Lilly and Reed: A Kensington Family Novel

by Allie Everhart

  "Meaning he doesn't want you spending time with me."

  "Yeah," I say, looking down. "I've tried to talk to him about this but he won't listen. He thinks you and I are getting too serious and he thinks we need time apart."

  "So this is less about your family and more about keeping us apart."

  I nod.

  "Well, as long as we're being honest, I might as well tell you what my dad said. I wasn't going to because it's not like I'd actually do what he says but you might as well know in case you're around him and notice him acting strange."

  "What is it? What'd he say?"

  "Yesterday he sat me down and told me he has concerns about your dad."

  "What kind of concerns?"

  "He thinks your dad's involved in something and he wants me to stay away from you."

  "What did he say my dad's involved with?"

  "He didn't go into details. He just said it was something bad. Something dangerous. Those were his words, not mine."

  "Are you serious?"

  "I know. It's completely crazy, to the point I'm starting to question his mental state. He's been acting really paranoid lately. When he said that stuff about your dad I wasn't even sure how to respond."

  I grip his arm. "Okay, don't tell anyone I told you this because I'm not supposed to say anything."

  "Yeah, go ahead."

  "My dad said the same thing about your dad. He said your dad is involved in something dangerous and that he doesn't want me getting involved in it, which is why I'm supposed to stay away from you, at least until he knows what's going on with your dad."

  "Wait, so that's the real reason you can't see me?"

  "Yeah."

  "Then why'd you make up that story about spending time with your family?"

  "Because my dad made me promise not to say anything to you about it."

  He sighs. "So you lied to me."

  "My dad does want me to spend time with the family. That wasn't a lie. I just left that other part out."

  He holds my hands and looks me in the eye. "Lilly, we can't do this. We can't let our parents turn us against each other, or make us lie to each other. They're obviously making up these stories to keep us from dating but I don't know why and I really don't care. All that matters is that I love you and want to be with you. I don't care what our parents think."

  "I feel the same way. So what do we do?"

  "We just keep doing what we're doing. Talking on the phone, texting, and seeing each other whenever we can."

  "My dad doesn't want me seeing you. At all. So that leaves us with calling and texting until school starts."

  "Can you talk to Rachel about this? Maybe she could figure out why your dad is doing this. I know he doesn't like my dad so maybe that's all it is. If so, he can get over it. They don't have to see each other. They don't even have to talk to each other."

  "I think it's more than that. My dad really does think your dad is involved in something bad. He didn't make it up. I could tell when he told me. He has people, Reed. People he hires to research a person's background, follow them around, spy on them."

  "What the hell for?"

  "Because he doesn't trust anyone. He can't. He's too well known and has too much money. He even did a background check on you when we met, remember?"

  "Yes," he says with a sigh. "So you're saying your dad has proof that my dad is doing something illegal?"

  "He didn't come out and say that, but I know my dad wouldn't make up a story like that. If he didn't want me to date you, he'd just tell me."

  Reed faces forward and leans over, resting his elbows on his knees. "It's not that I don't think it's possible. After all those years in the music industry, my dad has plenty of connections to people on the wrong side of the law. And the fact that he has all this money all of a sudden?" He blows out a breath. "Fuck. Your dad's probably right. I just didn't want to believe it. I finally have a somewhat decent parent only to find out he's a criminal."

  "Reed, we don't know that for sure. Like I said, my dad didn't give me any specifics or any proof to back up what he was saying."

  "Yeah, but you said he wouldn't just make up a story like that. And part of me already assumed that's what was going on. It explains why my dad's been acting so tense and not sleeping and why he suddenly has all this money."

  "But why would he say those things about my dad? And tell you to stay away from me? That doesn't make sense."

  "It does if your dad confronted mine and told him he knows what's going on. If he did, my dad would be worried your dad would tell me. Or that he'd tell you and you'd tell me. This is something my dad wouldn't want me to find out. He's really trying to make this father-son thing work but it's not going to if I find out he's a criminal."

  "I guess that makes sense. My dad doesn't want me around you because of whatever your dad is doing. And your dad doesn't want you around me because he thinks I'll tell you what he's up to."

  "I think we finally figured this out."

  "I still don't know what to do."

  "I say we just wait it out. School is just a few weeks away. As much as I hate not being able to see you, trying to fight our parents or sneak around behind their backs will just make this worse."

  "School is five weeks away. I don't want to wait that long to see you again."

  "So talk to Rachel and see if she can talk your dad into letting me come up here again. As long as you're not around my dad or his apartment, then your dad has nothing to worry about."

  "He'll probably still say no. He really didn't want you to come here today. Rachel can only change his mind so many times." I fall back on the bed. "I really hate this. Why do parents have to interfere like this? Why can't they just leave us alone?"

  "It's only temporary." He lies beside me, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me closer. "Once we're back at Camsburg, we can do what we want." He kisses me. "And we'll be doing a lot of this." He kisses me again. "And what we did earlier."

  I smile. "That's something to look forward to."

