Page 165 of In the Air Tonight

“Hang in there, Cam. I’ll be in touch if I can.”

“Thank you.”

I drive home a short time later as it becomes clear our lives are ruined.

That much is clear at this point.

Ryder calls me. “Did you find Dad?”

“No, but I talked to him, and he’s a mess. Thought he was helping. And Arlo called, too. He cut ties with us. Dad trying to kill Blaise was it for him, especially after he heard you were going to plead guilty.”

“I wanted to end this for all of us. I thought if I took responsibility, it would save the rest of you.”

“Instead you opened us up to civil liabilities that could ruin us.”

“It’s not enough to say I’m sorry. I know that.”

“I’ve got to go.”

“Cam—”

I end the call. I can’t take anymore right now.

At home, I sit in the car for a long time pondering the horrific mess we’re in.

Sienna comes to the garage door, sees me sitting there and comes out to get into the car. “I’d ask how it went, but I can see it wasn’t good.”

“Not good at all. He thought he was helping by trying to get rid of her, and he says the cops will have to kill him because he’s not giving up.”

“Oh, God.”

“Arlo called, too. He’s done with all of us.”

“I’m sorry, Cam.”

“Everyone is so damned sorry, but if any of us had done the right thing back in the day, none of this would be happening.”

She recoils. “Are you blamingme?”

“No, I’m blaming myself. I wish I’d done something when he told me he did it.”

“You never would have. There’s no sense in having that regret. It’s pointless. You were Team Ryder from the first second you were placed in his arms as a baby, and there’s no way you would’ve turned on him—then or ever.”

“It haunted me.” I’ve never said that out loud before. “That we’d done what we did to her…” I shake my head. “I was sick over it.”

“I was, too, but think about who we were then and what was important to us. We did what we thought was right.”

“We were old enough to know better, Sienna.”

“Yes, I suppose we were. So what now?”

“Now we wait and hope my father doesn’t make everything worse.”

Chapter 32

Blaise

NOW

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