Chapter 13
Jason did not become good because Daniel humiliated him.
He became dangerous in a different direction.
He lunged for his confiscated phone.
The bodyguard stopped him.
“Give it back!”
“No.”
Rachel looked at him.
“What are you trying to delete?”
Jason froze.
Daniel closed his eyes.
Alyssa whispered:
“Oh God.”
Rachel held out her hand.
“Phone.”
The guard retrieved it from the lockbox.
Jason shook his head.
“No.”
Rachel looked at him.
“You can unlock it.”
“Or?”
“Nothing.”
That confused him.
No threat.
No violence.
Just choice.
Rachel continued.
“But whatever you’re protecting will decide how much I can trust you later.”
Jason stared.
Daniel snapped:
“Don’t.”
Jason looked at his father.
Then unlocked the phone.
Messages.
A private thread.
Daniel.
Jason.
Three Carter captains.
Rachel read.
Daniel:
Tonight Rachel looks unstable.
Captain R:
Then we announce temporary command.
Jason:
And the kid?
Daniel:
Gone upstairs first.
Jason:
After?
Daniel:
Lake house.
Then another.
Jason:
My room change approved?
Daniel:
After Rachel leaves.
Rachel looked at Jason.
He lowered his eyes.
Next message.
Captain R:
What if Ethan cries for her during meeting?
Jason:
Let him.
Daniel:
He’ll learn.
Rachel stopped reading.
One of the capos cursed.
Another looked toward Daniel with open disgust.
Rachel continued.
Jason:
Can I shut off Ethan’s nanny camera?
Daniel:
Do it before 8.
Alyssa stared.
“You disabled his camera?”
Jason whispered:
“Dad said.”
Rachel looked at him.
“No.”
He stopped.
“You are eighteen.”
Silence.
“You don’t get to hide inside that sentence.”
Jason’s face crumpled.
Exactly what Rachel had once told others.
Responsibility.
Not absolution.
One of the three captains in the thread was already in the room.
He quietly removed his Carter pin.
Placed it on the table.
“I’m out.”
Daniel stared.
The man looked at Rachel.
“I believed she agreed.”
Rachel nodded.
“Now you know.”
Another captain followed.
The third did not.
He stood near Daniel.
That was enough.
May you like
Rachel finally knew which men Daniel had bought with resentment.
And which ones still had enough conscience to walk away.