  He brings his hand to my face, cupping my cheek as he looks me in the eye. "I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you, so five weeks? Yeah, it sucks but we'll make it work. I'll do whatever I have to in order to be with you, even if that means staying away from my dad."

  "Reed, I don't want this to ruin your relationship with him. You two are finally at a good place and I know he cares about you."

  "If he does, then he needs to stop whatever it is he's doing. I want him in my life but not if he's going to be a criminal. I don't want to be around that."

  "But then where would you live during school breaks?"

  "I'd go stay with my aunt and uncle."

  "Has your uncle heard anything from your mom?"

  "Yeah, she called him a few days ago with the same sob story she gave me. She asked him to pick her up in Texas and drive her here, and when he refused, she threatened to steal money from the bar she works at in order to get bus fare."

  "And what did your uncle say?"

  "He told her that what she does isn't his business and that if she comes back here she's not staying with him." He sits up on his forearm. "I don't want to talk about this. I'm not going to waste what little time we have together talking about my parents or your dad."

  "You want to go outside? We could go in my art studio."

  "Yeah, we could do that. But first I have to do this." He leans down and kisses me, a long, slow kiss, then he looks at me. "Can I ask you something?"

  "Yeah. What?"

  "If your dad told you to break up with me, would you do it?"

  I pause. "No. Why would you even ask that?"

  "It's just that you're a lot closer to your family than I am to mine and I know you try to please them."

  It's true, but I wish it wasn't. I wish I could stand up to them more, especially my dad. I try to stand up to him, but I'm not always strong enough to do it. He's hard to say no to. He doesn't always listen and sometimes he demand
s rather than asks and I'm afraid to tell him no.

  "I wouldn't break up with you," I say. "I'm not letting my dad have a say in this. This is my life and I get to choose who I want to be with." I sit up. "Come on. Let's go out to my studio. I want to show you the new painting I'm working on."

  Reed stays for the rest of the afternoon, then Rachel invites him to dinner. The dinner is awkward because my dad keeps looking at Reed like he shouldn't be here. But like I told Reed, I'm not breaking up with him no matter what my dad says. The problem is Dean, not Reed, and I won't let my dad punish Reed or me for things that have nothing to do with us.

  Chapter Twenty

  Pearce

  "She's not going to admit to being involved in this," Rachel says as she follows me into my office.

  "I don't expect her to." I get my phone out. "But I need her to be aware that I know what's going on."

  "She already knows that. I'm sure Phillip told her you were at that meeting and saw Reed's father."

  "Yes, but I need Katherine to know I'm keeping a close watch on her so that she doesn't try to cause even more damage." I walk up to Rachel. "This won't be a long conversation. I'll say what I need to say and that's it. But I need you to keep Lilly away. I don't want her overhearing anything."

  "Yes, I know." She kisses me. "Good luck."

  She leaves and I call Katherine using a throwaway phone because if she sees it's me calling, she won't answer.

  "Hello," she snaps. The woman always sounds angry, even when answering the phone.

  "Hello, Katherine."

  "Pearce." I hear the smile in her voice. She knows why I'm calling and she's happy about it, pleased with herself for the trouble she's caused. "How lovely to hear from you."

  "I know you're behind this stunt with Dean Ashford and I promise you I will put a stop to it."

  "I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about. I don't know anyone by that name."

  "Reed's father. You're trying to make him a member and you're using Phillip to do it."

  She laughs. "Where did you come up with such a ridiculous story? I rarely even talk to Phillip."

  "I'm surprised he'd go to such lengths to help you. I assume you're blackmailing him. There's no other way he'd take such a risk."

  "Pearce, I don't have time to listen to your made-up stories."

  "Does Caroline still not know about you and Phillip?"

  She's silent. She didn't know I was aware of her ongoing affair with Phillip.

  "I knew about it when we were married," I tell her. "There's no need to deny it."

  "I never slept with Phillip," she snaps.

  "You did, and you have for years. But that's not why I'm calling."

  "Then what do you want?"

  "To tell you that Lilly will never be part of it. Even if they approve Dean, that doesn't make Reed a member. And if he ever found out about them, he wouldn't join. Reed isn't like his father. The money, the fame, doesn't matter to him."

  "Obviously, you don't know the rules, Pearce."

  "Then inform me, Katherine," I say, wanting her to say what she knows because I'm recording the conversation and anything she says can be used by the organization to punish her or Phillip later.

  "Phillip included a clause in Dean's contract that allows him to automatically make Reed a member when his father is officially sworn in. Dean had a choice not to check the box but he chose to do so. Reed will be a member whether he likes it or not."

  I already knew that, but her admission is enough to get Phillip punished. He never should've told Katherine those things. She's not a member, or even the wife of a member, so Phillip is not allowed to tell her what goes on at the meetings.

  "Then I'll make sure Dean is not approved for membership," I say.

  "You're only one person, Pearce. Your vote isn't worth much. Phillip has already asked around and many of the members agree that at least one Kensington needs to remain connected to the organization after you die. And since you refuse to let Garret partake in their activities, Lilly is the next available option."

