by Hart, Rebel
I follow Theo around on his business for a while, snapping pictures all the way. When I’ve taken as many as I dare, I try to remember my way back to the room I entered through. After a few wrong turns and panicked moments of thinking I’ll be stuck in here forever, I finally find the closet where the laundry chute pulley is waiting for me. I climb in and pull my way back up, thinking the entire time that this is when the line will finally snap and send me hurtling through the building straight to the hard floor below.
But thankfully, I make my way back to the roof and even back across the wooden boards to where I started from, safe and sound. I go back into the empty building and I’m feeling pretty confident that I’ve truly managed to pull this off as I go out the side door. I start marching back to my car when suddenly, someone calls out to me.
“Hey! Miss! Stop!” a deep bellowing voice yells in the darkness.
I ignore it and start walking faster, but I can hear him pick up the pace behind me, still shouting for me to stop. My heart pounds as I think this is it. I’ve been caught. Just as I break into a full-on running pace, the man grabs me by the arm and whips me around.
“What are you doing here?” he demands.
“I…I’m just out for a run. Now let me go or I’ll scream,” I stammer, wishing I sounded less guilty.
He squints his eyes at me, trying to determine if he believes me or not. But finally, his face softens as he straightens his suit jacket, looking slightly embarrassed.
“Sorry, miss. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“It’s okay,” I shrug, swallowing a hard lump in my throat before sprinting off back to my car.
I start driving as soon as I’m inside, not feeling safe again until I’m almost back home. My hands are still shaking when I pull off into a parking lot and pull out my cell phone to make a call.
“Ophelia? Is everything okay?”
“Coach Granger,” I answer. “I need to ask you something. Do you still have that contact on the police force? The detective or whoever you said could be trusted?”
“Detective Williams?” he asks. “Yeah, but what’s going on?”
I sigh, not quite sure where to start. “It’s my biological dad. Theo Nickelson. I have some information that ties him to this underground illegal gambling ring and I want to turn him in.”
The line falls silent for a moment. “You want to turn in your own father?” he puzzles. “Ophelia…are you sure? Sure, it’s illegal gambling. But do you really want to take the man out just for that?”
“That’s not the worst he’s done by far, believe me,” I huff. “It’s just the only thing I have any proof on. Can you help? Can you put me in touch with Detective Williams?”
Finally, Coach Granger is convinced enough to give me his friend’s number. I call him immediately and find out where to send my photo evidence to. After hanging up, I go home for some much-needed sleep. I can hardly wait for the news to come that Theo has been busted.
21
Chapter Twenty-One
It’s a blissful Sunday morning of waking up to no alarms, and the sun seems to be shining even brighter now that I know Theo will be going behind bars soon. He’s obviously some kind of head guy for this underground illegal gambling ring, and with the FBI already keeping an eye on him, waiting for more fuel for their investigation, this is sure to bring him down once and for all.
I sit up in bed and stretch out my arms with a smile on my face, thinking how pretty the birds sound chirping outside of my window. I slip into a sweatshirt and head downstairs, thinking I smell bacon and eggs cooking. The perfect breakfast for the perfect morning.
But there’s more stirring and voices downstairs than there should be, which only becomes clearer as I round the corner. I freeze when I make out one of the voices to be Theo’s. What the hell is he doing here again? Especially after that fight with Brendan. Surely, he’ll be arrested soon.
I step into the living room and see that not only is Theo here. Emmett is too. And they’re all sitting around chatting, my mom and Brendan included. Everyone stops suddenly and grows very quiet when they see.
“What’s going on?” I ask, feeling completely thrown. Not exactly the kind of thing I expected to walk into this morning.
“Oh, good morning, sweetie,” my mom says softly with a strange somber tone. “I’m glad you’re up. We were wanting to talk to you.”
“We?” I laugh nervously. “We as in all of you? Together?” No one answers and each time I look at one of them, they shift and fidget, darting their eyes away. “What’s going on?”
