46. Felix
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
FELIX
“Stay with me.” Harper’s heavy eyelids struggle to stay open as I lower her to our bed. Her fingers curl around my arm, like she’s afraid I might slip away.
“There’s no way I’m leaving. Give me a moment to freshen up.”
“Hurry.”
I can’t stop smiling as I step into the bathroom, remembering the way we just made love in the maze, as sappy as that terminology sounds. There’s no more holding back. I’m ready to give her everything. All of my goddamn heart.
As I wash the skeleton paint from my face, Tyler flashes to mind. Where the fuck did he end up tonight? The thought is fleeting. Nothing matters more than climbing into bed with Harper and wrapping her in my arms.
I grab a damp towel and return to the dark bedroom, kneeling in front of her as she sleeps once more. She’s completely at peace. So trustful of me. I’m a fool for wasting so many years being angry with her. But none of that matters now. We’re together and everything is as it should be .
Being gentle, I wipe the paint from her skin, careful not to wake her. My fingers linger at her lips. I lean forward, brushing my mouth to hers.
“Felix.” Tyler’s voice penetrates the silence, low and grim, tearing me down from my bliss. Not once have I heard such an alarming tone leave my brother.
I turn, finding him in the doorway, a silhouette against the hallway light. “Tyler, what’s wrong?”
“Paul Ferguson is dead.”
My brows raise with shock. I don’t feel one bit of remorse for the guy, but curiosity over his death leads me to the hallway with Tyler.
My brother has already washed his face paint off.
His jaw is tight and his eyes are plagued with distress.
The bedroom door clicks shut quietly, separating the two of us from Harper as she sleeps.
I keep my voice down. “What happened to him?”
“Paul died in hospital a few days ago. He was admitted with severe head injuries the night he attacked Harper.”
Shit.
My muscles clench. I can read between the lines. The head injuries caused by me. I left Paul in a bad state, but not once did I think I killed him.
“The party was ten days ago. How are we only hearing about this now?” I ask.
“I don’t think many people know Paul was taken to hospital. Maybe his parents wanted it kept hushed.”
“Where does this leave us? How did you find out these details?”
Tyler’s throat works. His face is drained of all color. “The cops know you’re attached to Paul’s death. Felix, they’re here now, in Dad’s office, to arrest you for murdering Paul.”
My blood turns cold. “Fuck. What proof do they have? ”
“Someone saw you beating Paul. They called the cops to the party and identified your face on security footage. There’s footage of us climbing into your car. The cops tracked your number plate.”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
“Dad’s here too, with them. They sent me to find you and bring you to them. What the fuck are we supposed to do?”
I look at the bedroom door where Harper lays asleep inside. It’s not survival instincts that run through my mind, but fear of losing Harper. I claw both hands through my hair, scrunching and pulling. Groaning. My breath comes in ragged gasps.
I can’t lose her. They can’t take me away from her. I promised Harper nothing would ruin us.
But there’s no running from this. I fucked up and now I’m about to lose her all over again.
I press both palms to my forehead, squeezing my eyes shut as I force air into my lungs, trying to focus. Panicking won’t change anything. I need to remain strong. There has to be some line of defense. I was protecting Harper.
“I don’t know how you’re going to fight this one,” Tyler says.
With a deep breath, I stand tall, composing myself. “Stay with Harper. I’ll go to the office.”
“No. I’m not leaving you alone in this. She’ll be fine.”
My throat tightens. I nod, thankful to have him by my side.
As Tyler and I make our way downstairs, every inch of my body pounds with dread, anticipating my future. The moment we step inside the office, I find my father sitting behind his desk with a police officer standing either side.
Before I have a chance to speak, Dad opens his mouth, his voice low but stern. “Felix, a very serious matter has occurred.”
“Tyler filled me in.” I fight to keep a level tone. “Do you know Paul Ferguson attacked Harper? He had her pinned beneath him. He was violating her. I stepped in before it went any further.”
“I’m well aware of what has happened. But Paul has died in hospital due to injuries caused by you, which means you have murdered a man.
Luckily for you, I have connections with powerful people in the police force.
They approached me when learning my son is involved in a serious crime.
I’ve paid a lot of money to keep your name out of this. Tyler and Harper’s too.”
My jaw twitches. My first instinct is to be filled with relief, but something doesn’t seem right. The silence in this office is too heavy. Tyler said the police are here to arrest me.
“The Fergusons don’t know their son attacked Harper,” Dad continues.
“They don’t know you’re involved in Paul’s death.
CCTV and private security footage has been buried.
The witness who saw you punching Paul has been silenced.
