Page 57 of Undeniably Corrupt
“Vander, stop. You have to stop doing all of this.” I was getting by. I was managing. He’s breaking me, and I cannot break again. I have to stay strong or I’ll crumble.
“I live on a quiet, tree-lined street five blocks from Central Square and the T station there. I have a big backyard, but there’s also a park down the street. You and Hazel would have your own rooms. Own bathrooms. You’d hardly have to see me, and you can save all the money you want. Enough where you’ll feel comfortable paying off your student loans and the ridiculous bills your ex left you with.”
“I can’t?—”
“It’ll give you safety and breathing room. It’ll give you peace, Liora. Imagine not having to worry that the rug will be pulled out from under you. Because it won’t be. Not ever.”
I search his eyes. “Why are you doing this? Why’d you give me this job and bring me soup and ibuprofen? Why’d you go out and hurt the guy who hurt me? Why are you demanding that I move myself and my child into your home?”
The questions catch him off guard, though I can’t imagine how. They’re the most logical questions after a ridiculous offer like that. I don’t even know what I expect his answer to be, but Ihave to ask all the same because none of this makes sense. I was sixteen when he walked out of my life, and yes, it hurt and broke my adolescent heart. But we were kids, and it was ten years ago. So I don’t…getany of this.
His eyes flicker back and forth between mine, and I see a battle raging in his. A fight he’s determined to win because Vander Moore never loses. Not ever. Even when he fights himself.
“Because all of it is what needs to be done. Because I can’t stand the thought of you sleeping here one more night, let alone more. Tomorrow, we’ll move you. Don’t open your door again until I come back for you.”
With that, he says goodnight to Hazel, stands, and leaves, and I need to say no. I need to say no to him. He’s crossing lines. He’s already crossed so many with me, and those red flags are enough that I should do the safe thing.
Vander Moore is irresistibly dangerous. He’s undeniably corrupt. And he’s shaking the very foundation I’m built to survive on.
So I need to say no to him. I’m just not sure how, when everything he’s offering me is exactly what I need.
18
Ididn’t sleep. Not even a little. I came home and paced my house, going from room to room and picturing how every space was about to change. When I couldn’t handle that any longer, I played the drums for hours. I’d nearly killed that dealer. I was close. I wanted to. And if his friends weren’t there watching me break his bones without intervening like the cowards they were, I honestly might have.
He hurt my girl and scared her kid, and all I saw was fucking red. But it was her tears that flayed me open. I never understood the effect they have on me, but I can’t handle them, and I can’t handle Liora being afraid.
I’m learning, almost too quickly, that I live by her. I die by her. And I exist somewhere in between. It’s always been like that.
Add to that, I’ve slowly started ruining her ex. Piece by piece, I’m dismantling his life. Taking what money he has and moving it offshore. His job will go next, followed by his apartment.
I’d give that money to Liora right now. It’d be enough for her to get a place.
But how do I explain how I got it? I made that mistake once. I told the wrong people, and it nearly sent me to prison. More than that, there’s Agent Vega, who I discovered works for Liora’s father. Which means Liora’s father is not only dirty and corrupt in some way I have to discover, he knows too much about me.
And he’s worried enough about me to send someone to dig into me.
If he were to push on her or use her daughter as leverage, she’d tell him anything he’d ever want to know about me. But I also haven’t seen any communication between Liora and her father. She texts her mother, but that’s it. He must have done something very wicked to drive his daughter away, and whatever it was, he goes to great lengths to hide it.
So no. I can’t tell her. And no, I can’t give her that money. Not yet.
She’ll move in with me, and she’ll be safe, and I’ll look after her and Hazel, and that’s all there is to it. It’s a risk. I don’t know how closely this Vega guy or even her father is watching us. I don’t even know what he’s after with her or me. But I don’t have a choice. They can’t live in that apartment another day.
Which is why at five this morning I text my group chat.
Me: I’m moving Liora and her daughter, Hazel, in with me.
Stone: Good morning to you too, sunshine. Are you telling us so we can talk you out of it or telling us so we know?
Me: She was attacked last night.
Katy: What? OMFG! Is she okay? Is Hazel?!
Me: She will be. She’s tough. And Hazel is fine.
Mason: Is the guy dead? Because if you need an alibi, I’ve got you, and if you need someone to help you get rid of the body, that’s Stone’s territory since he’s the one with the boat.
I smirk. Fucking Mason.
