father is the governor of California? How did that happen? When? How? Why? What?” I run my fingers through my hair and stand, then kick the water and scream at the top of my lungs until all the air is gone. “My dad has to be behind that. Him and Timothy go way back. Does he still run his business? When did this happen? How did you know? Are you sure it’s her father?” I spew questions left and right, wanting to make sure he knows because if this is true, this situation just got a lot worse.
“We didn’t know for sure until he was announced today, but the news said he would not be delivering a speech because him and his wife and mourning their daughter’s absence. That’s when Sebastian did a crosscheck. It’s him. He has announced he is getting the FBI involved.”
My stomach drops to the beach’s floor. “The first person they are going to look for is me.”
Owen nods and hands me another beer. “Yeah, that was my first thought too because of what happened with Grace. We might not have a choice. She might have to go back sooner than she wants, Heaven. If it means keeping you safe. Right now, I’m afraid they are going to charge you with kidnapping or holding her hostage or something.”
Could this day get any worse?
I hold my breath and wait for Owen to say something that makes me want to punch him in the face, but he stays quiet. I exhale, relieved, usually when I think that something worse always happens.
“I…uh…I need to go for a walk or something. I can’t be here right now. I need…” I spin my heels in the sand and lay my hands on top of my head as I stare at the ocean roaring. “I don’t know what I need. I’ve never felt this knotted up. Even when I was in prison, I had a positive spirit.” I kick the ground and sling sand across the water’s surface. “My dad had to have something to do with Timothy’s win. Timothy always said he never wanted to get too involved in politics, unless my dad wanted someone in his pocket. That sounds like that can be true. I bet he lined Timothy’s pockets with cash. Dad is good at bribing people.”
“Do you want to tell her, or do you want me to?” Owen asks.
“I’m not ready to talk to her yet.”
“Jolie told me everything. I understand if you need some space. You can go to my bunker if you want, do some fishing, make a fire—”
“Do I look like the kind of man that knows how to rub sticks together to create a flame? Look at me? I’m too damn pretty for the wilderness.”
“I have matches, smartass,” Owen chuckles around his drink before taking a sip.
“Whatever,” I wave away his rational idea and sit down next to him again. We lapse into silence, drinking beer, and it’s peaceful. We don’t do this enough. He is always so busy with Jolie, which makes complete sense, and I’m too busy getting hurt for us to hang out.
“You know,” he starts to say, “I’m not saying you forgive her because what she did was fucked up, but maybe try to see it from her point of view. No matter how hard and fucked up it may be, think about the pain she was in and all of that shit she felt.”
“I know, but it doesn’t excuse her. I don’t know, Owen. I don’t think I can get past this. I understand what you’re saying, but this…this is vindictive. I knew she didn’t like me, but the level of hate she must have felt for me to be okay with sending me behind bars, that’s hard to comprehend when I’ve always had feelings for her. I’m not used to being rejected at such a horrible level.” I start hysterically laughing and Owen stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. The stitches in my chest pull from the jiggle in my chest. “God, I can’t believe I couldn’t catch a hint. A woman literally sent me to prison. To prison, Owen!” this time as I laugh, I clutch my stomach and fall to my side. The sand digs into my cheek and then Owen flips me over on my back and slaps me across the face.
I stop the hysterics immediately and lay a hand on my cheek. “What the fuck?”
“You need to snap out of it. She