Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 145402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 727(@200wpm)___ 582(@250wpm)___ 485(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 727(@200wpm)___ 582(@250wpm)___ 485(@300wpm)
"Mr. Andritch let me take Jean away when he saw the shape he was in," Renee said. "I left him my number and promised to keep in touch while the school investigates. Abby has also promised to keep them updated on his recovery. Unfortunately—or not—Jean is unwilling to name names or press charges. He is not happy to be in South Carolina. He has already tried leaving twice."
"To go where?" Nicky asked. "Not back to Evermore. Is he crazy?"
"It's self-preservation," Neil said. "If Riko and Tetsuji think he's pointing fingers behind their backs, they'll kill him. Even this could be considered defiance since he's not where he's supposed to be."
"How bad is it?" Matt asked. "Kevin got out of his school contract when he got injured."
"They had no choice. I couldn't play," Kevin said. "If Jean will heal, they can still claim him as theirs and there is nothing we can do about it."
"But the president's involved, right?" Nicky said. "So the school board's going to get in on it soon enough, and they're going to do whatever it takes to hide this. It'll kill their precious reputation if this gets out."
"If Jean won't implicate anyone and my mother agrees to keep quiet, they might be willing to let him transfer to another school," Renee said. "That is the best-case scenario, anyway."
"Jean won't agree," Kevin said quietly.
"Perhaps you can talk him into it," Renee said. "I would appreciate the help."
"He isn't safe with us," Kevin said. "I won't give him false hope."
"Some hope is better than none at all," Renee said. "It is the same deal we offered you, and you are still here."
"I stayed because of Andrew," Kevin said.
"And I'm not taking in any more refugees," Andrew said.
"I know," Renee said. "Jean is my problem, not yours. The consequences and fallout are mine to deal with, I promise."
"He doesn't have family he could stay with?" Dan asked.
"His parents sold him to the Moriyamas to repay a debt," Kevin said. "The Ravens are all he has."
Neil shook his head. "Kevin will talk to him when we get back."
"I didn't say that," Kevin said.
"But you're going to," Neil said. "You already walked away from him once knowing what Riko would do to him in your absence. Don't do it again. If you don't protect him now, his death is on you."
"Damn, Neil," Nicky said. "A little harsh?"
Neil ignored him. "Renee already did the hard part. She got him out of there. You just have to put your foot down and keep him here. You outrank him in Riko's imaginary hierarchy. He'll listen to you."
"Yeah," Matt said. "Weren't you two friends once?"
Kevin opened his mouth, closed it again, and looked away. "That was a long time ago."
"Kevin," Renee said. "Please."
Kevin said nothing for so long Neil thought he was going to refuse. Finally Kevin said, "I'll do what I can, but I won't promise anything."
"Thank you," Renee said, and glanced at Neil to include him in that.
Kevin jerked his hand in cutting dismissal and turned away. "I'm going to pack."
Neil watched him stomp upstairs, only dimly aware of Dan and Allison peppering Renee with more questions. When Kevin was out of sight and his footsteps stopped in his bedroom, Neil headed after him. He took the stairs as quietly as he could, but the cabin wasn't designed with sneakiness in mind, and he knew Kevin heard him coming. The bedroom door was wide open, but Neil pushed it closed behind him. Kevin was sitting on his bed, one knee tucked to his chest, as he stared dully into the distance. Neil sat cross-legged on the end of the bed and waited.
It didn't take long. Kevin propped his chin on his knee and said, "How do you do it?" Kevin flicked his fingers as if frustrated by his own vagueness and said, "After everything that's happened this year, after Riko and your father and the FBI and knowing Lord Ichirou has found out about you, why aren't you afraid?"
"I am," Neil said. "But I'm more afraid of letting go than I am of holding on."
"I don't understand."
"You do, or you wouldn't have trusted Andrew and Coach in the first place. Problem is you put yourself in their hands and refused to commit any further than that. You think Riko will hurt you for your defiance, so you're afraid to step too far out of line. But this middle ground won't save you forever.
"Kevin," Neil said, and waited for Kevin to finally look at him. "Figure out what you want more than anything, what it would kill you to lose. That's what's at stake if you let Riko win. Calculate the cost of your fear. If it's too much, you need to fight. Wouldn't you rather die trying than never try at all?"
"It's death either way," Kevin pointed out.
"Die free or die a failure," Neil said. "The choice is yours, but pick your side before you see Jean again. If he thinks you're bluffing you'll never win him over."
Kevin said nothing, so Neil slid off the bed and left him there. The others were talking about breakfast as he headed back downstairs. Renee had stopped by a drive-through on her way up but the others had been putting off breakfast until they had to turn in their keys at the main office. All that was left to do was pack, so they split up to their rooms and dug their bags from their closets.
They packed the cars and walked to the office building for the last time. Renee drank tea while the others chowed down on eggs and bacon. No one said a word about Jean where someone might overhear them, though it was questionable anyone else in the breakfast hall knew who they were and could put it all together. They returned their keys on the way out and split up between the cars. Andrew pulled out of the drive first, and they started back to campus.
They made a shortstop by Abby's house so Kevin could see Jean. Abby had left the front door unlocked as usual, so the team let themselves in without knocking. Dan called out a greeting on her way inside so Abby would know she had guests, and Abby answered from further down the hall.