Page 52 of Always Us

“Mostly Garret, since Pearce and Holton are the only two members we’ve identified so far. We were hoping Garret would lead us to the other members, or the members’ children who attend Moorhurst.”

“If you were interested in Garret, why were you so obsessed with getting to know me?” Jade asks.

“I knew Garret wouldn’t tell me anything so I tried to get close to you instead. I thought maybe you’d tell me things. Things about his family that you didn’t understand. Things that might give me clues about what was going on with them. But you never did. You’re good at keeping secrets, Jade.”

“There aren’t any secrets to keep. I told you that repeatedly, so I don’t know why you stayed there all semester.”

“We have reason to believe that Moorhurst isn’t your average college. We believe it’s where the members send their children. The children who aren’t good enough to attend the Ivy League.”

I laugh. “So now an entire college is a secret society? You’re even more messed up than I thought. You should get on meds or something.”

“I didn’t say it was the whole college. But we think at least some of the students there are connected to this group. The same wealthy families send their kids there generation after generation.”

“A lot of people end up going to the same college their parents went to,” I say. “That’s not unusual. And I have no family connections to Moorhurst, so there goes your theory. My dad went to Yale, not Moorhurst. I’m the first person in my family to go there.”

Some of what Carson is saying is right. A lot of the members do send their kids to Moorhurst. Not everyone there is connected to the organization, but some of them are. When I went to the meeting last March, I saw Courtney’s father, as well as the fathers of two guys who lived on my floor. Guys who would soon be initiated as members. All of us knew this secret but none of us spoke of it.

And now Kiefer is going to become a member. So maybe he encouraged Harper to go to Moorhurst in order to get her immersed in that world. Let her start getting to know the people she’d be forced to interact with in the future. Kiefer’s the one who suggested she go there. He probably got her the tennis scholarship so she’d agree to go.

“I didn’t say everyone who attends Moorhurst is part of this,” Carson says. “I’m just saying we’re looking into the families that have a history of sending their kids there and we’re seeing if there’s a connection. We’re going to find out who these members are and we’re taking them down. This is going to end. They got Kent Gleason elected, but the next president will be chosen by the people.”

Jade tries to move, but I hold her against my side as I keep my eyes on Carson. “I’ve heard enough of your bullshit stories. Just get out of here. And if you show up here again, you will get hurt.”

He crosses his arms over his chest. “I might be able to get him out. And you as well.”

I sigh. “You never shut up, do you?”

“We might be able to get both you and your dad out of the secret society. You’d have your freedom back. You wouldn’t have to do what they tell you anymore.”

“Leave.” I glare at him. “Last time I’m saying it.”

He doesn’t move. “If Pearce gave us some names, we could shut it down. We could bring down this group, or at least weaken it to the point where they couldn’t control the system anymore.”

Is he really that naive? That stupid? He really thinks he can take down the organization? He has no fucking clue how powerful they are. Carson, Hanniford, and whoever else they’re working with, would be dead before they could even think of doing something to the organization.

I let go of Jade and step closer to Carson. “Are you gonna leave or do I have to throw you off my property?”

“I’m going.” He reaches in his pocket and pulls out a business card and hands it to me. I glance at it and see that his name is listed as Justin. It’s probably another fake name. “Just think about it. Talk to your dad.”

“There’s nothing to say to my dad because he’s not part of some secret group. He’d laugh if I even mentioned your theory. And he’d make sure you never worked again if he knew you were spreading rumors about him. So if you care about your career, I’d strongly suggest you stop talking about him.”

“Just present our offer.” He walks down the steps.

“Did you hear me? He’s not involved in anything so let it go. Trust me. You don’t want my father as an enemy.”

“Goodbye, Jade.” Carson stands at the bottom of the stairs. Jade doesn’t say anything so he says, “Goodbye, Garret. I’m sorry to hear about your grandfather. I hope he recovers. But if not, at least you were able to see him last week.”

“What are you talking about?” Jade asks.

Shit! I fucking hate this guy. How the hell did he know my grandfather was here?

“Get out of here!” I yell at him. “Now!”

Carson sees Jade’s response and can tell she doesn’t know about my grandfather’s visit. He probably thinks she doesn’t believe him, which is why he explains. “Mr. Hanniford flew me out here on one of his private planes, and the Kensington jet was at the airport when I arrived. I saw Holton getting off the plane. I assumed he was here to see Garret. Why else would he be in this small town?” He smirks at me. “See you later. Stay in touch.”

He walks off. He’s such an ass. I already hated him for hitting on Jade last semester. Now he’s after my dad. And he just spilled a huge secret I wanted to keep from Jade. I really fucking hate him.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

---