Page 131 of Sins or Secrets
“He used to beat me,” she blurts and blood goes from simmering to boiling.
My hands automatically ball into fists and I stare back at her with my mouth open.
“I can’t allow someone like that to have power over me.This thing is all I have against him,” she adds.
I stare back at her and see how terrified she truly is.She’s right that I couldn’t keep it to myself, but I can’t allow the situation to fester.
“Quinn, I promise you I’ll keep it to myself if you tell me, but if the day comes when I need to use that information to protect you, I’ll do it.You can’t live like this. We might not be able to do anything about Riley now, but at least share the burden with me.Please tell me. It’s me, you can trust me, baby.You know that, right?”
My heart soars when she nods.
Then she steps back and moves over to the bed.Crouching down, she pulls out her little case, sets it on the bed, and opens it.
She then pulls on the zipper on the inner case and reaches into the lining to pull out a memory stick.
“This is it. I have to show you what’s on there.Dad used to record his meetings.I have footage of Riley planning with him.”
“How did you get it?”
“When I was sorting through Dad’s stuff.”
“Show me.”
She walks over to the laptop on the table and plugs in the memory stick in the side.
The footage starts up almost immediately, bringing up the image of her bastard father sitting in his office with Riley.
Seeing his face so clearly brings back memories of when he told me to stay away from his daughter.I have to admit, I still feel like knocking him out.
“How many votes can you get for me?” Peter asks Riley.
“I have the systems set up so you get a thousand each week until D day,” Riley replies.“It’s mostly dead people, but my sources have curated it in a way to make everything look legit, so you get the votes you need.Don’t worry Peter, I got your back.No one will ever find out.”
“Alright, you did good. I’ll make sure you’re well taken care of.”
“You always do. You scratch my back, I scratch yours.”
“Always.”
And that’s all the evidence needed to connect Riley with Peter.I look at Quinn. She’s got her hands together and she’s biting down on her lip.This is one hell of a thing to have.it would destroy Riley for sure and he’d be destined to serve the same sentence Peter would have served had he lived.
A knock sounds at Peter’s door.“Let’s catch up later. I have a meeting with Jackson.”
That catches my attention for a whole other reason.
“Come in,” Peter calls out, and in comes Jackson Fairchild, the man I’ve just been hired to investigate.
Those pictures of Quinn in Billy’s basement spring to my mind, and I realize the two things are linked after all.
Chapter 42
Quinn
“Can I get you something before I go?” Bree asks, setting down the stack of notebooks for the class welcome packs.
“No,” I reply, giving her a little smile.
It’s one I don’t feel and since my best friend knows me, she can tell straight away I’m putting my best face forward.I’m still shaken from last night.I don’t think I can help myself.
