Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 91560 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91560 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“He’s not managing any legit investments, though?”
“Exactly,” he concludes, sounding grim. “There are still loose ends that need tying up, statements Paul needs to gather to prove beyond a doubt what’s been going on. As far as Paul knows, he’s unaware of how close the authorities are to putting a stop to all of it. But the closer they come,” he warns, “the more unpredictable he’s going to be. I don’t want you getting caught up in something that has nothing to do with you.”
None of this is exactly surprising. That’s the worst part. It goes right along with everything Maya has already told me about him, not to mention what I heard from him over the phone. “I am not going to let him hurt her more than he already has,” I vow, grinding my teeth, imagining how nice it would be to squash that bastard like the bug he is.
“Yes, I got that impression.” Dad looks almost sorrowful, shaking his head. “Don’t make any rash decisions. That’s all I ask. It’s commendable that you would want to help her, since I’m sure she needs help, considering who we’re talking about. But my first responsibility is to you. My son. As much as I would like to shelter her from whatever is coming, I need to think of you first.”
“I have everything under control.”
He only chuckles, giving his head a slight shake. “The certainty of youth. I remember being sure of myself when I was your age, too.”
“Oh, yeah? What changed?”
“The world changed me. Eventually, you figure out there’s only so much you can control.”
I’m already starting to learn that. It’s going to be a challenge, getting everybody at school to lay off her from now on. I put the ball in motion, didn’t I? “She’s getting a lot of shit at school, too,” I confess, because I’m hoping maybe he can give me some insight into what to do.
He only shrugs. “No big surprise. Most of the kids there have parents who invested with her dad. Between you and me, more than a few of them won’t come back next semester, thanks to their tuition money being wasted on those so-called sure thing investments.”
“No way.” Now I’m more sure than ever that I can’t let her out of my sight. “The guy is lucky he’s still alive.”
“Be sure not to tell her about any of this, and not only because we want to shield her from it. We can’t risk him finding out how close he’s coming to the end of this scheme.”
“Don’t worry about it. I won’t breathe the word.” Narrowing my eyes, I add, “I would like to see him pay for everything he’s done.”
“Why do I get the feeling there’s much more to it than I’m aware of?” Dad asks, arching an eyebrow.
“There is, but it’s not my story to tell.” As much as I would love to tell him, Maya would be humiliated—and if anybody ever told me I would one day want to spare her humiliation, I would’ve laughed myself sick. Who the hell am I becoming? “I should warn you, he knows she’s staying here.”
“I enjoy the fact that you made an announcement like that without clearing it with your mother and me.” He might say he enjoys it, but his scowl tells a different story.
“I had to do something. He was demanding she come home, threatening her. It was ugly. She was—”
Dad makes a slashing motion with his hand. “Please. I already have more than enough reason to loathe him. I don’t need any more.”
I can’t help the question that comes next. It’s only natural I would be curious. “Dad, you didn’t… I mean, he didn’t convince you…”
“Now that is insulting.” He stands, arms folded, and I remember he doesn’t like having his pride wounded any more than I do. “What have I always taught you? If something seems too good to be true, it is. I only wish I could have stopped the others who had to learn the hard way.” Scowling, he shakes his head.
Well, that would explain why the bastard has been determined to make money off of Maya. It’s like another piece of the puzzle slides into place, and the result is getting uglier all the time.
Buttoning his suit jacket, Dad adds, “Come on. You better get moving. I have to get to school, and you have to go get her something to wear. What else does she need? Do you want to take her shopping?”
“I’ll take care of it.” Because she is mine. Mind to protect, to provide for, to shelter. I’ve never been so sure of anything in all my life as I am of that. There is a reason I’ve never been able to get her out of my head, and this is it. Somehow, in some way, I must’ve known she would need me someday.