Page 129 of Cruel Riches

“Okay. So you were working on the exposé, and then what?”

“The group somehow found out that I was onto them. They decided they had to get rid of me before I destroyed them, so one of them killed all those kids at Blackthorne, and the rest of them framed me for it. They were going to have me killed in prison later so I’d never be able to tell the truth about what I knew.”

My brows rose as he spoke, and my stomach clenched as it all sank in. Every word confirmed what Alexis had believed her whole life—a shadowy criminal organization had operated on Avalon over a decade ago, and they took Peter Covington down when he tried to expose them.

All this time, I thought she was fucking crazy, but she was right.

“So what happened then? My mom swooped in and took you?” I asked.

Peter nodded. “Yes. She knew what was happening, and she knew I was innocent, so she broke me out of that place and saved me. She’s a saint, Nate.”

“How did she know about it?” I asked, narrowing my eyes. “Is she part of the organization?”

“No, of course not.”

“How did she know what was going on, then?”

“I told her.”

“I don’t get it,” I said, brows furrowing. “Why would you tell her?”

He smiled thinly. “I was friends with her and your father, from way back. Bet you didn’t know that, did you?” he said, raising a brow.

“No.”

“Well, it’s true. I approached your parents for help when I started my investigation, because I trusted them implicitly, and I had a feeling they’d help me make some of the connections I needed for my story.”

“So they both helped you?”

Peter nodded. “Yes, it was both of them at first, but then your father got into that horrible accident.” He paused and let out a sigh. “I blame myself for that. He was so stressed when it happened, and it was all because of me. If I hadn’t dragged him into my investigation, he’d probably still be alive.”

My mind whirled with a multitude of questions. There was so much I still didn’t understand. So much I didn’t know.

I crossed the room and grabbed a chair. “I can’t fucking believe this,” I muttered, sinking into the seat.

“Sorry for the rude awakening, but you have to believe it,” Peter said, rattling his chains again. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

No shit.

I stared into space, lapsing into silence as the questions continued to flood my mind. “The group that covered for the real murderer and framed you… were they called the Golden Circle?” I finally said, glancing back up at Peter.

Shock registered in his expression. “How the hell did you hear that name?”

“Alexis told me about it.”

A ghost of a smile curved up his thin lips. “Sounds like she’s a real chip off the old block, then.”

I nodded. “She’s studying journalism at Blackthorne. Just like you did when you were her age.”

“I see. What about….” He trailed off and tilted his head, and I realized he was enquiring about the rest of his family. He probably had no idea what to call them, seeing as he’d only just discovered that they changed their names.

“Sarah is Sascha now,” I said. “And your wife changed her name to Sophia.”

“She always liked that name,” he said. “Do you know them very well?”

“I only know Alexis, but I do know a few things about Sascha and Sophia. Sascha is an artist now, and she lives in Avalon City.”

“What about my wife? Did she remarry after I disappeared?”

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