Page 63 of I Should Hate You-but I Don't

"But you can get word to him?"

He shook his head. "All I can do is talk to my dad, and I hope he has a way to get a message to your dad through the system. It's not easy, River. He's on death row. He doesn't have any contact with other inmates."

"But he can have visitation." Kenna walked outside. "Either Google is wrong, or you're lying. Again."

"Like I was telling River, I put a request in at the prison to visit with your dad," he said. "But I highly doubt he'll okay it."

"He will if River and I put in a request." Kenna stood beside River. "I just need to know his name."

Zane frowned. "Tom Pruitt—"

"No, his real name," said Kenna.

What do you mean?" Zane looked at River. "Tom Pruitt is your father."

River pressed her hand to her stomach. "We think he has a different name. We've searched for him on the internet and there's no Tom Pruitt who is sitting on death row. There's no arrest record. If what he did was so bad to get him the death penalty, the crimes would've made the news. That could only mean he goes by a different name."

"I never asked dad what Pruitt's crimes were when we were asked to do him a favor." Zane looked at his phone. "I need to hit the road if I'm going to make visitation."

"Will you tell us what your dad says?" asked River.

He nodded and pointed behind them. Kingsley stood in the doorway of the cabin. "Kingsley will be here with you while I'm gone."

She glanced between the brothers. "Was he here the whole time?"

Zane cocked his brow and walked backward. "We know everything that goes on in Gem Haven."

River turned, giving him her back, fuming over his arrogance. She'd thought Phil opened the cabin before she arrived that morning.

"What are we going to do?" whispered Kenna.

"There's nothing we can do but wait." She marched past Kingsley back into the cabin.

"You better pay me if I'm working here all day," muttered Kenna.

Kingsley chuckled. "Yes, ma'am."

"Shut up." Kenna marched to the counter and lowered her voice to River. "They don't have an official list of people on death row. I have no idea how we'd find out who they are."

She was afraid of that. "We'll have to wait until Zane returns and see if he has any more information."

"I hate this," whispered Kenna.

She whispered back, "Me, too."

Chapter Twenty Nine

Zane

––––––––

Ridge Stafford stared at his son as the guard handcuffed him to the stainless-steel ring bolted to the middle of the table. He waited until they were alone before changing his chair position and leaning forward.

"I'd say it's good to see you, but I just saw your ass a few weeks ago." His dad's gaze narrowed. "Tell me we still have Gem Haven."

"If Valdone have their way, we won't for long."

His dad's gaze intensified. "What's happening?"

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