Emmett walks up sheepishly and takes me by the hands. “Come here, have a seat.”
“Okay, you’re all really starting to freak me out,” I exhale as he leads me over to the dining room table. Everyone seems to be bubbling up with something, but they won’t say a word. “Is someone going to tell me what this is all about or…”
“We’re all worried about you,” my mom announces as Brendan grabs her hand in support.
“Worried about me?” I scoff, thinking I’m the one that’s worried about all them. Especially any time Theo is around. “What for?”
There’s a longer awkward pause until finally, Emmett takes a stab at spitting it out. “Theo told us about you talking to Detective Williams,” he says.
I let out a big gulp, unsure of what to say. Why would Detective Williams give me away like that? He knew it could be dangerous for me. Now I don’t know how much Theo knows or what kind of spin he has managed to put on this for everybody.
“Did he tell you why I talked to Detective Williams?” I sneer, growing angrier by the second as I look at Theo across the table. Why the hell am I the one being interrogated here? And why isn’t he in jail yet?
“He’s running an illegal gambling ring!” I blurt, unable to hold it in anymore.
But no one looks surprised at all. In fact, it only seems to make them more frustrated with me. They sigh and hang their heads in disappointment.
“I’ve been working with the FBI, Ophelia,” Theo states plainly as if I should have known this all along. “Yes, I did get into some trouble with them a long time ago. But I made a deal with them and part of that is being an inside guy for some things. Like that illegal gambling ring.”
“You could’ve gotten Theo killed, ratting him out to a stranger like that,” my mom scolds.
“Have you lost your minds!?” I shriek. “You honestly believe this!? Detective Williams isn’t a stranger. He’s a trusted contact. And how am I supposed to know that I shouldn’t turn him in for doing illegal things!? I’m just supposed to give him the benefit of the doubt and…what? Lie for him?”
“What you did was very dangerous,” she snaps. “You weren’t supposed to lie for him…but you shouldn’t have been there in the first place. Honestly, Ophelia. Sneaking off into a place like that at night by yourself. Do you have any idea what could have happened to you!?”
I let out a big huff of frustration, knowing full well what could have happened to me. And it was worth the risk. “Do you have any idea what will happen to all of us if we keep trusting this guy?” I snarl towards Theo.
“That’s exactly what we’re worried about, Ophelia,” Brendan chimes in. “I know I didn’t set a very good example the other night. I think everyone can agree that making amends with Theo has been emotionally trying for all of us. But he’s a good guy. At least now. And he’s doing his best here. I’ve apologized and I think you should too.”
“Apologize?” I gasp. “That’s not going to happen. In fact, I can’t sit here and listen to this bullshit. I wanted to save you all from him, but if you want to be this way about it…let him have at it. You hear that Theo?” I fume across the table. “They’re all yours! My boyfriend and my whole family! Do you wanna invite Bridgett over too? Sweet talk her into trusting you? I see straight through it and it’s not my fault none of you can.” I leap from my chair and turn to storm out of the room.
“Sit down, Ophelia,” my mo
m’s voice booms, letting me know she really means it. “Now.”
“I don’t want to,” I insist. “What else is it you want to say?”
“Listen to your mother,” Theo says, adding insult to injury.
My eyes grow wide, and I think I have never been more furious in my life as I stare him down with my blood boiling. It feels like hot lava coursing through my veins, and I wish I could spew it out at him.
“Oh, you want to parent now? Dear old Dad?” I snap back bitterly. “Why don’t we tell them about the kind of parent you were we first moved here?”
“Stop it,” Emmett warns.
“Don’t you think they’d love to know how you and I came to meet the first time?” I continue. “The real first time we met?”
“What is she talking about?” my mom asks, whipping her head back around to Theo with concern.
Theo’s eyes look straight through me with a cold blankness.
“I introduced them,” Emmett exclaims. “Theo and I had a business deal. I introduced him to Ophelia when I realized the relation.”
