Chapter 56 Piper
FIFTY-SIX
Piper
Zach drove along the next curve in the path, and the trees opened up, revealing a wide, flat clearing. A grand two-story house sat in the center.
Once, it had probably been breathtaking, given the architecture and the surrounding views.
Now, half the home was a burned ruin. Blackened and exposed to the elements.
My pulse thrummed so fast it felt like one continuous blur. My body rioting internally even as I was frozen in fear.
“Your family’s old house. It’s still here?”
“Mom never could tear it down. We built a new house down there.” He pointed.
Below the Kirbys’ old home, there was a steep drop-off with a broad view of a valley peeking between the trees. This clearing had been carved right into the mountainside.
I’d never been out here to the Kirby property. But I’d heard it was huge and had been in their family for generations.
The car bumped along as Zach drove us up to the ruined house and parked. “Why are we here?” I asked.
“This is where I found out. That day, my mom was out of town with Dillon. Taking him to some baseball tournament. My sister Jeanine was out with friends, and my dad was home doing…whatever the hell he used to get up to. Drinking, probably. He had the beautiful family, the house, the fancy car. Nothing was enough for him.”
Zach pointed at a blackened mass beside the house.
“That was the garage. I used to sneak cigarettes behind it in high school. So I was back there, just minding my own damn business, when a truck pulled up. You want to know who it was?”
I didn’t respond. Deep down, I knew I should be fighting my way out of this car. Doing anything to get away. But I was stuck in that seat, unable to move until I heard the end of Zach’s story.
Maybe some part of me had guessed what he was going to tell me.
Your slut of a mother took something of my mom’s.
“Your father,” Zach hissed. “Frank Landry. He got out of the truck. Banged his fist on our front door until my dad answered. I snuck around the side of the garage to listen. That’s when I found out.”
“Found out what?” I whispered.
But I was pretty sure I knew.
“That my father was actually your father too. Your mom and my dad had an affair. I always figured you didn’t have a clue.”
“I didn’t.” I shook my head as numbness seeped through my veins. But at the same time, I’d always known the truth about me. The rumors that I wasn’t my dad’s. And definitely from the way Dad treated me.
I just hadn’t known it was Mr. Kirby.
“Landry had just found out. Sounded like your mom had finally told him. I guess Landry knew your mom was a slut, because everyone in town knew that, but he hadn’t known about my dad’s part in it.
He was there to confront my dad. Took a swing at him.
But my dad ducked. Shoved the door closed.
Landry stood there screaming at him until he finally gave up and left. ”
“So you’re my brother. Dillon’s my brother.”
Zach’s head turned sharply, his face a snarl of disgust. “Fuck, no. You’re not our sister. Jeanine was our sister.”
My eyes stung with angry tears. “It wasn’t my fault. I couldn’t help being born.”
“But if not for you…” Zach slammed his fist against the dashboard, making me flinch. “You and I were born the same year. Months apart. You realize that?”
Hot shame rose to the surface of my skin, even though I knew I didn’t deserve it. I had so many people who loved me. Teller, Ashford, Callum, Grace. And Grayden. We knew everything about each other, the bright spots and the ugly.
Grayden loved me.
I had to get out of this. I had to get home to Grayden and Ollie.
Could I use Zach’s phone? Or maybe trick him into getting out of the car, then take his keys?
“You said Danny was blackmailing you,” I said. “Is this why? He found out about the affair between your dad and my mother?”
“He found some jewelry box in your mom’s things. Said it had proof inside. DNA tests would be proof too, but there’s no way any of us would’ve consented to that. But whatever Danny found, it would stand as proof to the people of Silver Ridge. My mom would be humiliated.”
“But Danny didn’t have the jewelry box. He was looking for it.”
“I didn’t know that at first, did I? I just knew he had to be telling the truth. Because I’d known since high school what you really were.”