Page 75 of Always Us

My eyes shift back to my grandfather. His breathing is getting slower, more labored. The color continues to drain from his face. My grandfather’s dying. Right now. Before my eyes. And I’m not doing anything. I’m just standing here, watching him die.

“Why the hell would you tell him that?” Katherine spits out at William.

“Garret wants him dead as much as we do.”

We? Why does William want my grandfather dead? And why does Katherine?

Katherine turns to me. “Why would you want to kill your own grandfather?”

“Because he was going to kill Jade.” I’m not even sure if I said the words out loud as I try to figure out if this is really happening.

“So you came all the way out here to kill him?”

“I wasn’t going to—I mean, I just needed to talk to him. Get him to back down. Leave Jade alone.”

Katherine smiles and looks at William. “Do you want to tell him or should I?”

“Katherine, don’t. He doesn’t need to know.”

“Know what?” I ask her.

“Jade is dead,” she says bluntly.

I reach over and grab her arm. “Why the fuck would you say something like that?”

“Because it’s true. She’s dead. That piece of trash is finally out of our lives.”

“You’re lying.” I let go of her and turn to William. “Why would she say that about Jade?”

He clears his throat. “Jade’s not one of us. We can’t let people like her marry into families like ours.”

“People like her? She’s a fucking Sinclair!”

“You knew she was a Sinclair?” Katherine says to William.

I ignore her and go up to William and shove him back against the wall. “What the fuck did you do?”

“Garret, just calm down.”

“Calm down? Katherine just told me Jade’s dead! And you want me to calm down?” I’m so filled with rage I could kill him, right here, right now. “You better tell me this is some kind of sick joke or I swear to God I’ll kill you.”

“William ordered his security guards to shoot her,” Katherine says. “Left a nice suicide note as well.”

“No.” I back away from him and wait for him to deny it.

But he doesn’t. He just stands there, showing zero emotion.

My mind is racing, refusing to believe this, trying to find an explanation. Why would William hurt Jade? Did he want revenge for Royce’s death? Was that his plan all along? Get close to Jade and then kill her? But William cares about her. He was trying to protect her. He kept telling me to protect her.

“No!” I remain in front of him, my hands clenched, my heart thumping hard against my chest. “You wouldn’t do that! I fucking trusted you! You promised me you’d protect her! Katherine’s lying. Tell me she’s lying!”

He says nothing. I get my phone out and call Jade. It goes straight to voicemail. I call again. Same thing. Why the hell isn’t she answering?

I hear Katherine again. “She’s dead, Garret.”

“Tell me she’s lying!” I yell it at William. “Tell me she’s fucking lying!”

He shakes his head. “I’m sorry, Garret. It had to be done.”

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