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So relieved that others knew about it.

“Prove it,” Landon said, waving me off and lighting up a cigarette. “Why should we believe you? All you have done is lie for and protect your father for the past few years. Why tell us now?”

After sitting up, I wiped my eyes. “Because … because I know that you can do something about it now. I know that you can put him away for years, if you … if you want to. And I’m begging you to do something. If you don’t, I’ll be stuck here for the rest of my life.”

A few silent moments passed, and the dread returned.

I stood. “You don’t believe me, do you?”

Instead of responding to me, João looked at Kai, who shrugged. “I didn’t find any of that footage when we went through the principal’s computer, but he could’ve stashed it elsewhere. I don’t know. She could be lying, or she could be telling us the truth about her father. We know he’s a prick.”

João shared a look with Landon, then looked at me and nodded to the door. “Get out.”

My chest tightened, and my feet stayed glued to the spot.

I want to die.

That was the first and only thought that crossed my mind at that moment.

People knew, but nobody believed me. Nobody cared. Not even Akio.

Allie’s eyes widened. “You’re going to make her leave? After what she told you?”

“She can’t prove this. We have nothing to go off of and nothing to hurt her father with,” João said, glancing back at me. “You bring me all the shit you can find to prove to me that you’re not lying, and we’ll help you out. If you can’t, then you’re stuck.”

I shook my head. “But I-I—what am I supposed to get? How am I supposed to give it to you? What kind of evidence do you need? He doesn’t let me into his office, and he somehow always knows if I try to sneak in there or not. I can’t get you anything.” I rubbed the back of my neck and stared at the ground through wide eyes. “Please, you have to believe me.”

João sighed heavily through his mouth and stood, grabbing me by the arm and dragging me to the door. “I told you that I want you out,” he said through clenched teeth. “Come back when you have something that we can use.”

As he dragged me to the stairs, I looked back at Jace and Allie. “You have to believe me. Please, Allie, please. You’re the only one who does. I can see it. Don’t let them?—”

Before I could finish, João shoved me out and slammed the door in my face.

I was all alone. Truly alone.

CHAPTER

FIFTY-EIGHT

AKIO

Someone slammed their foot into my ribs. “Get up.”

My body twisted into a ball, and I blinked my eyes open. Two guards stood at the door, never once taking their eyes off me. I whined softly to myself, the concrete ground hard and cold. I didn’t know how many days it had been, but I had definitely missed school.

Another guard—the one who must’ve kicked me in the ribs—grabbed me by the biceps and pulled me to a standing position. He yanked out a chair and sat me down on it, hooking my bound hands to the back of the seat and my ankles to the chair legs.

The salty air hung heavily around the room as a faint flash of the light bulb flickered above. In front of me, the door opened, and Mom sauntered into the room, wiping blood off her fingers, her eyes set in a menacing glare.

“You’re awake,” she said flatly.

“Why are you doing this?” I growled. “Let me out.”

Her features seemed even sharper under the shadow of the light. She hadn’t returned to see me in days, and I felt like this was my only chance to convince her to let me go. I didn’t have any other option.

“Dear Akio …” she started. “We wouldn’t be here if you had been a good son.”

“I’ve done everything you’ve ever wanted.”

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