Total pages in book: 192
Estimated words: 182641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 913(@200wpm)___ 731(@250wpm)___ 609(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 182641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 913(@200wpm)___ 731(@250wpm)___ 609(@300wpm)
“To blackmail you later into giving him one of your daughters so he would have the power and influence of the Revenaw name,” Boston nearly whispers.
“Not only that but the Greyson Union as a whole,” I add. “But Mom never would have agreed. She was adamant, and from what I remember and what I have been told, everyone knew the ‘Revenaw daughters’ wouldn’t be pawns to be used later. We were stronger than everyone else, so people knew there would never be a need for it. We were raised against contractual marriages.”
Our dad’s face hardens, and he glares at nothing, the vein in his jaw ticcing. He doesn’t touch the comment about our mother but says, “As I had mentioned before, none of this even remotely would have made sense to me, but then you girls …” He pauses, looking at me. “You, Bronx, and Delta took your places and we founded Greyson Elite, the first school of its kind, bringing families from outside districts and criminal organizations into one place. If I had thought about it then, I would have advocated against Oliver Henshaw joining the program, but I was a fool. That was his way into the community, into our lives. It wasn’t until after orientation, the very first day, he approached me again, and I knew. I knew then he’d be a problem in the future. I remembered a comment he made in passing after that. He had said something along the lines of the possibilities being endless for me with two heiresses instead of one. I realize now that was his way of letting me know he would be back and with an expectation I would be expected to meet.”
Frustration builds and I scowl at my father. “Why didn’t you warn us then? Why not let us know to watch out for him? I could have kept him out of the society so he was nothing but a student like the others.”
Guilty, my father nods, finally admitting to something. “A part of me wondered if maybe he would be good for one of you. I saw no reason to instantly object to his offer, and he knew not to throw it out as a demand at that time, knowing the moment he mentioned it, I would consider all sides before I came to a decision, just as he knew a decision wouldn’t be made in any sort of hasty matter. He did what he planned, came to me early and before anyone else could, knowing you’d be meeting a lot of powerful people on campus. I didn’t know the Henshaws were slimy at the time and I was impressed with Oliver, just as you were.” I open my mouth to speak, but he gives a light shake of his head. “Don’t deny it. You never would have accepted him into the society if he were not, and as I said, I had two daughters to think about, so he had more than one chance to get the yes he was after.”
“Are you going to tell us what the Henshaws have over you?”
“I will, but I haven’t decided when. Right now, I’m struggling because I have to make a decision, and it is not an easy one.”
Unease weaves its way into my gut. “What decision?”
“A criminal is after blood. My blood. I cannot allow this.”
“We’re all criminals in some way,” Boston states the obvious. “We’re stronger, and like you said, we have more on our side if it comes to that.”
“True, but the Henshaws are of the poisonous kind. His loyalty is to himself, and he gets away with what he does because of the secrets he can use against others to make sure it happens. It’s how he killed the DA. How he killed others without retaliation or punishment.” My father’s jaw hardens. “We must remember he has many people at his disposal he can blackmail. It’s his forte. Erase problems for a price, but the real price paid is the debt never settled. This is why you never trust a criminal.”
“What decision?” I repeat, a little harsher.
His eyes move to Boston, holding a long moment before making their way to me.
Slowly, he lifts his phone, pressing a button before bringing it to his ear. His eyes stay glued to mine as the line presumably rings, though I can’t hear a sound.
“It is,” he drawls deliberately, his expression growing dark and determined.
I sneak a glance at Boston, who curls her legs up in the chair, refusing to meet my eyes, then quickly looks back to my dad right as he says, “She has changed her mind. The clause will now kick in.”
His eyes flash in the next moment, and I can’t even begin to guess who is on the other line or what is being said. And then he hangs up, staring directly into my eyes.