Page 107 of Always Us

“I just recently found out. My father and I discussed it the night we had dinner, before he suffered the stroke.”

I stare at him. He’s completely serious, like he truly believes the fake story about my grandfather having a stroke. I don’t know how he does it. I don’t know how my dad is able to pretend the truth doesn’t exist and act like the fake story is what really happened. It’s just like he said. Like he lives his life as two different people. The dad I know is the one who chooses to believe he didn’t plot to kill his own father and that my grandfather died of complications from a stroke. The other side of him knows the truth. I guess that’s the only way my dad can live with himself and still do the bad things he does.

“Dad, I need to know more than that. What exactly did Grandfather tell you?”

He sighs. “Roth and my father were both trying to get you back in the organization. Both men had too much pride and too much arrogance to allow you to just walk away from the plans they had for you.”

“You’re saying Grandfather was in on Roth’s plan to make me president?”

“Your grandfather claimed it was his idea. He said he came up with it years ago and convinced Roth to use his power and influence to make it happen.”

“Why would Roth do that for him?”

“I don’t know. I may never know. It doesn’t matter. The point is that Roth looked like a fool when the plan fell through. And he blamed my father for that and wanted him to fix it. My father told Roth it wasn’t possible unless Roth got him promoted to the top level at the organization. That way they could used their combined power to force the other members to give you a second chance. And it worked. My father used Roth to get the promotion, and together they were able to convince—or rather bully—the other members to reinstate you, given you met certain conditions, of which you already know about.”

“But even if I was a member again, their plan for me is over. I destroyed my reputation and the members voted. Like you said, they can’t go back on their decision.”

“Roth still wanted you back, just to prove that he’s the one in charge. And to punish you for your behavior last spring.”

“Does he know it was fake?”

“Luckily, your grandfather didn’t share his theory on that, probably because he couldn’t prove it. But Roth knew about your grandfather’s plan to kill Jade and he was prepared to follow through on it.”

“How do you know someone else won’t?”

“There’s nobody left in the organization who cares about you anymore. You were being talked about the past few months because of this rumor about Roth trying to get you back. But only he and my father wanted that. As I’ve told you before, the other members are tired of dealing with you after the trouble you caused last spring.”

I hesitate, then just come out and say it. “You killed him, didn’t you?”

He looks directly at me, his eyes dark, his face serious. “Why would you ask me something like that?”

I feel like he’s daring me to say what I’m really thinking. But he knows I won’t, because he knows I don’t really want the answer. I don’t like the world he lives in, and I don’t want to be part of it or know what goes on there. I’ve seen more than enough already.

“I just—”

“Accidents happen, Garret. Cars crash every day. Roth shouldn’t have been speeding.” He gets up from his desk. “I need to get more coffee and then I’m going to check on Lilly.”

“She needs to talk to you about some stuff. She was asking me all these questions about death.”

“Yes, I’ll spend some time with her.” He opens his office door. “Where’s Jade?”

“She’s with Harper.” I get up and follow him into the foyer. “Oh, I wanted to ask you about Kiefer. Last night he said he wanted to talk to me about something. He wants to talk in person so he said he’s driving up to see me when we get back to California. Do you know what this is about?”

My dad turns back to face me. “Don’t talk to him.”

“I already told him I would.”

“Then call him and tell him you won’t. You need to stay out of this.”

“Stay out of what? Is this about—”

“Garret.” He grips my shoulder. “I can’t protect you forever. You need to start seeing things for what they are and taking the necessary precautions.”

My dad’s telling me this is about the organization. Kiefer wants to talk to me about it, but why?

“Okay. I’ll tell him I can’t meet with him.”

“Good. And make sure Jade knows that her friendship with Harper needs to end. Soon.”

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