Chapter Thirty-Nine Sam
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
SAM
We rejoin the crowd, blending in as if we aren’t pumped full of adrenaline.
Gracie and I settle toward the back of the room, neither of us feeling quite like we fit in here.
A second later, Jackson comes into view, touching his lips and checking for blood. Thankfully he doesn’t notice us and angrily hobbles toward the exit. I notice Gracie’s body lock up, her breath changing drastically. Then I remember him cornering me in the hallway, admitting everything.
Maybe I’ll finally do to you what I did to that bitch Gracie. Only you’ll have to be awake through it when I fuck you.
I reach for her, realizing that she’s shaking. It all makes sense now. Her warning me when we first met, the literal unease that riddled her body when I practically made her attend the game, her reluctantly agreeing to do this tonight, her questioning what happened when I broke his knee.
Gracie peers at me, her eyes brimming with tears.
There’s a pit in my stomach seeing her like this, hating that I can never take away her pain.
Gripping her hand, I pull her away, not stopping until we’re back in the hall and far away from everyone.
As soon as we’re out of sight, I wrap my arms around her neck and squeeze her tight.
“I’m so sorry, Gracie. I didn’t know he did that to you,” I choke out.
She stares at me, speechless.
“You could have told me what he’d done. I would have been there for you. I hate that you’ve been dealing with this alone.”
The tears are heavier now, but no sound escapes her. It’s as if for the first time she’s truly allowing herself to feel her own pain.
“I couldn’t tell you.” Her words come out choppy, diluted behind her cries. “And I’ve hated myself because you never would have gone to that party if I had.”
“Hey. Look at me, Gracie.” I cup her cheek. “That’s not your fault, and I got away. Okay? I’m fine. And we won’t let him break us. He’ll pay. I promise.”
She sniffles and shakes her head. “No, he won’t. None of them will.”
I frown at that. “None of who?”
She opens her clutch and removes a tissue to wipe her eyes. “I reported him. And they protected him. What’s worse is that they never even opened an investigation. Instead, they cornered me in that office, by myself, with a bunch of men who clearly didn’t mean me well.”
She drops her chin to her chest, fiddling with the clasps on her bag.
“I was iced out of my own friend group. Kids I’ve known my entire life sided with him.
They didn’t realize it, but none of them questioned why I’d been so isolated, so different.
They just hang out with the guy who violated me, and I have to watch it every day.
He told Christina that I came on to him, and she believed him.
We were best friends, and she took his word over mine. ”
And now I know the issue between the two of them. Sadly, it doesn’t surprise me because she did the same with me. Although I didn’t have a relationship with her to feel the level of betrayal Gracie does.
“The reason I didn’t want to come here tonight is because whatever you guys find on that drive isn’t going to be good.
There’s going to be stuff about my father that changes everything.
Bad things, Sam. Things I only know an ounce about because Mr. Kincaid and Chancellor Williamsburg threatened to expose secrets that could ruin my father’s life.
Pursue these rape allegations, and they’ll leak what they have to the press.
Or, choose to protect my father’s legacy, and they’ll ensure Jackson never hurts anyone else. ”
“Oh my God, Gracie.”
“And I’m supposed to be spying on you, too.”
I frown.
“But I didn’t. I wouldn’t. You have to know that.”
I don’t know how to explain it, but I do. From the day we met, I’ve sensed her genuineness toward me.
“I believe you.”
She nods while fighting back tears. “My dad’s been a good man my whole life. But the things the chancellor claims he was a part of… I can’t reconcile that with the dad I know. So, I’ve been avoiding it, trying not to hate him.”
So that’s why their conversation seemed so awkward earlier.
I pull her in for another hug, whispering over and over that it’ll be okay.
But the truth is, I’m not sure I believe it.
I’ve had my suspicions that Chancellor Williamsburg had something to hide, for him to go to the lengths he has to scare me.
It’s got to be bad. But we deserve the truth, because whatever it is, all of our moms were involved.
“Listen to me. We’ve got the files, and we’ll figure it out together. And I promise you. Jackson will never hurt anyone else again. Want to know how I know?”
Gracie doesn’t respond; she only looks at me.
Pulling my phone out of my purse, I unlock the screen and pull up my camera roll.
I switch down the volume just to be safe, press play, and hand her the phone.
Her eyes grow wider as she watches the poorly angled video.
He’s not fully in the frame, but enough of his profile is visible and I made sure to say his name loud and clear.
At first, I just pressed record for myself, because if he attacked me again, they wouldn’t be able to argue irrefutable proof.
What I didn’t know at the time was that what I was getting was a confession.
“This is your proof, so you can finally make him pay for what he did to you.”
Her breath catches as she fights to keep her composure. With each hitch, she nods, the weight visibly lifting off her shoulders.
“Thank you,” she whispers and hugs me again.
“Do you want to go?”
She nods.
