Page 61 of Beyond Oblivion

A wide grin spread across Trenton’s face. “Not a chance. Cry about it, you little bitch.”

After a few taut seconds of silence, Travis let out a sharp laugh, breaking the tension. One by one, the rest of us gave in, until the room was filled with full, unrestrained laughter.

“You boys,” Jim said, shaking his head.

Chapter Fourteen

Trenton

“Dad,” Camille said, sitting down after ensuring the kids were still distracted outside. She picked at her fingers. “About earlier…”

She was nervous, and everyone else at the table seemed to sense it, too.

“Now’s as good a time as any,” Dad said. He leaned back against his chair, his palms flat on the freshly wiped table.

“What now?” I asked, my eyes dancing from my dad to my wife.

“I overheard her conversation with Olive. She brought up several things, more than just what she overheard Abby say.” He looked to Camille. “You did good, sis. I don’t know that I could’ve done better, and it’s telling that Olive felt she could come to you about it and you’d be honest.”

“What else did you talk about?” I asked.

“She knows about Madison,” Camille said, her cheeks flushing. “It’s all over town. We should’ve been prepared for the kids to hear about it at school.”

“Oh, shit,” Travis said.

“Well, that’s justfucking perfect,” I muttered, rubbing my temples. “So, does Olive think I’ve been cheating on you?”

Camille shook her head quickly. “No, no. She was more concerned that you sent away a girl she thought had a friendship with you that felt... kind of like hers.”

“What?” I said, a little louder than I’d meant to. “She thought…agh, I don’t know which is worse. What did you…?”

“I explained it,” Camille gently interjected. “I explained the differences. I assured her you two would always be friends. You have to remember how this looks through her eyes, but it made sense to her once I explained it.”

“Which brings us to the bigger issue,” Dad said. “Madison isn’t going to be in that place forever. She didn’t commit a crime. She’s there because her parents demanded it, I assume under some sort of financial threat. But she’s an adult, so she can leave when that agreement is fulfilled. What we know for sure is that she’ll be back in Eakins, and it’s anyone’s guess if she’ll have gotten her mind right. And don’t get me wrong, I feel for the girl, I do. But what’s more important to me is that this family is safe.”

“I’m handling it,” I said.

“How?” Travis asked.

I glanced at Camille and then back to my little brother. “She’s not an international assassin. She’s a sorority girl, maybe obsessive and confused, but it doesn’t require a family meeting. It’s nothing to worry about.”

“I disagree, son,” Dad said.

I sat back in my chair, flustered.

“Trent,” Camille said. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not okay,” I blurted out. “I said I’m handling it and I am. You don’t need to be worrying about the details. I just want you to go about your day like always and know you’re safe because there’s no one that will make sure of that more than me.”

“Who else you got on it?” Dad asked.

“Kostas,” I said, deflated.

“Lach?” Travis asked, confused.

“He has contacts. Did you know he’d invested in security firms before he got into gyms? Because I sure didn’t. But he knows his shit. He already has people watching the facility Maddie is in. They’re screening her calls, have an employee reporting to him, shit I would’ve never thought of.”

“Huh,” Travis said, shifting in his seat. “He’s never mentioned it.”

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