Page 113 of Beneath the Surface

That’s...

“His name was Alex,” I say.

And then I stand up, my vision blurring, as I race out of the room.

52

Mason

There’s a nervous energy swirling through the car. We’re in a limo, of course, Thomas Wells wouldn’t be caught dead in anything less than prestige. My father sits next to Olivia, Frank next to me. My mother is meeting us there, coming straight from her brunch.

My leg bounces as we pull onto the side street of the Capitol, the photos I’ve tucked away in thisridiculoussuit burning a hole through my pocket. Olivia chews on her bottom lip, her eyes nervous and wild as they flicker between me and the windows.

I sympathize with her position. It takes a lot of guts to do what she’s about to, but at the end of the day, she still used me as a tool. She still never really loved me. She stilllied.

Just like I lied to Lily.

Although not quite as extreme, it does put things in perspective. Both were a breach of trust where your entire foundation of belief is rocked to the core. When all of this is over, when my mind quiets from revenge and allows me to reflect instead, I know I’ll feel the regret for not telling her the truth as soon as I knew I loved her.

My gaze snags on Olivia’s, anticipation weaving through my system, knowing that we’reso fucking close.

My father smiles, laughing at something Frank says before looking over at me. “You ready for this, son? Need to go over what to say again?”

My lips twitch as I look him dead in the eye, knowing that I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life than I am for this moment.

Fortenyears I’ve been running from this man. And it ends today. “I know what to say.”

“Let’s hear it.” His teeth gleam. “Just to be sure.”

I lift my brows. “There’s a lot of story behind the past decade, and not enough time to tell you all the details of what went on. I was young and scared, and in the process of me running away, I hurt the people who loved me most, and I regret my decisions that brought us here today.”

“Perfect.” Frank’s meaty hand grips my shoulder tight, and I bite on the inside of my cheek to keep from ripping his arm off of me and breaking all of his fingers.

The car jolts to a stop, and we exit, making our way through the controlled crowd of people, cameras blinding with their flashes as we walk to the steps of the Capitol where the podium sits.

As I sit down next to my mother, my eyes scan the crowd, imagining what their reaction will be when everything comes out into the open. Frank goes up to the podium first, thanking people for coming and answering a few questions.

And then it’s my father’s turn.

Olivia’s knee shakes next to me, the motion making my stomach tense and jump faster than it already was. I pull a toothpick out of my pocket, my fingers brushing the edges of the photographs, and pop it in my mouth, wishing it was the sweet release of nicotine instead.

“Thank you all for coming. I’ve been a man of family and faith my entire life,” my father speaks.

I hold back the snort.

“And I know many of you, as is your right, have been wondering why I’ve gone off the grid for the past two weeks.” He pauses dramatically, with practiced precision that would make the Oscars proud, pulling a handkerchief and dabbing it underneath his eyes.Fucking prick.

“Well, folks, a blessing has fallen on our family. Many of you know that ten years ago, my son Alexander went tragically missing after the night of his engagement party to the lovely young woman you see right there.” My father turns and waves at Olivia.

My jaw clenches as she smiles, waving back. Murmurs start rumbling in the crowd.

“It is my absolute joy to tell you that after years of desperation, of never giving up the faith—the faith that is not only the foundation of our family, but our country—our boy is home. Alexander, come on up here, son.”

He turns toward me as the murmurs grow rampant, cameras being raised along with hands flying in the air, hoping to be called on for a question. The entire spectacle makes me sick to my stomach, but I push down the nausea and I move forward, knowing that these next few steps are my steps to freedom.

We did it. This is going to happen. And after it’s done, I’m going back to Tennessee, finding Lily, and begging for a chance to explain. I’m going to actually live for the first time in my life, and I can’t fucking wait.

My father leans into the microphone. “We’ll take just a few questions now.”

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