by Rebel Hart
I spot a few boards on the rooftop and know the only way to find out is to travel across and see. But there are a few guards waiting around outside, keeping watch. One wrong move and they’ll catch me and then who knows what would happen to me. Theo has been keeping up this nice act when everyone is around to see, but I know if it came down to it, he wouldn’t give a damn about what happened to me.
I quietly steady the boards between the two buildings, forming a bridge. A terrifying bridge that could get me killed in more ways than one, but a bridge all the same. The moment I put my weight on them, they begin to wobble too much for me to stand. The only way I can get across is to crawl on my hands and knees. I have to bite my lip to keep from screaming out in fear and alerting the men below. Somehow, after what feels like an eternity of holding my breath and bracing myself to plummet to my death, I make it to the other side.
I run up to the rickety old wooden door, but it creaks and whines when I pull it up just a few inches. It’s too loud to open. If I was a guard, I’d definitely investigate a noise like that. Then I hear train whistles in the distance and sit back to wait for my chance. As the train roars past, sounding like a tornado, I fling the door back under the muffled sound and stick my foot inside to test the opening. It feels like hollow metal beneath my foot, and then I spot the pulley system. Feeling around in the black hole, convinced some rodent is going to bite my hand off, I manage to find a handle and pull the top door open.
It’s definitely a laundry chute, but the box is small and terrifying. I have no idea what kind of condition it’s in. I have to brace myself for a moment and face the reality that if I step inside, I am seriously risking my life. But if I don’t? If I pass up my chance to gather whatever evidence I could find against Theo inside? He’ll do everything he can to come between my mom and Brendan and to tear Emmett and me apart. And that’s only the beginning. Who knows what shape the people I love will be left in by the time he’s done.
The Elites are already out to kill me, I tell myself finally. So I might as well make a go for it in the name of a good cause. With a deep breath, I crawl into the small metal box and use the pulley to begin lowering myself down. I pass through several floors of nothing before finally hearing the laughter and noise of the gambling party growing closer.
Each new floor I come to only shows some empty closet or maintenance room that connects to the chute, so I have no idea where I should get out at or what will be waiting for me on the other side when I do. Thinking it’s better to sneak my way into whatever is out there by foot rather than drop in on it from this little box, I stop before the sounds of people get any closer.
I quietly step out into a gray room with concrete floors and shelves lined with dusty cleaning supplies. A bright fluorescent light blinks from the ceiling. I stop at the door for a moment to make sure I won’t be walking into a room full of people on the other side. It seems quiet enough, so I slowly crack it open. But the first thing I see in the distance is a pair of legs. I immediately shut the door and lock it, stepping back in a panic.
Okay, Ophelia. This is not going to work. You don’t know your way around this building at all and you’re going to get yourself killed. Maybe it’s another dead end. But then I look up and see the opening for the air vents. I’ve seen this in movies. Sometimes it works perfectly, other times it goes terribly wrong. But it’s a viable means of secret transportation through a building, so I’ll give it a try.
Using a stack of crates and boxes, I climb up to the vent and pop it open before climbing inside. I army crawl through until I finally come to a series of rooms where various poker games and other forms of gambling are being held. But there’s no sight of Theo. I’ve come this far. I can’t give up now.
I keep crawling, studying each room as it passes. Until finally I’ve reached some back offices. I see a room for counting money and then another with a line of TV monitors for men to keep watch over the games, ensuring that no one is cheating. Whatever would happen to a suspected cheater would probably happen to me if I was caught in here, so I take it as an extra reminder to be as careful as possible. The guards in there don’t look like the kind of guys you want to be on the bad side of.
As I’m passing an empty hall, I almost don’t even stop to look out. But a figure catches in the corner of my eye. It’s Theo, walking back to one of the offices. I wait a minute for him to walk past, then do my best to turn around in the tight space and follow after him. He makes the rounds through all of the important rooms, checking in on the TV monitors and then the money counting room. He pockets some of the cash in there and says something to the guys, but I can’t hear what it is.
One thing is certain. He is moving and talking like he owns this joint or is at least very heavily involved in the organization of it. That’s exactly the kind of thing I need proof of. It’s even better than I hoped for. I wonder if this has anything to do with all of those eager, generous investors he’s been talking about?
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.
Chapter Twenty-One
BOOK 3
I
t’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 mom’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.