Page 3 of Beautifully Broken Control

I swallowed hard. When I’d returned home from college a month ago, I’d thought the worst thing I’d have to face was my mother’s critique of my wardrobe, or her trying to push me on one of her friend’seligiblesons. I’d had no idea that my entire life would come crumbling down around me. “It’s fine.”

Preston’s gaze narrowed on me, taking in every detail of my face. “No, it’s not. You’ve been crying.”

My heart rate picked up its pace, but I urged my expression to remain blank and gestured to the open window. “Allergies.”

“Liar.” He shook his head but grinned. “You’ve always been the absolute worst at it.”

I’d gotten a hell of a lot better. Something twisted deep inside me. Guilt. So much that I was drowning in it. I wanted to tell him the truth. But it was against the deal I’d signed with the feds. And the truth…it was going to kill Preston. I closed my eyes against the renewed threat of tears.

I loved my brother. He hadn’t just been my protector. He’d also been my champion. He distracted Mom when she was being too critical. He helped me escape when the pressure of expectations from both my parents got to be too much. He whispered in my ear that I should follow my dream of opening a ballet studio instead of obeying Dad’s wishes to go into accounting or law.

When Preston learned the truth, it would rip his world apart. He’d worked alongside my father for five years, idolized him, did everything he could to follow in Dad’s footsteps. And the whole time, he was unknowingly helping to facilitate the robbery.

Preston squeezed my foot. “Tell me what’s going on, Twinkle Toes.”

My gaze met his, my throat suddenly dry. Screw the feds, he deserved to know. “The FBI came to see me.”

“What?” Preston’s mouth opened and closed a few times before he continued. “Why? Are you okay?”

The concern in his gaze made choppy waves of guilt churn in my stomach. Guilt that heated with anger swirling beneath it. It all swam together with a healthy dose of fear mixed in. And it was all my father’s doing. “Dad’s stealing from his clients.”

Preston released his hold on my foot. “What are you talking about?”

“They got a tip from some colleagues, returns that didn’t add up. They’ve got a mountain of evidence, Pres.” My voice dropped to a hoarse whisper. “He’s taken over a billion dollars.”

The pile of papers the FBI had set in front of me flashed in my mind. Evidence that had proven that my privileged and pampered life was stolen. Every dance lesson, family trip, and semester of private school. It was never mine. It belonged to the hundreds of people who had entrusted their life savings to my father.

Vomit crawled up the back of my throat. I knew now that it was so much worse than that. Families were going to find out that their entire livelihoods had been wiped out. Even worse, he’d robbed from his poorest clients to convince his richest of his investment prowess.

Preston’s jaw ticked. “They made a mistake. It’s probably a jealous competitor trying to cut us down at the knees. I work there every day. I’d know if something fishy were going on. And come on, Dad isn’t exactly a criminal mastermind.”

But that’s exactly what our father was. “He stole from people, Pres. People’s lives are going to be ruined when they find out. They won’t be able to make their house payments or retire when they thought they could.”

“Kennedy.” Preston’s voice cracked like a whip. “You can’t say stuff like that.” He leaned in closer. “To anyone. Even a whisper of something like this could tank the fund. I know you’re not interested in business, but this is my dream. I’m going to take the firm to the next level, and that won’t happen if whispers and rumors are flying around.”

Preston stood, pulling me up and towards my door. “Come on, let’s go talk to Dad. He’ll clear this up.”

My eyes closed as though if by doing so, I could keep out the pain. The doorbell rang. I heard our housekeeper’s quick steps against the marble floor. The sound of the huge oak door opening. “FBI, ma’am, we have a warrant to search the premises.”

Preston released his hold on my hand as if he’d been burned, his head whipping from the FBI at the door and back to me again. “What did you do?”

Tears crested over my bottom lids. “The only thing I could live with.”

“You didn’t even give him a chance to explain?”

My hands fisted in my shirt. “I did. He admitted it, Pres.”

The sheer shock and betrayal on my brother’s face sliced at my heart. “And what about me? Did I even cross your mind?”

My tears were flowing freely now, streaming down my face. “I did itforyou.” Preston looked as if I’d slapped him. My voice hiccupped. “They-they promised you immunity if I got Dad to confess.”

Preston shook his head, his eyes wide. He looked at me as if he didn’t know me at all. “This is all a mistake. Dad will clear it up. But it won’t matter. It’ll all be too late because of whatyoudid.” His shoulders slumped. “I’ve only ever been there for you.” He opened his mouth as if to say something but stopped, shaking his head again and heading for the stairs instead.

It was as if he had punched through my chest and dug his fingers into my still-beating heart. “Pres, I’m so sorry.”

He whirled on me. “You’resorry? You just ruined your family’s lives. What’s wrong with you?”

I raced forward, gripping his sleeve, my movements desperate as I pleaded for him to understand. “I did it to protect you! To protect all the people Dad has hurt, to stop them from losing more. It was the only way.” Preston stared at me as if I were a stranger. That fire deep in my belly burned brighter. How could he not see? How could he not care about all the innocent people our father had destroyed in his quest formore?

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