  "She's the only option but she's not doing it. If Dean is approved and Reed becomes a member, then I'll make sure Lilly never marries him."

  "And how will you do that, Pearce? She loves the boy. She's not going to give him up because her father told her to."

  "She will if I tell her about them."

  "You're finally going to tell her?" Katherine laughs. "Good. It's about time she learns what her father has done. And after she does, she'll never speak to you again. She'll run off and marry Reed, thinking he would never do such things, even as a member. She'll think he's better than you. So you see? Whether you tell her or not, your plan doesn't work. She'll still marry Reed."

  "Which I know you don't want. He doesn't have the right background. He's not one of us. In fact, he's the last boy you'd ever want her to marry. Are you really so desperate for her to be part of this that you'll push her to marry a boy you disapprove of? He'll be your son-in-law, Katherine. How will your society friends feel about that?"

  "I want back in, and if Lilly marrying that boy is the only way, then so be it. I don't have to interact with him. I don't even have to see him."

  "If he's married to your daughter, at some point you'll have to see him. At least at the wedding."

  "Knowing Lilly, the wedding will be some backyard barbecue like Garret had." She huffs. "It'll be a complete disgrace and I will not attend such an event."

  "You don't plan to attend your own daughter's wedding?"

  "If it's not done properly, then absolutely not. It doesn't matter if I'm there or not. All that matters is that she marries him. Which she will, because she's young and naive and doesn't know any better."

  We could argue about this all day but I refuse to do so. She admitted she did this and that's all I needed to know. Except now I'm wondering if she did anything else.

  "What else are you planning?" I ask.

  She sighs. "More questions. More accusations. I really don't have time for this."

  She was purposely vague, which means she has something planned and wants me to know so, but she won't tell me what it is. She wants me to worry about it, waste time trying to figure out what else she's up to. I hate these games she plays. She's been playing them for as long as I've known her, long before we got married.

  "Fine. I'll figure it out myself."

  "I'm sure you will. But by the time you do, it'll be too late." She lets out a laugh.

  "What the hell does that mean?" I let my anger come out in my tone, which was not what I intended. Showing my anger means she's won this verbal battle but I couldn't control myself. She confirmed she's planning something and from her cackling laugh I know it's something big.

  "Goodbye, Pearce." And then she hangs up.

  "Fuck!" I slam the phone on my desk.

  There's a short knock on the door and then Rachel walks in.

  "What happened?" she asks, closing the door behind her. "What did she say?"

  "She admitted she's behind this. She wants Lilly to be part of the organization and doesn't care what she has to do to make that happen."

  "Because if Lilly's part of it, Katherine's part of it."

  "Yes. She'll have access to the perks. Not necessarily the money, but she'll have their protection should she ever need it, and she'll have access to the Clinic, and she'll be one of us again. She'll have her high society status back. That's all she really wants. Obviously, she'd like the money but knowing she won't be given that, she'll take the status. She wants to be allowed to go to their parties again. Be seen at exclusive events. Be photographed by the papers."

  Rachel crosses her arms over her chest. "Katherine would really put Lilly and the rest of us at risk just so she can attend some parties?"

  "This shouldn't surprise you. You've known Katherine almost as long as I have."

  "Yes, but I thought she'd eventually grow up and not be so selfish. Using her daughter like this? It makes me sick to my stomac
h. No mother should treat her child this way." Rachel shakes her head. "I feel sorry for Conner."

  "Conner?"

  "Her son."

  I nod. "I forgot his name for a moment. Lilly never talks about him anymore."

  "Because she never sees him. Katherine ships him off to boarding school. I don't even know why she had him."

  "To force Lyndon to marry her. It was another one of her schemes to be part of the organization, but it didn't work out for her. And this latest scheme of hers won't work either."

  "How are you going to stop it?"

  "I don't know yet."

  "Does William have any ideas?"

  "He thinks it's too late. He did some asking around and found out Dean is already approved. It's just not official."

  "I don't understand. Why would they be so quick to approve him?"

  "He said the committee likes Dean because he has access to people in the underworld. All those years on tour, having to cover up whatever crimes his musicians committed, forced him to make connections with people who are good at circumventing the law and not getting caught."

  "Freelancers."

  "Yes. We have a shortage right now and our members don't want to have to expend the time and energy recruiting people. Dean already has the contacts and he has a relationship with them, which is extremely valuable."

  "Then what are you going to do? How are you going to stop this?"

  "I won't allow Lilly to marry Reed. It's as simple as that."

  "Pearce, if she wants to marry him, she will. She'll find a way. And if you tell her no, she'll do it in secret."

  "Not if she knows what he's part of and finds out what he has to do."

  "You're going to tell her?"

  "I don't have a choice."

  "What if knowing about it doesn't change her mind?"

  "Why wouldn't it? They do horrible things. Things Lilly couldn't even imagine."

  "Yes, but her father is part of it and she knows that you're kind and good and would never choose to do those things. She'll think the same thing about Reed. That he's been forced into this and that he's still a good person. Still the man she loves and wants to marry."