Page 94 of Lilly

"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."

"Yes, but when she learns what marrying him means for our family, she'll choose us over him. I know she will."

"She shouldn't have to make that choice. I wish there was another way."

"If there was, I wouldn't do this. But I'm backed into a corner. At this point, I have no other options."

"When are you going to tell her?"

"I'm not sure yet."

"When is Dean officially approved?"

"Not until we vote on it in the fall."

"So we have time. We don't have to tell her right away. Could we wait a few weeks, or a few months?"

"I suppose we could wait, but I don't want to wait too long. Maybe a couple weeks."

"What happens to Dean from now until he's a member?"

"Technically, he's still in the interview process, which means he'll have to complete another assignment."

"Maybe he won't be able to do it and they'll be forced to rescind his membership offer."

"That won't happen. Phillip will make sure of it by giving Dean an easy assignment. The first one was falsifying paperwork and Dean didn't even have to do it himself. And he was rewarded with a large payout. He'll be offered even more money for the next assignment, which is supposed to be more difficult but will likely be another paperwork assignment. I'm confident Dean will get it done without a problem." I glance at the door. "Where's Lilly? I don't want her overhearing us."

"She's in her art studio. She's feeling really down right now. She doesn't understand what's going on and it's frustrating for her. She wants to see Reed but we keep telling her no and not explaining why."

"We've explained why. She just doesn't accept our reasoning. And she won't until we tell her the truth. So if you want me to wait to tell her, then I'm afraid she's going to be feeling this way for a while."

"What if I take her somewhere? A girls' weekend?"

"That's a good idea. I'm sure she'd enjoy that but I don't want you going very far. Now that the organization knows about Dean's connection to Lilly, we're on their radar again. All of us. So we need to be extra cautious."

"Are you saying they'd try to harm us?"

"If they truly want Lilly, then no, they wouldn't dare harm us. But by 'they' I'm speaking in terms of the group, not the individual members. Unfortunately, I still have a few enemies within the organization and any one of them could decide to seek revenge at any time, especially now that they've been reminded of me through my presence at the meeting, and now Lilly's involvement. So if you go somewhere, be extra vigilant about who's around you. And always take your gun."

"I will."

"Where are you thinking of going for this girls' weekend?"

"To that hotel where you gave a speech last summer. I can't remember the name of it but it's that one just north of here along the coast. The hotel has a spa so I was thinking Lilly and I could spend the night. Get massages, facials, pedicures." She smiles. "All that girly stuff you don't like."

I smile back. "I'm sure Lilly would love that."

"Then I'll go tell her." She leaves, and I watch out the window as she goes out to Lilly's studio. Moments later the two of them walk out, heading to the patio. Lilly has a smile on her face, which I was starting to think I'd never see again.

Ever since I told Lilly to stay away from Reed, she hasn't been herself. She's quiet and sad and spends all her time hidden away in her studio. It's been a little over a week since she saw Reed, which normally wouldn't bother her, but it does now because she knows she won't see him this week either, or the week following.

She's been avoiding me, angry at me for keeping her from Reed, but she also knows this isn't entirely my fault. She believes me when I say Reed's father is involved in something dangerous, and I know that's the only reason she's going along with this. Otherwise, she'd likely be trying to sneak out of the house so she could drive down to L.A. to see Reed.

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