Page 101 of Cabin Fever

My uncle knew everything that happened to my father. He was the one to suggest that we go into hiding and the only one that knew where me and my father lived. It was hard for him to keep the secret from his mother, but he didn't want anything to happen to us.

Dash explained he had vowed he would work to bring down the men who did this to his family. That's why he became the attorney general.

I was worried about coming here tonight and he knew that, so he made sure I had all the protection I needed in case anyone tried to hurt me.

"I'm sorry but I don't remember you."

"I'm your aunt Trixie. Your mom's sister." Her eyes grew soft and unfocused. "She was my baby sister and when she died, I felt as if I failed her. I just . . . Excuse me for a moment."

Trixie patted my chest and walked away, swiping at her cheek. My uncle excused himself too, going after my aunt. Most of the relatives I'd met over the past few days ended up in the bathroom freshening up. I reminded them of a painful moment in their lives, and I hated that my reunion wasn't a happy one.

I was ashamed to admit that I don't remember much of my mother. Over the years her memory faded. And since my father would never talk about her or my sister, I never knew if the few memories I did hold were real or a dream.

"Hello, I'm Whitney Love. I heard you are Carter Fitzwilliam, late Senator Fitzwilliam's son."

I turned around and found a woman about my age in a pink sweater and white skirt. Her fiery hair a stark contrast to her demure demeanor. Olivia only mentioned her once, but I searched her face for any resemblance to her sister.

"Yes, I am. You have a lovely home." I waved my hand around the large room.

Every home I entered since I got to DC was grander than the next. My grandmother's townhouse in Georgetown seemed more spacious than the airport we flew out of in Maine.

"It's not mine. My father lives here with his wife and my half-sisters."

I did my best not to appear too eager by swallowing my excitement. Glancing around the large room filled with leather couches, velvet chairs, and antique-looking wooden tables, I searched for the one person that brought me here tonight—Olivia

"I'd love to meet them."

She leaned toward me and lowered her voice. "I'm going to warn you. Stay as far away from my stepmother, Jane Love. She's the one that threw this party for my dad. Please understand I normally don't speak ill of people, but I think you've been through enough for one lifetime."

Did Olivia tell her she knew me?

Whitney continued, "Jane will use you for popularity. The woman would do anything to be trending."

"Does she know I'm here?" I glanced around but had no idea what Olivia's mother looked like.

"Yes, but lucky for you so is former President Higgins. My stepmother will follow the president around like a lost puppy."

My heart skidded to a halt.

"Are you all right? You seem pale," she said tilting her head.

"President Higgins is here? Is there a way I can leave without being seen?"

Whitney nodded and walked me toward a hallway. "Just go down here and turn left. You'll find a small set of stairs that lead to an office. Once you are in the office, go down another set of stairs to a bathroom. There's a small door that leads to a back exit. You can leave through the backyard. It will dump you into the alley."

I thanked her and quickly moved down the hall. Once I got to the office door, I knocked, hoping no one was there. To my disappointment, I heard a man speaking. I realized whoever was in there didn't hear my knock as he kept on talking. But as I was about to knock again, he mentioned my father's name.

I slowly turned the doorknob and opened the door a crack to listen to the conversation.

"When I find those papers, I'm going straight to President Higgins. He's here and will be very curious to find out that Douglas Love, owner of Love Foods, tried to have Senator Lorne Fitzwilliam killed," the guy said.

"If you don't have the papers proving it, then how do you even know, Derrick?" a woman's voice said.

My jaw tightened. That had to be Olivia's ex-fiancé. Why would he be here? Every time Olivia mentioned him, she would sneer. Did pushing her away cause her to go back to that creep?

It hurt to think that might have happened, but it would be my fault if she had. If only I had been honest as to why I couldn't go with her, she might have understood. I didn't want to risk her life by getting her involved. And if she knew, then she was involved.

"I overheard him one night last year talking on the phone to Senator John White. I always wondered why he was so tight with various politicians, and now I know why. He did their bidding," Derrick said, followed by a laugh.

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