Paul was drunk and got mixed up in a group brawl at a party—too many fists, too many faces, and no way to tell who threw the punch that would have led to his death.
The cops arrived to break up the fight, but everyone fled before they could be identified. That’s the story we’ll hear.”
“I understand. Thank you for your protection. Why are the police here now?”
Dad’s fist bangs against the desk and his voice rises with anger.
“They’re here at my request, because you never learn, son.
Your life choices are horrendous. Selling drugs.
Gambling. God knows what else I haven’t been informed of.
Now, killing a man. I warned you, right after I saved you from being expelled from school, that I wouldn’t save you again.
Yet here I am, saving you because I don’t want to see my son charged with homicide.
I’ve tried disciplining you. It doesn’t work.
I sent you to live in the Winslow residence where I thought I was finally starting to see some changes in you.
Yet when I come looking for you, I find an empty apartment.
I contacted the school. They tell me I’ve sent in a letter of approval for you to have time off?—”
“The letter was my fault,” Tyler interjects.
“Stay out of this, Tyler,” our father orders, never taking his eyes off me. “I track you down at the beach house and find you’ve thrown a party. What are you doing with your life, Felix?”
My hands clench. My insides boil, wanting to snap back at him.
The two of us only know how to communicate with each other through arguing.
But I work hard to maintain my calm, needing him to see the truth.
“Clara’s death has changed me. I’m not involved in any of those things anymore.
I’ve been attending school. I’ve been studying. I’ve cleaned up my life.”
“How can you say that when you’ve killed a man?”
“What was I supposed to do about Paul, let him have his way with Harper?”
“Pull him off her,” Dad shouts. “Report the crime. Let the police deal with him.” He stands from his chair, placing two hands on the desk to collect himself.
When he speaks again, his words are low and assertive.
“You’re out of control. I’m at my wits’ end with you, Felix.
I’ve come here tonight to give you two options.
Either I send you away to a behavioral correctional institute across the country where you will complete your education and get your act together. ”
It’s the most idiotic thing I’ve ever heard. But my concern isn’t about the institute. It’s that he wants to send me away for almost five months.
“I can’t leave. I need to be here for Harper. There has to be somewhere closer. Whatever correctional program you want me to complete, I’ll do it, just don’t make me leave.”
“You’re in no position to negotiate. I’ve already enrolled you at Westbridge Institute.
If you refuse to attend, that means you choose the alternative option.
I’ll hand you over to the cops and you’ll be charged with homicide.
I don’t want that for you. Your life will be ruined.
But perhaps it’s the only way you’ll learn. ”
Nausea rises within me, slow and sickening, as I hear the two options.
He won’t listen when I try to tell him I’ve changed. This is just like him, letting money deal with his problems. I suppose I should be grateful. I am grateful that he’s saving my ass. I just wish he didn’t have to be such a dickhead about it.
My nails bite into my palms. I want to argue, to fight, to tell him I won’t be forced into either of his choices. But I have no leverage.
Tyler steps forward, defending me. “None of this is necessary. You’ve always trusted me. Trust me now when I say Felix has changed?—”
“Tyler, I told you to stay out of this,” Dad snaps back.
“No,” Tyler raises his voice. “You’re not listening. Felix didn’t do anything wrong. He protected Harper. If he hadn’t taken care of Paul, I would have. Would you be giving me the same treatment? Felix isn’t the screw-up you think he is. Now, when he needs you, you’re throwing him away?”
“Goddammit, Tyler. Do not test me.”
Beside me, I can feel Tyler ready to fight back. Heat pricks behind my eyes. I never asked Tyler to defend me, but hearing him stand up for me means everything.
Tyler opens his mouth to retaliate. I grab his arm, shaking my head, warning him to back down. My father holds all the power right now. I hate that he’s forcing these two options upon me, but one is clearly better than the other.
I can bide my time. It will only be a few months. I’ll be back with Harper and Tyler soon.
“I’ll attend Westbridge,” I announce.
Dad returns to his seat. “What do you know, you do have some intelligence.” Fucking prick. “These two officers will escort you to Westbridge.”
“I need to say goodbye to Harper.”
“No. You’re to leave immediately. There will be no personal items coming with you. No goodbyes. You’re pushing your luck enough to get this deal.”
Fuck .
Harper.
I turn to Tyler. The remorse in his eyes guts me.
“It will be okay.” My voice is steadier than I feel as I pull him into a hug. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Take care of Harper while I’m gone. Killian and Dan too.”
“I will. I promise.”
I don’t doubt it. He’s my brother and I trust him with my life.
I know, no matter what, he’ll take care of our girl and brothers.