Page 156 of Creep

Thirteen was not old. Still a baby, in my opinion. I couldn’t imagine how it must have been for him and his brother. I wrapped my arms around him and snuggled in closer to his chest.

“Mael?”

“Yeah, baby?”

“Who’s your father?”

I already had an inkling. It would explain why Mael was even involved in this entire thing in the first place.

I held my breath when he didn’t answer me right away, staying on the precipice of wanting him to tell me, to confirm my suspicion, and for him to prove me wrong.

He didn’t prove me wrong.

He let out a small sigh and said, “Leo Briggs.”

41

LIA

Leo was Mael’s father.

He also trafficked Mael and Theo when they were younger. It was why he was willing to risk so much to try to infiltrate the mob. It was no wonder Mael hated Leo and why he hated my dad.

I closed my eyes at the thought.

If something happened to Mael… what was I supposed to do?

I couldn’t even stand the thought of it, much less if it became a reality.

Nothing was going to happen to Mael.

It couldn’t because there was a part of me that felt like I wouldn’t survive if that were the case. And if I wished hard enough for it, would it make it true?

I closed my eyes.

I knew that wasn’t the case, even if I hoped.

Just like how I wished, more than anything, for everything Mael told me about Leo and my dad to not be true.

Why did Dad get into this mess?

Why?

It wasn’t like we needed the money. His business was going well. My grandpa had been well-off and had left an inheritance behind for my dad. Some of the money was even left to me in a trust.

I froze as a thought came to me.

How much of the money I received was fromthatbusiness?

I closed my eyes. I was going to be sick.

My thoughts shifted to the little black book I found in my room just mere weeks before. With everything happening, I had pushed it to the back of my mind, but now…

Caden’s words bounced in my mind.

Lia, only read this when you think you can handle it.

Did he know?

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