Fool Me Once

“No.” I shake my head. “We’re not family. Family doesn’t lie to each other, keep important things from each other! You let Brenton take our son by himself when you knew he was selling drugs!” I step toward Keegan and jab my finger into his chest. “We’re not family. And right now, I really wish Zane weren’t your son.”

Keegan’s eyes go wide—in hurt, in fear, in disbelief—but I ignore the look. I’m too hurt, too upset, too pissed to care right now.

“Are you going to keep him from me?” he asks, his voice wavering. My heart cracks at the thought of Zane not getting to see Keegan. As mad as I am, I would never keep him from his father.

When I don’t answer right away, Keegan says, “Blakely, are you going to let me see him?”

“I would never keep him from you,” I tell him honestly. His shoulders sag in relief. “But you and me… we’re done. Once I’ve calmed down, I’ll let you know when you can see him.”

Keegan doesn’t argue. “Can I give you a ride home, please?”

“I’m taking the bus.”

“Jail—Blakely, please, let me take you home. I won’t say a word, I promise.” Suddenly exhausted and wanting to get home to my son and sister, I nod once and follow him to his truck. Keegan does as he said and doesn’t speak the entire drive. When he pulls up to my apartment complex, I glance at Brenton’s apartment and find crime scene tape across his door with a single officer standing in front of it like he’s guarding the place.

“They have to investigate his apartment,” Keegan says, answering my unspoken thoughts. “We only have two CSI teams since it’s a smaller town. They’re at the shop and the house right now.”

“Will he get out on bail?”

“Most likely. If he can afford the bond.”

I nod once, trying to mask my sudden nervousness. Will Brenton show up at my apartment? Will he be mad at me for telling the truth? I don’t care if he’s mad, but I’m scared of what he might do. Thoughts of when Sierra and I were younger surface. Of my mom crying and saying we were in danger. Because of our father. Because of his lies.

“I won’t let anything happen to you guys,” Keegan says.

I look at him, shocked that he’s able to know what I’m thinking without me even speaking.

“What if he comes here?”

“I’m going to have someone on you at all times, but if it’ll make you feel safer, you guys can come stay at my place. It’s gated and Brenton’s never been there.”

Gated? His place is with Kolton down the street.

“I don’t really live with Kolton,” he says. Damn him! Must he know everything I’m thinking? “I own a house. I was staying with Kolton to go with my cover as a college student.”

“Great. Another thing you lied about.” I swing the truck door open.

“If it will make you feel safer, you guys can stay there,” he repeats.

“With you?”

Keegan flinches at the hostile tone in my voice. “No, I’ll continue to stay with Kolton.”

I step out of the truck. “I’m good.”

“Okay, but if you’re not… the offer stands.”

I nod and then close the door. And without looking back, I run up the stairs to my apartment, only stopping once I’m inside and Zane is in my arms.

“How did the interview go?” Sierra asks.

“It didn’t. We need to talk.”

Blakely

It’s been two days since I found out Keegan is a police officer. When I asked Sierra if she knew, I could tell immediately she had no idea either. After I got her caught up to speed on everything, she excused herself to her room. I heard her yelling over the phone for a few minutes and then she came out, red-eyed and red-faced. She hugged me and told me she loves me and then she went to work—even though she was scheduled to be off. Ever since then, she’s been at work every waking moment—I’m assuming to distract herself from the pain. I know she cares a lot about Kolton, but right now she’s almost as hurt as I am.

I went to class yesterday and today and thankfully Brenton wasn’t there. Luckily, our presentation is already done and if I have to, I’ll present both of our parts. I’d rather do that than have to face my ex-drug-dealing-best friend. While I’m hurt by Keegan hiding who he is from me, I’m enraged at Brenton for putting my son and me in harm’s way. I don’t know all the details, but from what I gathered at the station, his mom’s ex-boyfriend murdered a police officer. And Brenton’s been slinging drugs for him. And brought me to his house. I can’t count the number of times Zane has been in the vehicle with Brenton when he had to “make a delivery.” Stupid me for not asking if the deliveries were goddamn drugs.