Page 253 of Knox Academy Omnibus
“There is always a choice! I said no and the reason I went to Grandmother was to protect Amelie. Both Smalls and I did. At least we tried to do something! You just let her go back to that woman who abused her for so many years.”
I gasp and shoot Aadi a look. He promised me he would never tell Dad! Dad was always working and I never wanted him to feel guilty.
My father looks at me and opens his mouth to say something but I cut him off. I don’t want him to apologise, not when payback is coming really soon.
“Let’s back up a second,” I say, holding up a finger to Dad and turning to Aadi. “You don’t live here anymore? Smalls either?”
He shakes his head.
“No. Dad made us come home when he knew you were coming, so that we could play happy families with you and your energiser bunny boyfriend.”
“So where do you live?” I ask.
“Down by The Lakes.”
“The fancy part of town? How the hell can you afford that?!”
“By being a gang banger, that’s how,” my father adds bitterly.
“Dad always forgot to mention his family is loaded.”
“From selling drugs and weapons and god knows what else,” Dad snaps.
“So no different from what you did in The Order, right? I’m not an idiot Dad, Grandma knows a lot about them, and drugs and weapons are just the tip of the iceberg”
“I’m out, and have been for a long time.”
That catches my attention.
“That's a lie. There is no way out. Once you’re in it’s for life.” Guilt washes over my father’s face.
“It’s more complicated than that. Take a seat and I will explain. Aadi, I think we’re done for today. I would appreciate it if you stayed here until your sister leaves but you’re grown, so do what you want.”
I take a seat and Aadi storms from the room.
“So I need you to explain this to me.”
“I can’t go into too many details until you are sworn in officially. But you already know The Order works mainly on favours.” I nod. “When Laura and I fell in love and she was pregnant with Aadi, I wanted out. I made a deal with the entire board. One I knew I would have to cash in eventually, but I figured it would be a vote in favour of them or to try to convince my mother to play nice. When Monty called I knew they had found out about you. I kept mine and Debbie’s relationship a secret because I cheated on Laura and I wasn’t proud of that, but Debbie and I always wanted to be together. The Order didn’t want that at all because it would have tipped the balance of power if we had a child. Anyway, when he called he said his father had figured it out and you would be in danger. They planned on calling in that favour for you.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Monty and I had a plan. You were supposed to fail the initiation and then he would have found a way to send you home. If Harold got his way and Kalen took over – so that a Knox ruled – you would have been safe. Aadi was supposed to take the Rossi seat on the board when the time came, but he is stubborn and refuses to be part of this.”
“Why did you never tell me about Debbie?”
“Laura made me swear not to at the start, and the older you got the harder it became. I wish things were different but they’re not.”
“Harold isn’t a good person. I knew if he found out about you, he would want you dead. My best bet was to make a deal withMonty to keep you safe and he assured me that you would be, so long as his father got his own way.”
“And did you or Monty read the fine print? It states that, since Kalen doesn’t have blood from both parents within the...whatever it’s called...founder families, the only way he can be the sole ruler of the kingdom is to marry me, knock me up, and take my position because he’s a man.”
“I didn’t know. I can’t speak for Monty. I’m so sorry. I planned to tell you everything as soon as I could. If I went against them, they would have sent in an execution team to take me – and anyone standing in their way – out.”
“What about my grandma?”
“Long story... but when I was a boy, I was sent to what you know now as Knox Academy. Her parents were trying to make a deal. Her twin brother had died and they needed a Rossi. Since she was a female and couldn’t take part in The Order, I was sent when it was my turn. Basically, she was pissed. It’s information she shouldn’t have known, but in her brother’s journal he told her everything. She built her own empire here and refuses to work with The Order. There’s a lot more to it but that’s the gist of it.”
“I want to meet her.”
