Page 104 of Choosing You

“And if you don’t, then what?”

“He made it sound like something bad might happen to Frank and Ryan.” My voice is shaking just saying it.

“And what about you? Did he say he’d hurt you?”

“Not specifically. He just said—” Now my hands are shaking, too. “He said they’re watching.”

“When did this happen?”

“Sunday. Right after your dad showed up. I went down to my room and the phone rang. I thought it was Frank, but it was this weird guy with a really deep voice.”

“So what did you do?”

“Nothing. I didn’t know what to do.”

“What happened to the letter?”

“I still have it.”

“Why didn’t you get rid of it?”

“I don’t know. I guess because it’s the only thing I have from my mom. And she said stuff in it, besides the stuff about what happened to her. She said she—” I almost cry saying it. I clear my throat. “She said she loved me. She actually wrote that in the letter. She never said that to me. Ever.”

“Jade, I understand why you want to keep it, but I’m telling you to just get rid of it.”

“But I shouldn’t have to. I don’t even know who this person is. Maybe it’s some kind of joke.”

“Did he sound like he was joking?”

“No. He sounded creepy. It scared the crap out of me.”

“Shit! I’m so sorry I left you like that. And now I’m stuck in Houston. I’ll come over as soon as I get back tomorrow.”

“Yeah, right. Like your dad’s gonna let you come see me.”

“I don’t care what he does to me. He can take my trust fund and everything else I have. I can’t let him run my life anymore. I was going to refuse to go on this trip, but when we got to the house on Sunday, my grandfather was there. My dad had already told him I was going and my grandfather was so happy I was going with them that I backed down and went. But the trip is over now. And from now on, I’m not letting my dad tell me what to do.”

“Your dad will just keep showing up here.”

“I’ll talk to him. I’ll get him to stop.”

“And how do you think you’re gonna do that?”

“He has secrets he doesn’t want getting out. And normally I don’t like to use that shit against people, but if he wants to play it this way, then I guess that’s how it’ll be.”

“You’re going to blackmail your own father?”

“We don’t call it that. My dad calls it persuasion. Or negotiation. He does it all the time. I’m just doing what he taught me.”

“I don’t know, Garret. You might just piss him off more.”

“Don’t worry about him.”

I hear loud voices on Garret’s end of the phone, followed by even louder laughter.

“I should you let you go. It sounds like there’s a bunch of people around you.”

“They just came in from outside. They’re on the elevator now.” He waits for it to get quiet again. “Jade, I want you to be careful. Don’t go running on the trails by yourself. Or even on the track. And don’t go out at night, especially alone. Stay in groups. Don’t go anywhere by yourself.”

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