Page 152 of First Chance

“I’m leaving town in a couple of days. Will that be an issue?”

“Jackson filled me in. It shouldn’t be an issue as long as you’re here for the trial.”

“You can stay with us,” Jackson offers.

A part of me waits for Lochlan to offer the same, but he doesn’t. Liv looks at me tenderly as if Jackson filled her in on more than my plans to travel.

“Hey, Loch,” Hayes calls from the side of the house, walking towards us.

My attention stays on Liv, though, as her shoulders tense. She blinks at me without really looking at me. Her eyes are seeing right through me.

Hayes comes a few steps closer and stops suddenly. “Olive?”

Liv’s pristine tan disappears in front of my eyes as the blood drains from her face. “I’ve got to go. It was nice to meet you. Call me if you need anything.”

She turns, jumping into her Jaguar, and in a split second, the engine roars to life.

“Liv!” Hayes yells, running towards her car.

She peels out, kicking dust into the air, and Hayes yells, “FUCK!”

He sprints to the garage, and I look at Lochlan with wide eyes. “What was that?”

“I think the lawyer just saw a ghost,” he murmurs.

Hayes comes flying out of the garage on his motorcycle, speeding past us and through the gates.

“I’m going to assume he knows how to drive that thing,” Jackson utters, staring up at the sky in exasperation.

“Even if he didn’t, he’d learn real quick before he let her get away.”

I stare at him, wondering about this big mystery that he’s clearly privy to, and why I’m not good enough for him to chase.

Why won’t he fight for me like that?

He won’t even ask me to stay…

“Before I get your witness statement about last night, I need to tell you something.”

“What?” Lochlan says, tearing his eyes off me. I was so deep in thought, I didn’t even realize he was looking at me.

“Randall Porter was pretty loose-lipped when I arrested him. He was looking for any way to escape his charges, but it was too late for that. I just didn’t mention it until he purged himself.”

“What did he say?”

“He admitted that Conrad was the one who gave him the idea…”

“What?”

“He confided in your brother that he had plans for the sanctuary.”Your.Even Jackson doesn’t want to claim him, and he shares his DNA. “Conrad suggested getting rid of you was the best way to sway Lochlan to do what he wanted.”

“That fucker,” Lochlan grumbles.

“It’s hearsay. I can’t charge him with anything, but I thought you needed to know. You already mentioned that you planned to cut them all off, but I’m here for you. Whatever you need.”

“Thank you, Jackson.” I smile sadly at him.

He stays an hour, getting our statements, and when he leaves, a pit settles in my chest. He feels like the only real family I have left, and now I’m supposed to leave and miss out on more time with him.

---