Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56591 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56591 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
“He’s never wanted anything to do with Grandma or me,” Izzy whispers. “Except to hurt us.”
“Fucking hell,” Ethan hisses.
“Enough,” I say, glaring at him. “Just… enough.”
“Thank you,” Izzy says quietly.
I don’t look at her as I stride from the boardroom. What a goddamn mess. She’s thanking me, but I’m just as pissed at Ethan. And yet, I still want her. I can’t listen to my father’s taunting voice telling me to be careful, because that would change everything.
Aaron is a scumbag, but that doesn’t mean his niece has to be marked with the same brand. I’ve only known Izzy for a short time, but already, I can sense her empathy, her compassion, her… everything.
Or that’s what she wants you to think, my father warns.
In my office, I close my eyes, remembering how happy I used to be when Uncle Seb came to visit, the joy and excitement that would bubble up stupidly inside of me. The memories now only make me feel ashamed.
CHAPTER 9
IZZY
Idrive home that evening, shame pricking me all over. When word got out that I’m Aaron’s niece, people started looking at me with even more suspicion. Word has already spread about Kenny and how Dom stood up for me. This is just another reason for them to resent me now.
How can I explain to them that I don’t even like to think of Aaron as my uncle? That I do everything in my power to erase that fact from my mind? He wanted nothing to do with us, except recently, when he offered me a job… and now, I know, that was only so he could find an angle to turn me into his chess piece.
In my apartment, I pace, wondering what to do. I wanted to visit Grandma, but when I called to check if she was awake, the nurse told me it’d be better to leave it tonight. Now, I’m stuck with my thoughts.
I hate lying to Dom. We might be strangers, technically, but it doesn’t feel like that. It feels like I’m slapping him across the face every second I don’t reveal everything to him. So far, I’ve managed to play dumb with Aaron. But after today, I’m not sure that’ll work anymore.
What if he thinks Dom was defending me, not because I’m his employee, but because I’m, well… me?
I take out my phone and type a message to Dom.
Izzy: We need to meet. I’m so sorry, but I haven’t been honest with you. It’s not just that Aaron is my uncle. He’s been blackmailing me to force me to spy on you. I’ve tried not to give him anything, but as insurance, I photographed files from that memory drive you gave me. And I’ve been memorizing things, like how you want to extend PLI into the inner city. I saw a note on Ethan’s computer two days ago that said Public Liaison Initiative, so I assume it’s that. There was a list next to it: politicians’ names. I think this means you might be bribing them? I don’t know. But I don’t want to tell my uncle. Please, help me.
My phone lights up with Aaron’s name before I can finish or send the text.
I don’t want to answer, but I haven’t got much of a choice. He was more erratic in the meeting than I’ve seen him in a long time.
Sighing, I answer the call. “Hello?”
“Uh-Izzy?” Grandma whimpers.
“Grandma?” I yell down the phone. “What’s wrong? Why do you sound so strange?”
“Do I have to go?”
“What?”
“Aaron is saying I might have to leave, something to do with your insurance? Through his company?”
Her voice is tight. She sounds terrified, the poor woman. The angel who saved me from the system when I was a kid, who took me in and gave me a family when I had none left.
I swallow tightly. “Well, there are other facilities—”
“Oh, but I have my routine here. And the staff are so nice and…” She clears her throat, clearly on the verge of tears. “But if you think it’s for the best, I’ll try. For you, I’ll try.”
“Forget I said anything,” I say, wiping tears away. “Is he there?”
“Who?”
“Aaron.”
“Oh,” she murmurs, sounding confused. “Yes, he’s here.” Quieter, “She wants to speak with you.”
“What a treat,” Aaron says in his smarmy little voice. He takes the phone from her. “Hello, my sweet niece. I hope you had as much fun earlier as I did.”
“The nurses said she wasn’t up for visits tonight,” I snap.
“These nurses love me, Isabella,” he says. “They’ll sing any tune I want, just like you.” He says something to Grandma, raising his voice. “Yes, my mother. We’re sorting it out now. She just needs to give me her updated code. Nothing for you to worry about.”
I’m always stunned by how kind he can sound when he puts his mind to it.