dad is?” Lance sets a comforting hand on my back.
I shake my head. “My mother refused to talk about him. I asked where he was once when I was little, and she looked like she was in physical pain at just the mention of him. Whoever he is, he hurt her. So maybe it’s best I don’t know.” I glance between the brothers. “Is Kaden capable of that? Of being cruel or rejecting me as his daughter?”
“No,” they reply in unison.
“Then what the hell happened? They’re obviously in love in that picture. Did she cheat on him with this Thorne guy? Except that doesn’t sound like my mom either.”
“Can you try asking her?” Joey requests, and from his regretful expression, he understands it won’t be easy for me.
I sigh, dreading it. “I guess I have to if I want to know the truth.”
I don’t mention the psycho’s messages that Brendan and I are convinced are somehow connected with her too. And now, they could potentially have something to do with my father as well.
Lance escorts me back to my dorm after two in the morning. He leads me through a different passage than the one Brendan used to get me to his room. This one is wide, lit and … clean. The floor’s smooth concrete, and the walls are a glistening white tile. It appears to be some sort of service corridor between the two dorms. And when it leads us to the freight elevator—that conveniently has a key in it—I know that’s exactly what it is. It lets me out at the far end of the dorm, behind the kitchen.
I am going to murder Brendan the next time I see him. He knew this option existed. He’s probably the one who told Lance about it. But he decided it was more fun to traumatize me in the claustrophobic dungeon filled with who knows what—that’s now caught and crawling in my hair.
“You going to be okay from here?” Lance asks me.
“I think so.” My voice is weak. I need to sleep. Maybe this will make sense in the morning. Or I’ll wake from the nightmare that I hope it is.
Lance sticks out his hand to stop the elevator door when it begins to close. “Hey, Lana.” I turn around. “No matter who your dad is, I’ve already decided you belong with us. I’ll always look out for you.”
I smile weakly. “Thanks, Lance.” It’s a similar promise I’ve heard from every one of the Harrisons, even Niall.
But what are they protecting me from? The truth? It may be too late for that.
You had the future I wanted. That I knew I deserved.
Lana?” Grant answers after a single ring.
“How’d you know it was me?” I ask, considering this is the first time I’ve called him.
“I just … knew. Or maybe I was hoping.”
The sound of his voice soothes me instantly. I didn’t realize just how much I needed to hear it after the craziness of the past twenty-four hours.
“I’m glad you called me. I’ve been thinking about you all day. How are you?”
I sigh. “Better.”
“Good.” I can almost hear him smiling through the phone. “Me too.”
My breath passes easily over my lips. He’s the calm that makes my world right.
“I received a message earlier that I won’t be tutoring you this week. Do you know why?”
“You did?” I groan. The peace dissipates. “Yeah, I’ve been grounded for the rest of the month. They found out that I left the Club.”
“How?” he asks, confused. “Did someone say something?”
“I don’t know,” I respond glumly. I haven’t given it much thought, too distracted by the paternity tests and who may or may not be my father. But now that he’s asked, it does seem weird that someone would have snitched. “Maybe Blackwood tracked my phone? I didn’t think about leaving it with Ashton when we left.”
“They can do that?”
“Probably.” I sigh. “It’s their phone. I guess we have to be more careful next time.” And then I realize I shouldn’t have said that since they may be recording this call. Or I’m just being paranoid.
“Uh, that’s … weird. I mean, I know Blackwood’s known for their precautionary measures but to actually track you down … why would they do that?”
That’s when I remember how much Grant doesn’t know. All that I haven’t told him. And there’s this part of me that really wants to—it surprises me. I’ve never wanted to be this honest. With anyone.
“There’s so much I have to tell you. But I’d rather