“Let’s do that. I’ll tell the boys that we’re leaving, and I’ll meet them back at the lake house.”
We take a moment for her to get herself together and then head back to the party. Along the way, I text our group chat.
Sam: Gracie and I are going to head out. I’ll meet you all back at your place.
A second later, my phone buzzes.
Kane—Asshole #2: Drive safe and share your location. Text us when you get there.
Reading their names on my screen, I chuckle inwardly. Maybe it’s time to update their contacts. I gave them those names when we couldn’t stand each other, but now they no longer fit.
After Gracie dropped me off a few hours ago, the first thing I did was take a shower. It’s been a long few days but an even longer night. I still can’t believe we pulled it off. While this has been the closest to finding answers, I have to admit I’m a little scared of what we’ll see on that drive.
Gracie said that the chancellor has some damning things on her father, so what if it’s something we can’t handle? They’ve gone to extreme lengths to keep this hidden; are we opening up an even larger can of worms?
I guess we’ll find out when the boys get home.
As soon as the thought registers in my mind, the front door flies open. Mountain steps into the living room, a smile tilting his lips. The closer he gets, the more my excitement grows, chest fluttering just a bit.
“Hey.” I smile.
Mountain wraps his arms around me, lowering himself to meet my height. “Hi.”
He kisses me, and I melt against him.
“What was that for?” I ask through a grin.
He stares for a minute, raking his eyes over my face. “I guess I just missed you.”
I exhale, letting his confession sink in. It’s not lost on me that he’s consistently come out of his shell. It makes me feel good that I make him comfortable enough to do that.
“Missed you, too.”
“I’m going to change.” He walks around me, his hand grazing over the sliver of flesh above my shorts’ waistband.
Kane enters next.
His eyes are tired like he’s struggling to keep them open. When he finally looks at me, he tips his head, signaling for me to come to him. One foot after the other, I move forward until his cologne floods my senses.
Kane strokes my cheek then twirls a damp curl around his finger. He doesn’t speak, though, only admires me.
“You look like you’re ready for bed.”
He nods, his brows hiked into his hairline. “I am. Ready for a shower. You were gorgeous tonight.”
I smile. “So were you. I like the tight sweater look on you,” I tease.
He smirks, glancing away while rubbing a palm over his face.
“I do. It shows off the muscle.”
He huffs. “Sure. I’ma get out of this tight sweater.” He tugs me close. “Join me tonight?”
“Maybe.”
Kane pats my ass then turns toward his room, which is just past the kitchen. Once he’s no longer blocking my view, I see Alex standing in the threshold watching Kane with a strange look.
“Hey,” I mutter.
He doesn’t answer. Instead, he steps into the living room, his face contorted.
“Something’s been bothering me all night,” he blurts.
Kane turns to see who he’s speaking to. But it’s obvious to me that he’s not talking to me, not when he’s shooting daggers into his bestie’s back.
“All the stuff the other night about why my father asked you to spy on Sam.” Alex inches closer to Kane, who’s now giving him his full attention.
Mountain comes back downstairs, clearly not making it to his room to change yet.
“I couldn’t quite understand it, but you’re my bro.” He shrugs, his hands flailing about. “Never had a reason to doubt you.” Alex goes to step forward but stumbles instead, grabbing the back of the couch to catch his balance.
“What? You’re drunk,” Kane adds, visibly confused.
“But then I found your name in the file. Which isn’t that alarming considering all of our names were in that file. But yours was—”
“Man, it’s late. You’ve been drinking and not making much sense,” Kane cuts in.
Alex points, shaking his finger. “No. What doesn’t make sense is why my father would be sending you ten thousand dollars on the third of every month. For years.”
I gasp then glance over at Mountain, who’s now standing directly beside me. He and I stare between the two of them.
“What?” we say in unison.
Kane’s shoulders slump and I know right then that this isn’t some drunken misunderstanding.
Dropping his chin to his chest, Kane says, “I didn’t want you to find out like this.”
Alex stalks forward, sizing Kane up and staring him down. “Find out what? That you’re a fucking liar? Hm? Why don’t you spell it the fuck out?”
Mountain moves quickly, planting himself between the two of them. “Come on, Alex. Calm down and let him speak. Everyone’s tired, am sure there’s a reasonable—”
Alex yanks free from his grasp. “Don’t tell me to calm down.”
“You’re drunk and coming at your friend like he’s the enemy. So, yeah, you need to calm down.”
“Richard is my father,” Kane deadpans.
Silence. It’s heavy, dark, and full of disbelief, emotions, and everything in between.
Alex stumbles back, not quite wrapping his mind around what Kane just said. Quite frankly, neither can I. The chancellor is his dad?
Kane releases a breath. Pain brims in his eyes but there’s something else—relief maybe?
“We’re brothers. Your father got my mother pregnant a month before your mom got pregnant with you.”