I can’t help but laugh. It’s not entirely a lie, but he’s leaving out all the big important parts. Like Theo’s plans to kidnap me. The way he blackmailed the Elites and brought them under investigation. He murdered Emmett’s dad, however welcomed it may have been. But I guess I can’t tell them about that. It could be just as damaging to Emmett as it would be to Theo. And knowing him, he’d probably spin it to be all Emmett’s fault.
“Why didn’t you tell me you had met him?” Mom questions, looking shocked and hurt.
“Emmett, can I talk to you for a moment?” I beg, motioning for him to follow me into the other room.
It’s bad enough that they’re all ganging up on me, but I’m not about to sit here and take the fall for Emmett and Theo’s decisions just because no one can know what really happened. I’m tired of lying for other people. I haven’t done anything wrong.
“How could you agree to be a part of this!?” I howl in a whisper once we’re around the corner. “What am I supposed to say in there!?”
“Everyone’s just worried, Ophelia,” he insists with his big innocent, gray eyes.
“Bullshit!” I snap. “I don’t want to hear that anymore. I wish everyone would stop talking to me like I’m a child. I haven’t felt anything less than an adult from the moment I saw you for who you really were. And after everything you and Theo have put me through…I’d think you’d be a little quicker to defend me.”
“That’s just it though…I changed. Don’t you believe I’ve changed?” he asks earnestly as if his whole life depends on my answer.
My mouth opens, but the only sound is a sharp inhale building up to words that won’t come out. “I don’t always know,” I confess. “I believe you have, yes. But after all of that…sometimes it’s hard not to wonder if…if the old you is still waiting to come out.” I watch his face drop as the words sink in. “But that’s why I don’t like you being so wrapped up with Theo! If anyone can turn you back to the way you were before…it’s him.”
“Well, whether you believe it or not,” he says slowly, looking heartbroken. “I have changed. And so has Theo. I know you don’t like to see it this way, Ophelia, but your dad saved me. Whatever his intentions were then or are now…He helped me get rid of my father. A man who harmed me and plenty of others on a daily basis. If he hadn’t…I don’t know…” his voice cracks and trails off.
“I know, I’m sorry.” I rub his shoulder. “I’m glad Thomas is gone, but…”
“I think you should come sit back down,” he urges me.
My eyes tear up. I feel betrayed. Since when can Emmett not talk to me himself? He seriously thinks he needs my whole family and Theo as back up?
“Just hear what they have to say,” he adds. “Then this will all be over, and…you can think whatever you want.”
Before I can say anything else, he turns to walk back to the table. I reluctantly follow behind, telling myself I’ll just listen and keep my mouth shut from now on. Soon I’ll be leaving here anyway and whatever Theo does to them after that…well, they can’t say I didn’t warn them.
“We want you to let go of your grudge against Theo,” my mom states as soon as I sit down, not bothering to waste any time. “You don’t have to like him. You don’t even have to give much of a chance. But turning down his help for school or anything else just out of resentment is only hurting you more. And you definitely have to stop dictating everyone else’s relationships with him. Like it or not, he is a part of this family.”
I laugh under my breath again. A part of our family. I get an all-out intervention for not wanting to trust someone who has given me plenty of reasons not to trust him. But he can waltz in and out of our lives whenever he wants, screwing over whoever he wants as he goes, and we’re all expected to give him the benefit of the doubt. It’s maddening.
“Do you have anything you’d like to say to me?” Theo asks, looking like a kid waiting to be apologized to on the playground.
“Where to start,” I scoff. I look over to Emmett who is begging me with his eyes not to say anything else about what happened with Theo before. It’s too incriminating for him. “I don’t expect anyone else to understand it,” I explain instead. “I thought Emmett could, but…that’s what you do. You tell people what they want to hear and give them what they want to win them over. But I can’t be bought, Theo. I know the truth about you. And I’m never going to trust you. I don’t care what anyone says. Nothing is going to change that. And the saddest part is…I know the rest of you will be forced to face that truth eventually. I just hope it’s not too late.”
