Page 126 of Always Us

JADE

“I need to talk to you,” Garret says as he walks in the door. He has that serious look on his face that I don’t like.

“What’s wrong?” I watch as he checks out the window. “What are you looking for?”

“I’m trying to make sure I wasn’t followed.”

“Garret, do not say stuff like that.” I go over and turn him away from the window. “What’s going on? Why would someone be following you?”

“They’re not. I’m just making sure.” He lets out a heavy sigh. “Kiefer came to see me today. He showed up on campus wanting to talk.”

“About the organization?” I feel the tightness in my chest that forms every time this topic comes up.

“Let’s sit down.” He takes me over to the couch.

“Did you talk to him?”

“I didn’t want to, and I tried to get rid of him, but he wouldn’t go away. He was desperate to talk to me. You should’ve seen him. He looked like he hadn’t slept for weeks.”

“He didn’t look so great when we saw him at your dad’s house either.”

“He looks a lot worse now.”

“So what did he say?”

“That he doesn’t want to do this. He doesn’t want to be part of the organization, but now he feels trapped, like he can’t get out of it. He got lured in by the money and the power and the clinic. He has no problem supporting the rigged elections, but he had no idea about the other things the organization does. The things they do in order to keep their secrets. Now he wants no part of it.”

“Why does he think you can help?”

“Because he thinks I got out and he wanted to know how I did it.”

“So he doesn’t know what happened? How could he not know? He was part of it.”

“He believed the story about the reality show being the reason we made those videos. So I didn’t tell him the truth. I just told him I was never a member.”

“Did you tell him we can’t be involved in this?”

“Yes. Which is why I got in my car and told him he had to leave but then—”

“Then what?” My stomach knots and my chest tightens even more.

Garret holds my hands. “Promise me you’ll stay out of this if I tell you.”

“Tell me first.”

“No. This is bad and I probably shouldn’t even tell you but—just forget it. You don’t need to know this. I’m pissed that he even told me.”

“Garret, you can’t say something like that and then not finish. Tell me what he said. Is it about Harper?”

He doesn’t answer. Dammit. I hate it when he does this.

“I swear, if you don’t tell me, I’ll call Kiefer myself.”

“Jade, I’m serious. Do not get in the middle of this. If I have to, I’ll talk to my dad, but that’s it. Kiefer got himself into this and he has to get himself out. And he better do it damn quick because the initiation is early January. And once he’s in, he’s never getting out.”

“Garret, please. Just tell me. I promise I won’t get involved.”

“You say that now, but after you hear this…” He drops his head, his gaze on our hands.

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