Page 69 of Sacrifice (Corrupt Empire 2)

“Chuck had you follow me around for a while, did he not?”

John had the decency to look away, his green eyes darkening.

“He should know better than to keep shit from you,” he muttered.

“Were you the anonymous tip?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you press the police further about it when I provided them with a plausible explanation?”

He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel for a moment.

“I told them I must’ve been mistaken, but I wasn’t. I know it was her. Just like I know you’ve been in and out of her place since she moved back in here.”

“Does Chuck know?”

“No.”

John had always been loyal to Chuck. I wasn’t quite sure what to make of this. The fact that he’d cover anything up for me came as a surprise. I waited, wanting to know if he’d give me an explanation.

He sighed, looking over at me.

“I’m not going to tell him about you and Avery.”

“You going to tell me why not or do I have to guess?”

He shook his head.

“Whatever is going on between you and Avery is none of my business. Just take care of her. I watched that girl grow up into the young woman she is today. She deserves better than the shit her family is involved in. I really don’t care how you two know each other or why you’re keeping it from Chuck.”

I had no idea what to say. I stared ahead at the car parked in front of us.

“You’ve had a shit hand dealt to you, Aiden. I don’t wish to add to that after what they did to you and your mother.”

My heart tightened at the mention of her. I still hadn’t told Avery who I suspected had murdered her. I wasn’t sure I ever could.

“You know about that.”

“I was young back then. The old man got me in with the Daniels. Bad business. Very bad business. Nick was furious with Mitchell. He didn’t know about the late night visits until after everything went south.”

This was news to me. I didn’t know John had been in their employ for so long. Perhaps I could learn more if he was willing to share. I didn’t want to push my luck. He was already doing me a huge favour by not telling Chuck about Avery and me.

“How much longer is Chuck planning on having you watch her?”

He shrugged.

“Beats me. I’ve had nothing to report to him. Why do you ask?”

“She prefers not to stay here is all, but neither of us wanted Chuck to get suspicious.”

He gave me a nod and a knowing smile. Talking openly about my relationship with her wasn’t easy for me. Especially not to someone who could turn us into Chuck at any time.

“I’ll see what I can do. I’d rather not have to sit out here every evening, especially when I know nothing will happen to her with you around.”

“Thanks… for everything.”

My phone rang. I checked it. It was her.

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