Page 24 of Where He Ended

Annie squints, still holding that damn smile. “How lucky. I'm assuming he'll renig on our deal, though.”

“Yes,” I admit.

“Then we're back to square one,” my father says, turning towards the hallway. “No new business, still no sign of Joseph. Every client of ours is going to realize our banks are essentially empty. We're holding this fucking empire together by sheer will at this point!” He slams his fist against the wallpaper—it's a sharp sound that makes me wince. The exertion forces him to double over, coughing violently. He pushes his handkerchief to his mouth.

My mother and I both watch. Neither of us makes a move to help him. Silas shakes uncontrollably, his back curved as he continues to cough. The sound is chunky and awful.

Annie holds up her pointed chin, sliding her attention to me. “There's no use pretending. You're head over heels for that girl.” I open my mouth to argue; she holds up a sharp, painted nail. “I'm upset thatshe'sbeen putting more effort into fixing our problems than you have. But her ideas have failed. We're going to put all our energy back into plan a—finding her father.”

I catch the eager gleam in her dark eyes. This is the plan she prefers.

“Even if I want to help with that,” I say carefully, “We haven't found a single lead.”

“Instead of thinking about how pissed you are at us right now,” she says flatly, “use your damn head.Wehaven't found any leads. Maybe that's because whatever crumbs Joseph left behind aren't for us.”

Silas grunts, clearing his throat. “I suspect the same as your mother does. Joseph hasn't tried to rescue Laiken yet. This means he expects his children to find him.”

“If that's the case,” Annie says, watching me pointedly, “then he might have left those clues where he was living.”

My eyebrows crawl upwards. “You want to take Laiken to the complex?” I ask.

“We wantyouto take her there.”

I shake my head in confusion. “Why me? Anyone can do this.”

My mother cocks her head. “Seriously, do you never use your brain? You know she'll never trust us, let alone want to help us anymore. But you,” She laughs cynically. “Laiken will do anything you ask, I suspect.”

Unease bloats inside of me. They want me to take advantage of her feelings for me. I don't even knowwhatshe feels, but I have a hunch my parents are right; if I ask, she'll help. If anyone else asks, she'll do her best to refuse. If not openly, she'll turn a blind eye to any clues towards finding her father.

But does it matter? Is there a reason for me to want to help my parents after the stunt they pulled? They threatened Laiken's fucking life.

You used to not care,whispers a wicked voice in my head.All you wanted was to prove yourself to your parents, to the world.

Now, the only person I want to prove myself to is her.

“Dominic.”

I look at my father, slow to come out of my deep thoughts. His face is lacking the anger from before. His wrinkles seem softer, his brown eyes kind. “Are you no longer interested in being an asset to this family?”

My spine straightens in a whip-crack. “I don't want to be part of anything that hurts Laiken.”

From the corner of my eye, I see my mother scowling. My father's sad smile rises higher on one corner. “I understand. I really do. Here's the thing - don't you think Laiken and her sister want to find their father as well?”

“Yes,” I say slowly.

“If you can find Joseph, it will help all of us. We'll get the money back that he stole; we'll save our business. And we'll no longer need to keep Laiken and Kara around for leverage. They'll be free to go home after all these years - all thanks to you.” His smile glows encouragingly. “How is that not worth working towards?”

I picture Laiken that day in the library, before our first kiss. She'd been fighting tears as she fretted about her family.

Laiken starts to shake; she hugs herself. “Do you think my family is okay?” she asks.

I put my hands on the chair's arms. “Don't waste time worrying about them. Worry about yourself.”

She smiles sadly, a single tear committing suicide off her cheek. I stare at it helplessly. “My heart's big enough to do both.”

Laiken is obviously upset. I've seen her like this before—long ago. I do my best to ignore it, but her raw empathy for the people she loves erodes my defenses. I'm aching to reach for her, give her some comfort. Desperately I shrug those feelings away, balling my hands on the table before they betray me and grab her. “Your heart can't help you get home,” I whisper solemnly.

A surprised laugh erupts from her. Wiping her eyes, she smiles at me with all her pearly teeth showing. “You're right. I'll need my brain if I want to get back there.”

Home. It's all that Laiken has ever wanted, what she's been fighting for these long years.

And I can give it to her.

My father hasn't stopped staring at me. “Won't you help us, son?”

There's a part of my soul that still craves the idea of being loved. It's a mere echo, but the longer I stand there with Silas gazing on me, my brain working over his convincing speech, the more that part grabs hold and clings tight. It merges with the newer, vivid piece of me that needs to protect Laiken with all my might.

“Yes,” I whisper. “I'll help you.”

I'll help her.

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