face turns savage.

“But if he’s lying, I’ll kill him,” he pauses. “I may just do that anyway.”

I believe Jackson. I’ve never been more certain of anything in my entire life.

CHAPTER THIRTY

JACKSON

When I left Sawyer, I went straight to Zach’s office. Iknewthere was more to his story than he’d told Carissa and me last week. I called Carissa on the way to let her know I spoke with Sawyer and got the entire story. Since she was already there, she met me outside of Zach’s office, and we went in together.

“I found out some interesting news this morning, Zach.”

He and Carissa are sitting down on his leather couch, waiting for me to continue.

“I saw Sawyer. She gave me the same story that she gave Carissa. About how she needed to give their relationship a chance. That she owed it to Daniel, et cetera. We went back and forth until I was finally able to get her to tell me how he convinced her to go back to him.”

I stare pointedly at Zach, so angry I could take a swing at him.

“Do you know what she told me?”

He looks at me, knowing exactly what I’m going to say, yet he’s still going to deny the truth. He’s clinging to his secrets like they’re his lifeline.

“She told me about all the money that you owe to God only knows how many dangerous people in this city.”

He turns away from me, unable to look me in the eye any longer.

“Daddy, is this true?” Carissa sounds stunned.

He appears to be thinking, probably of a lie or an excuse that we might believe.

“Daddy? Answer me. Why didn’t you tell us the other day?” she presses.

He doesn’t give her an answer. He stands and paces his office.

“Daddy! I’m talking to you.Whydidn’t you tell me?”

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