I wipe a tear from my cheek, wishing I could just bring myself to say what they want to hear. If I could just play nice with Theo and fake it, this would all go away. But I feel like I’m watching them all be led straight off the side of a cliff. How can I not speak up?
“Is that all?” I ask quietly. “Can I go now?”
“Suit yourself,” Theo says grimly.
My mom doesn’t seem to have anything else to say. Brendan and Emmett grow quiet as well. I excuse myself from the table and walk slowly to my room, still in disbelief. My heart aches as I consider the reality of it all. Had it not been for Theo and his bad ties to the Elites, I would have never been invited to WJ Prep. And all the awful things that happened after would still be distant nightmares or scenes from horror movies. They wouldn’t be my reality. All of that would have been more than enough reason to hate him. But now it feels like he has stolen my entire family from me.
Doing all I know to do, I try to call Detective Williams to see what went wrong. Why did he tell Theo I was his source? The phone rings and rings with no answer. I think it’s just as well since I’m a sniffling, sobbing mess right now. But a minute later, Coach Granger calls.
“Yes?” I answer.
“Ophelia, are you okay?”
“I’ve been trying to reach Detective Williams,” I tell him in between my short, labored breaths. “He told Theo that I ratted him out. And now my whole family knows and…What happened? I thought we could trust him?”
“About that,” he clears his throat. “He asked me…well…he doesn’t want you or Emmett to contact him anymore.”
“What?” I cry. “Why?”
“Your lead on Theo went nowhere because it turns out he was an inside guy for the FBI the whole time,” he explains. “I don’t know how Theo found out. But between that and Emmett’s false alarm on his mother and sister’s kidnappings…he’d prefer you go through regular police channels from now on.”
“But those things weren’t our fault!” I sob harder. “And the police here are all corrupt! If we don’t have at least one person to turn to, what are we supposed to do?”
“Just stay focused on choosing which college you want to go to,” he urges. “Keep your chin up, Lopez. You’ll be out of here soon enough.”
“Thanks,” I murmur half-heartedly before hanging up. Sure, I’ll b
e out soon enough. But the rest of them won’t be.
As has become my habit for when I am alone in my room, upset with nothing else to do, I pick up Marissa’s diary. But my eyes are still watering, making it hard to read too much.
The more time I spend with Thomas, the more I see a side of him that no one else does. Not the sweet, charming guy that everyone loves. But a dark side. Something I’ve only seen glimpses of, but he has moments of being so heartless and selfish. I tried to talk to my mother about it, but she says all men can be that way and that I’d be a fool not to want to be Mrs. Jameson. So, more and more I am learning to stay out his affairs and keep to myself. And sometimes, I still feel like the luckiest girl in the world, but…
I can’t read anymore. I throw the book to the ground with a big thud, wondering what is different between Emmett and Thomas. Did I save Emmett in a way Marissa couldn’t save Thomas? Or have I just been fooled? There has to be some reason he’s so willing to choose Theo over me.
There’s a knock at the door, making me jump as I quickly kick the diary back under my bed. “Go away!” I shout out. “I want to be alone.”
“It’s me,” Emmett calls out from behind the door.
“Go away, please!” I try again.
But the latch turns and the door opens anyway. Of course, I forgot to lock it. Just my luck. I hear him come in, but he says nothing.
“What do you want!?” I moan, but as I turn around, I notice the pale ghostly look on his face. “Wha…what’s wrong?”
“It’s Malcolm,” he says in shock. “He’s dead.”
22
Chapter Twenty-Two
I stare down the black velvet dress crumpled up in the corner of my room. It’s been laying there since the night Emmett attempted to flash all of his newly earned money at me, not realizing I’d inevitably find out where it came from. Now I have to consider putting it on for Malcolm Henderson’s funeral, but something about it makes me feel sick.