Fraud

For the first time in his life, the broken prince is lifting the spoiled princess up from where she kneels on the dirt. He’s helping her stand instead of being the monster that does everything in his power to destroy her.

I lean back against him, accepting every small part of himself he has to give.

Before saying a word, I need to confirm that we’re talking about the same person.

“What is your father’s name?”

“John Bailey,” she answers immediately, such open desperation in her voice that it pains me to hear it.

It also proves what I overheard that day was, in fact, about her dad.

“I know nothing about your dad dying,” I admit.

Ta

“What do you know?” she asks.

“I’m not entirely sure,” I finally say.

Now cornered by the obvious pleading in her expression and the weight of the guilt that’s crushing me, I decide to fess up so that she has some idea of what must have happened before her father died.

“I only overheard two names that have anything to do with your dad. I have no idea who they are.”

“And those are?”

“Jerry,” I admit.

Her posture straightens at that, every person in the room staring at me with unwavering attention.

“And what’s the second name?” she asks softly.

I drag in a breath, not understanding what any of this means or how it’s important.

“Everly.”

Every person goes dead quiet. Everyone that is, except Jase.

“What in the actual fuck did you just say?” Pushing to his feet, he storms toward me.

Gabriel pulls me back and takes a protective step forward to prevent Jase from getting close. The two men stare at each other for a few tense seconds before Jase backs down and his eyes shift to me.

“You better start talking, blondie. Because you just said the one name that I needed to hear.”