Chapter 56
CHAPTER 56
Six weeks later, I showed up at Emily and Jackson’s place without warning. They welcomed me without judgement, without questions, and made me feel at home.
Emily and I sat on her deck, watching the lazy fireflies buzz around the yard. Theo was down for the night, and with Chloe panting at my feet, I silently sipped from my wine glass while Emily patiently waited for me to talk.
“You look thinner,” she broke the silence.
“I’ve lost my appetite.”
“What happened with Yates? How did he get tangled up with Renner?”
“I guess he owed some big gambling debts to the wrong people. People tied in with Michael Renner.”
“I read in the newspaper that Michael Renner is being charged with corruption.”
“Apparently, he’s been under investigation for over a year for having strong ties with the mafia. He scratched their backs, and they scratched his. And they were all anxious to make sure that my father didn’t win the election. ”
“So, Renner’s mafia friends were the ones that attacked you?”
“Detective Christensen thinks that coming after Dad would’ve been too obvious. So they came after me with warnings and accidents, hoping it’d persuade him to drop out.”
“How was Yates involved?”
“Renner used the fact that Yates couldn’t pay off his debts. He told Yates that he could work those debts off by getting intel from my dad’s campaign. That’s why Yates convinced my dad to hire him as his campaign manager.”
“So, Yates was a double agent?”
“Essentially. I guess the night Renner got shot, Yates was in his office, trying to find something to blackmail Renner with, and Renner walked in on him. They got into a fight, and Renner pulled a gun on Yates. Yates is claiming he wrestled the gun away from Renner and accidentally shot him. Twice.”
Emily sat back, a dismayed expression on her face. “Poor Yates.”
“My father is furious, but he’s also hired him a brilliant lawyer, with the condition that Yates never talks to me again.”
“Have you talked to your dad?”
I drained my glass. “No. I’m too pissed at him.”
“How’s your mom doing?”
“She’s also pissed at my dad. Like, really pissed. But she handled everything like a pro. Her and Roo sent back all the gifts.”
Chloe stood, stretched and pushed her cold black nose into my hand. I stroked her face, staring into her beautiful brown eyes.
“And how are you doing?”
How could I tell Emily how I was doing? It felt like my life had no meaning. I didn’t laugh. I didn’t cry. I went to my shit job and slept. I missed Porter so much, I thought I might die, but somehow my heart kept beating. Somehow I kept waking up and pushing myself to get through yet another meaningless day.
“I’m okay.”
“Porter didn’t come back to work.”
I swallowed hard, staring into my empty wine glass. Part of me had almost been hoping I’d run into him here. Stupid, right? But the heart wants what the heart wants. I’d kill for a mere glimpse of him.
“Do you know where he is?”
“No. He told Jackson his head wasn’t in the game.”
“What did Jackson do?”
“He told Porter that he’d keep his job open for him for as long as he needed him too.”
“How did Porter seem?”
She shook her head. “Not good.”
“Am I being too harsh on him?”
“You know I’m a bleeding heart.”
“So, yes.”
“I’m on your side.”
“But?”
“But he seemed so sad. Maybe you could hear him out.”
“He took money from my dad.”
“He did.”
“And he didn’t tell me.”
“Nope.”
“You think I should talk to him?”
“I think you’re in love with him. And I think he loves you, but whatever you decide, I totally support you.
“Thanks.” I felt more conflicted than I ever had in my life.