Page 66 of Always Us

“Shit!” I toss it on the floor and race out to my car. When I get to campus, I go to Jade’s classroom and peer through the glass panel in the door to make sure she’s there. She doesn’t see me but some other girl does and rolls her eyes. What the hell’s her problem?

I wait outside the classroom on a bench in the hall. I call my dad again. This time, he actually answers.

“Hello, Garret. Katherine said you called.”

“Yeah, and she told me the truth about Grandfather. Why the hell would you lie to me about that?” I hear how loud I am and lower my voice. “I needed to know! I need to protect her!”

“I wasn’t lying to you. I just haven’t had a chance to call and tell you.”

“And you knew he didn’t have a stroke?”

“Yes. But that can’t be public knowledge. Very few people know what really happened.”

“Do you know who did it?”

He clears his throat. “No. But your grandfather has numerous enemies who would be happy to see him gone.”

“What am I going to do? He called me just now and—”

“My father called you?”

“Yes.”

“I’m surprised he’d call you. He hasn’t even called me yet.”

“He called to tell me the plan is still on. He tried to move up the timeline but I wouldn’t let him. Dad, there’s a countdown timer on my laptop. Who would’ve done that? You think he’s working with someone?”

“I don’t know but I’ll find out.”

“Until you know, what should I do? I’m waiting outside Jade’s classroom right now because I don’t want to leave her alone. I don’t trust that she’s safe.”

“If my father set the rules, he’ll abide by them. She won’t be harmed.”

“Maybe not now, but she could be in a few weeks. The end of the year isn’t that far away. I need to stop him.”

“Just stay out of it. I told you I’d take care of it and I will.”

“I’m not going to just sit here and do nothing!”

“You need to calm down or Jade’s going to figure out what’s going on.”

“She already knows.”

“I told you not to tell her.”

“I didn’t have a choice. Carson was—”

“Garret, I can’t talk right now. I’m meeting with some people and they just walked in. We’ll talk later.”

He hangs up just as Jade’s class dismisses.

She spots me as she walks out. “What are you doing here?”

“I’ll tell you when we get to the car.” I take her backpack and hold her hand and walk her out of the building.

“What’s going on, Garret? Is this about your grandfather?”

“Yes.”

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