to do something you didn’t want to.”
“No, nothing like that,” I tell her, shrugging. “Jaxon called me a few weeks later and offered me a full-time position, so I went into training. I would have turned it down, but I was struggling to find another job. I had rent due. I didn’t think Andrew would find out. I thought because I didn’t get it, he would leave me alone. But he did find out. And he reminded me of what was at stake.
“But he lied when he said it was them. I knew from day one of working there that they are good people. Not perfect, but good. When I refused to give him information, he refused to let me see Mum. So, I gave him things that I assumed were useless. I couldn’t give him what he wanted because that would mean he’d won. He would have ruined too many people’s lives and I couldn’t sit back and watch that happen. But I needed to be there for Mum.
“So, I let him think I only had access to certain documents. When what I sent wasn’t enough, he got pushy. Then Thursday, I accidently sent this week’s move rota.”
“Is that bad?” she asks, trying to get a read on me.
I wipe my nose with the back of my hand as more tears fall.
“Yes, because today they were nearly killed at a large property they were clearing,” I explain, and she gasps. “It was petrol bombed by a group of lads. Reid got stabbed after escaping the fire and Wyatt was pretty banged up too. They got hurt because of me. Me! If that isn’t enough to hate me, finding out he’s my dad will be. They know he was behind it, and from what I could gather, this isn’t the first time he’s done something to them. Everything he said was a lie. It’s him after their business, after them, and now, because of me, he has an in, and I don’t know how to get out of it without everyone, including me, getting hurt.”
“Breathe,” Rebecca rushes out, squeezing my hand.
“I can’t,” I cry out. “Either way, I lose. The guy I’m into is also the guy I’m betraying, which is why I can’t even give in to his advances like I desperately want to. Wyatt’s the kind of guy I could fall for, and I know you think he’s a player and he most likely is, but when he looks at me, I feel alive.”
“Then don’t tell him,” she demands.
I give her a pointed stare. “You know I couldn’t do that to someone. Even if by chance I do keep it in, you know Andrew will find out and love revealing everything.” I pause to take a sip of my drink before forcing a smile. “I’m fucked, Becca. If I tell them, which I really want to do, I’ll never see my mum again. He could put her in a home where they’ll hurt her. You read articles all the time about how some care home treated patients badly. That could be Mum. Please, Becca, please tell me what I should do,” I plead, more tears slipping free.
“First, you are going to relax and get drunk,” she orders gently as I cry into my hands.
“What am I going to do? They’re so good to me, and today, I could have gotten them killed.”
“You really do like them, don’t you? All of them.”
I nod. “Yes. Even their sister has been welcoming. I’ve not had that before. You know Seb and Kate turned everyone against me growing up. I’ve only ever had you as a friend. But she invited me for lunch today, along with some of her and her partner’s family, and it was going good. They all get along and love each other. They tease each other but in a good way, not in a taunting way. I thought I could do it—you know, be friends with them and be Andrew Black’s daughter.”
“You aren’t his daughter. You might share DNA, but he’s never been your father.”
“It doesn’t matter. They’ll all turn on me. They’re protective of each other. We were having a good time too. That is, until Maddox got a phone call about the fire. He was pissed because Lily, Jaxon’s wife, was there.”
“Shit, that’s Lily Carter. I heard they got married.”
“Huh?”
She pales somewhat, sitting back. “I went to school with Lily for a bit. She was a year older than me, and trust me when I tell