47. Tyler
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
TYLER
I’m sick to the pit of my stomach as the cops lead Felix out of this office, taking him to some fucked up reform school he doesn’t belong in.
I hate that our father is forcing Westbridge upon him.
But all that truly matters is Felix avoids prison.
I’ll do exactly as he asked of me. I’ll take care of our brothers, and especially Harper.
Once Felix is gone, I make a move for the door, needing to return to Harper, but my father places a hand on my shoulder.
His voice lowers, urging me. There’s something fearful within him. “You don’t speak a word of what happened in this room to anyone. Understand?”
“Yes. Of course.” I shrug his hand off, frustrated with him, and continue for the door.
“Tyler, no one can know Felix killed Paul. Not your brothers. Especially not Harper.”
I pause, my insides turning cold as I spin to face him. “But they’re family. Harper?—”
“Son.” The word is soft. He holds both my shoulders, looking directly into my eyes to reason with me.
“I don’t know what’s going on between you, Felix, and Harper, but after hearing the way your brother spoke about her tonight, it doesn’t take a genius to figure it out.
I know you trust her. But do you understand the severity of this secret leaking to the public? ”
“She wouldn’t leak information. Neither would Dan and Killian.”
“All it takes is for someone to overhear a conversation or for them to confide in the wrong person,” he stresses.
“The second someone else knows, it’s one more mouth that could slip.
One more variable we can’t control. I’ve paid the right people to bury the evidence.
But not every cop can be bought. If this leaks, money won’t protect Felix for long.
While we’re on the topic of Harper, I know she hasn’t reported Paul’s attack.
Make sure it stays that way. Her statement would conflict with the cover story.
It will give more people a reason to dig deeper. That’s the last thing we need.”
I shake my head, astounded by everything he’s expecting of me. What am I supposed to tell Harper about Felix’s disappearance? Without the truth, she’ll be heartbroken when discovering he’s gone. “Dad?—”
“No, son.” The look in his eyes grows more dire.
His words become more desperate. “Let me explain how crucial it is that you remain quiet. This isn’t just about trusting Harper, Killian, and Dan to keep a secret.
We’re covering up a murder. That’s a crime.
If you bring Harper and your brothers into this, you’ll be incriminating them. ”
Shit. He’s right.
“Do not let Harper report the attack. If this investigation spreads beyond the few police I can control, I have no doubt Harper and your brothers will be questioned then forced to lie to protect Felix. Lying about a crime is a criminal offense. Not only that, if this cover-up gets leaked, we’ll all be in the firing line. We could all face time behind bars.”
My heart sinks with dread as the gravity of our situation hits. All the responsibility he’s dumping on me. Bile rises in my throat. It feels like I have shackles around my wrists, chained to me for life, tainting me with a secret I want no part of.
“You care about Harper and your brothers? Protect them by leaving them out of this. Don’t make Harper carry a burden that could ruin her future. She doesn’t deserve that.”
I glare at my father, shoving his hands away. Frustrated. Furious at the position he’s placing me in, asking me to lie to Harper. He stumbles back from the force of my outburst.
“Fuck!” I shout, pacing the office.
My fist slams into the wall and I kick the leg of a nearby chair.
I’ve never used aggression as an outlet for anger, but there’s no containing the rage burning within me.
I’m filled with panic, knowing everything my father speaks is true.
There’s no winning here. Whatever option I take, someone loses.
“You’re angry with me.” Dad remains calm, even apologetic, straightening his suit. “I understand. I know this is tough for you. But your silence will keep everyone safe. Felix’s future depends on us.”
“Like you really care about Felix,” I snap. “You were about to turn him in if he didn’t choose Westbridge.”
“That was a scare tactic. Your brother needs to pull himself together and nothing I have tried this far has helped him. I’m desperate, Tyler.
I’ve made mistakes as a father, I’ll own that.
But I’m trying to save him now. Hear me clearly.
No matter how much trouble and stress you boys cause me, you are all my sons and there is nothing I wouldn’t do to keep you safe. ”
My molars grind together, conflicted with gratitude and anger. My mind races, searching for some way out of this disaster. “Harper will see through your cover story. You don’t want her knowing Felix killed Paul, but she’ll piece it together when she hears he died in a fight.”
“She didn’t see Paul’s death. She may wonder, but when an official statement is released about a group brawl, she’ll realize there were more details about that night she didn’t witness and accept it as the truth.”
“She’s not dumb?—”
“If she questions anything, it’s your job to steer her down a different path of thinking.”
I groan, punching the wall again. Hating this.
“What am I supposed to tell Harper and my brothers about Felix’s absence?”
“I’ll be telling your brothers Felix and I got into a fight over how I refused to reinstate his trust fund. He then fled the city in anger.”
My chest heaves with labored breaths. Sweat breaks out across my brow. “Fled to where?”
“He’s unreachable. Felix has cut off contact with everyone. No one knows where he is or how long he’s gone for. It will be a believable lie. He’s erratic, led by anger, and has always been motivated by his trust fund. Tell Harper the same thing.”
Perhaps it will be a believable lie to my brothers, but not Harper. She’s seen the change in Felix. She knows he’s not erratic or filled with anger. Since Clara’s passing, he’s done nothing but prove he’s committed to Harper. An argument about money wouldn’t drive him away.
“Harper won’t believe the lie. ”
“ Make her believe it,” he urges, grabbing hold of my shoulders again. “You know her better than anyone.”
My throat burns. “Don’t make me do this. It would break Harper. Let me tell her part of the truth, that you sent Felix to a correctional school.”
“That information would lead to questions and suspicions. Why would Felix agree to attend a correctional school when I never hold any power over him?”
He’s right again. Felix wouldn’t submit to our dad under ordinary circumstances.
“I… I can’t lie to Harper.” My voice cracks with pain. I push my father away once again, but this time with no force, shattered inside. “Dad, you know I love her. Felix loves her too. It will destroy our relationship with her. She’s everything to us.”
It will destroy my relationship with Felix, letting Harper believe he’s run off on her. He’ll never forgive me. He’d want Harper to know the truth. There has to be some other way.
“I need time to think.”
“Tyler, that girl cannot know the truth, and she cannot report Paul’s attack. I know there are a lot of feelings tangled up in this. But you must protect your brother at all costs. Don’t be responsible for Felix ending up in jail. Don’t put yourself and those you love in danger’s way either.”
I’m shaking, defeated yet still searching for a way out. “What’s stopping Felix from telling the truth when he returns?”
“He’s proven tonight he has at least some sense of self-preservation. He’ll keep up the lie to save himself. Tyler, I need you to protect yourself, Harper, and everyone in this family. I know they’d do the same for you. Do I have your word you’ll keep Harper and your brothers out of this?”