Chapter 50
BECKHAM
“I’m going to get you out of here, Beckham.”
My dad’s sitting across from me in the small interrogation room that the Blackmore Police Department has kept me in for the last eight hours. He’s still dressed in a suit and tie from work, and he’s typing away on his cell phone as he talks.
“I have Marten coming down, my lawyer. He’ll cut you a deal and get you out of here. Worst you’re looking at is community service.”
“Dad…are you fucking delusional?” I ask, resting my cheek on my hand. “I’m being charged with murder; I doubt it’s going to be that easy.”
He still doesn’t look up from his cell phone. “Don’t you worry about that, Son. It pays to have connections in this town, after all. You’re lucky your old man is someone of power.”
I roll my eyes, feeling sick to my stomach.
My father just so happens to be one of three people who sit on the town’s council, and he makes it seem like he’s the President of the United States of fucking America.
“Okay.” I sigh, putting my head down on the table. After eight hours of on and off interrogation, I’m exhausted.
No, I didn’t know Sage was inside the crypt. No, I didn’t have an argument with Sage. No, I never planned to hurt Sage. No, I didn’t lure her out to the cemetery and murder her. No, no one helped me burn down the crypts. No, there was no specific reason I did it.
I’m spent, mentally and physically, and all I want them to do is book me and send me off to county jail. It’ll be better there than here.
At least in jail I can get this all out of my system, pick a fight with someone and get the absolute piss beaten out of me for killing the one girl in the entire world I’ve ever loved.
For betraying the man I love, the brother who’s given me everything, the family we’ve built between the four of us.
I destroyed it all.
I fucking destroyed it all.
I’m still sitting in the small interrogation room a day later, since Blackmore doesn’t have any holding cells, when my father and my lawyer come through the door with the arresting officer.
“Good news and bad news,” Marten says in greeting, slapping a file folder down on the table. “You made bail, but they’re putting you on house arrest until your hearing.”
“Can’t I just go to jail? I’m guilty,” I say, looking up at my father.
“I don’t want you to say that ever again, Beckham,” Marten says, then he looks at the officer. “Especially in front of police officers.”
The cop tips his head. “I didn’t hear a word.”
“What the actual fuck is going on here?” I spit. “Why am I being let go?”
“I told you,” my dad says, a smile pulling up his lips. “You’re lucky your old man is powerful around here.”
“Dad, please!” I shout. “You’re on the town council in a small town in Georgia. Stop acting like you control the fucking senate!”
My dad’s face goes red, but I’m too exhausted and angry and depressed to give a shit about hurting his feelings.
I don’t want to go home. I want to be put behind bars for the rest of my life.
The last thing I want is fucking freedom.
I don’t deserve freedom. I deserve to be punished for doing this to Sage.
I should’ve gone inside the crypt before I set it on fire, but I couldn’t find my key, and I didn’t want to take the time to look for it.
I wanted to end the Games more than I wanted anything else, and that was my mistake.
I let my anger go to my head, and it got my girl killed.
In an effort to protect the future generations in Blackmore, I destroyed my entire world.
The officer approaches me. “Sit back. Let’s get these cuffs off of you.”
I groan, but I lean back in my chair and give him access to where my cuffs are attached to the bottom of the table. When he’s undone them, I stand up and look at Marten. “Do I need some sort of ankle monitor or something?”
“No, we made a deal with the judge that your father will keep a close eye on you. You’re not to leave the house unless it’s for court, got it?”
“Wow,” I deadpan, “so much trust for an accused murderer and arsonist. Did the judge get wasted at breakfast?”
“How about you just say thank you, hmm, Beckham?” my father says, sneering in disapproval.
I take a bow, turning to all three men. “Thank you for keeping the streets of Blackmore safe.”
When my father and I get home, Kai’s waiting on the steps.
My stomach turns to lead, weighing me down and keeping me in the front seat of my dad’s truck.
He shuts off the engine, sighing. “One minute. Then he needs to leave.”
“Just tell him to leave, please. I don’t want to see anyone,” I mumble, grabbing my seatbelt with my fist and squeezing it. I can’t get my body to move, can’t get the strength in my legs or arms to stand up and face Kai.
My dad sighs, unbuckling his belt without another word and getting out of the car.
He walks to the front door, says something, and then Kai’s gaze finds mine.
As he narrows his eyes, he nods and stuffs his hands into his pants pockets, then my dad breezes past him and goes inside the house.
I feel like I’m going to be sick as Kai starts to walk toward the car, and I find myself wishing I could make myself invisible.
Kai pulls on the door handle, opening the passenger door and sighing. “You can’t hide from me.”
“I don’t wanna talk,” I mutter, looking at my feet. “Please.”
“You think I owe you the respect of letting you avoid us?” Kai clicks his tongue. “The only reason I’m not beating you to death is because there’s a witness.”
I follow his line of sight, to where my father’s watching from the living room window.
Kai gets closer, his voice dropping lower. “Let me make something very clear, Beckham. You are no longer a Hallows Boy. You are no longer a part of our family, you will never see Vinny again, and you will never speak to me again. Show your face at BU, and I’ll end you, got it?”
“Wow, big, scary Kai,” I deadpan, feeling numb. “You think I want any of those things? I’ll put a gun in my mouth the second I get the chance.”
“Good,” he says, taking a step back. To my surprise, he doesn’t say anything else or punch me in the face. He just walks away, taking the remainder of my soul with him.