sign these fucking papers right goddamn now. Then you can play around out here all you want with whatever fucking trash you like to keep you company—”
I lean into the table. “Watch how you talk to her.”
Rachel just smiles, even though she is visibly shaking now. “I think I need to consult an attorney.”
She stands up abruptly, grabbing my hand. Her father scowls.
“You do not want to know what happens if you walk out of this room.”
I intercede. “You will want to be more careful about who you threaten, old man.”
Rachel sighs, facing her father down. “Go back to New York, Daddy. I’ll messenger the papers over to you once I get the all clear from an estate lawyer.”
Mr. Black turns so red that I wonder for a second if he’s about to burst. “You’ll pay for this. Both of you will. Civicore is going to destroy your beloved park.”
Then he straightens up and storms out of the room. It takes almost half a minute for the rest of the men in suits to file out after him. But then we are alone.
I look at Rachel. “Got it?”
She looks down at the tiny hidden camera she’s wearing tucked by the cotton collar of her shirt. “I hope so.”
She takes a second to grab it and turn it off, then thrusts out the palm with the camera in it. “Take it. I’m still so sweaty and shaky that I don’t trust myself not to drop it.”
“I’ll get it to Nate. He’s going to upload the video and help me send it to all the big papers. Apparently he already has contacts at the New York Times and CNN.”
She walks to the doorway of the mess hall, looking out. She exhales.
“I can’t believe we did that.”
I join her. “Honestly? Me either.”
She pulls a face. “The media is going to become frenzied over this story.”
Reaching out to her, I pull her against my body. “I would expect no less.”
She looks up, her eyes worried. “It could be bad. I could be dogged by the press for a while.”
I gently cup her cheek, leaning down to brush my lips against hers. “They will have a hard time finding us if we go into the forest.”
That puts a smile on her face. “I suppose that’s true enough.”
She pushes up on her tiptoes, kissing me a little harder. I bend her backward just a bit, kissing her soundly. When I open my eyes, I am staring right down into hers.
Rachel takes a breath. “Are you ready?”
I take her hand. “Just say the word.”
Nodding, Rachel starts down the steps of the mess hall, heading for Nate’s office.
Chapter Forty-Three
Rachel
Three months later
Grayson glances at me from the driver’s side of the moving van. “It’ll be okay.”
I fidget. “I know. It’s just… this is our first time seeing everyone since the story broke.”
He pulls a face. “A story in which you were the hero. You saved this entire area from a corrupt senator and the shadowy corporate bigwig who was pulling his strings. The media worships you as some kind of whistleblower god. I think you will be more than fine.”
My cheeks turn pink. “I know.”
There have been a ton of changes in my life over the last three months, most of them good. I just worry that people won’t understand why I did what I did. After all, I turned on my father in exchange for money and my swoon-worthy boyfriend.
Or at least, that’s the way the papers have made it out. Grayson doesn’t think I know anything, but one of the places that we stayed had some wifi access. I couldn’t not Google myself.
I sigh quietly, trying not to be anxious.
We go around the final bend and then the new house is right there before us. Not Grayson’s house; that won’t be ready for months. Instead I look at our little rented cottage, bright yellow and cute as a button. There are a bunch of people holding a big banner that says Welcome Home! I see Nate at the far end, looking pleased.
For some reason, the whole thing makes my lungs freeze. I don’t miss my old life. I don’t want people to be treating me differently just because they think they know me.
No one really does, nobody except Grayson.
Grayson pulls the truck up. “I’m not sure if welcome home is really appropriate since we’re actually just renting it, but… I did tell you that everyone would be excited to see you.”
I roll my eyes. “I like that