Page 128 of Lies Like Love

“Your guilt did her in, congratulations.”

“That wasn’t the goal.”

“Wasn’t it?” Dad’s head ticks to the side. “One wrench in the wheel, and it didn’t matter how much I reassured her. She was impulsive as ever and prepared to burn it all down. She took the videos and was ready to turn the three of us in.”

That doesn’t make sense. In Jude’s version of the story, she buried their secrets. She slit her wrists to protect herself.

“Then why didn’t she?”

I thought Jude was the one who tipped the dominos, but as Dad’s eyes glimmer in violent excitement, and the corner of his lip ticks, my heart starts to race.

“Give me a little credit, Felicity,” Dad gleams. “I’ll always protect my family. Even when the threats come from within.”

“You—”

I choke on the words as he nods in sick amusement.

“Her revealing the truth would have only hurt you. You’re welcome.”

“So you killed her?” This time the words do get out through the tears. Jude’s hand barely tethers me to this plane of existence.

“I protected you.”

Jude’s grip tightens. “You protected yourself.”

“Would you have rather the videos be entered into evidence?” Dad takes a step toward us. “Your sweet, underage stepsister exposed for a courtroom? A jury?”

The fact that he justifies his actions makes it clear Steve isn’t the only one of our fathers who is sick.

“I couldn’t let that happen. Even if it meant losing Abigail or sending Steve to prison.”

“That was you.”

“It was all me.” It’s nearly a yell as he waves his arms out, enjoying the attention. “They trusted me with everything, handing me all I needed to take them down. Even now, in prison, Steve knows there is worse dirt on him than embezzlement. Why do you think he still sends me money? I could get him locked away for three lifetimes if I wanted. Don’t you understand? I’ve had this under control all along. All you two had to do was play your part and not get involved.”

Dad walks back over to the bar, pouring a drink and shooting it down in one gulp. “Bygones be bygones. I’m willing to forgive. You let your hormones get in the way of adult decisions, and now I’m going to give you both the opportunity to fix it.”

“How?”

Dad smirks, like my question is exactly what he wanted.

“One thing was always obvious back then. His fascination with you.” Dad’s eyes move from me to Jude, then back again. “It was stronger than anything I could have planned for, hence the predicament I found myself in. And with Steve getting difficult to work with this last year, I’ve considered alternate solutions.”

Something about the calmness of his tone is unsettling.

“Jude never left the city, Felicity. He might have let you hate him, but it was only for your own good. And it never stopped him from keeping an eye out for you. It’s why I sent you to find him again, even if at the time you didn’t realize it.”

Jude tenses, like he senses a shoe about to drop that I’m not seeing.

“You have my blessing. Your marriage fixes everything between our families, and on the upside, you get what you want—each other.”

“But…” Jude says, drawing the word out in the question I’m sure we’re both thinking. Invisible strings wrapping tighter the longer we stand here.

“Accept control of your father’s accounts as his beneficiary. He’s locked up, your name is listed. There’s enough for you to seize control of his offshore assets. You’ll have more money than you’ve ever dreamed of.”

“I don’t care about money.”

“Of course not.” Dad agrees, tipping his head my way. “But you care about her. And these are my conditions.”

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