Page 14 of Redemption

“I get it, Kat. You’re pissed that I knew but I only found out by accident, and Charlie begged me not to say anything.”

“I don’t want to hear this.” I spun on my heel, heading back up the porch, ignoring the shattered mug and slamming the door shut. I stormed straight into the office and threw myself down in that wingback chair and put my head to my knees.

Jack Drayton was just on my front porch. Looking for my dad because they were… What? Buddies? My brain couldn’t comprehend it. The fact that he would just turn up here, like he owned the fucking place. My fury burned bright at the audacity. I was already so on edge and delicate from trying to cope these last few months. Seeing that man had just tipped me right over the edge. My cheeks heated at the way I threw myself at him, attacking him. I’d never behaved like that before. I was surprised he didn’t do more to defend himself.

I wasn’t sure how long I sat there but then I heard chatter. Noise filled the house and I realized all the girls were home. I lifted myself out of the chair, stiff and achy once again and realized I was still in my pajamas. I scurried up the stairs to get dressed before coming back down into the kitchen.

When I came in, all the girls were sitting around the table. Leo was leaning against the counter with his arms folded over his chest and everyone went silent.

I glanced at each of their faces, wondering if they knew about Jack. “What’s going on?”

Maddy looked to Leo. “Leo got a call from the school today.”

My gaze drifted over to Tilly who suddenly found her nails very interesting. “What happened?”

Leo cleared his throat. “Our little Tills got into a fight with someone.”

My head whipped back to Tilly. “What!” Could this day get any worse?

“They started it,” Tilly insisted belligerently.

“Are you kidding me? You think that’s an excuse? Why are you getting into fights in the first place, that’s not acceptable, Tilly.”

Leo snorted, clearly remembering myMillion-Dollar Babyimpression from this morning and I turned my glare on him. He just arched a brow at me.

Maddy looked between us. “What’s going on?”

Leo resisted looking at her and just kept his stare on me. I needed to tell them. I didn’t want them to randomly bump into Jack in town and feel completely blindsided. Like I was today.

“Jack Drayton has been released.”

The room was so silent you could hear a pin drop. Then they all spoke at once.

“What?” Daisy gasped.

“Why did no one tell us he was getting out?” August asked.

Maddy stood up. “How do you know?”

A wave of exhaustion swept through me as they peppered me with questions.

“He came by,” Leo answered.

“He did?”

Tilly held her phone up, showing us an image of Jack from an article. “He’s cute.”

“Tilly!” August reprimanded.

“What? Well, he is,” Tilly sulked, every inch the fifteen-year-old.

“I don’t think he knew you ladies were living here. He was looking for Charlie and evidently hadn’t been informed that he’d died,” Leo said.

Maddy looked between us. “Why would he be told that?”

Leo’s stare bounced to me and I could see the plea in his eyes but I shook my head. I was mad at Leo but how I felt would be nothing compared to how betrayed Maddy would feel in a minute.

Leo sighed with resignation. “Charlie had been visiting him in prison.”

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