“I think you’ve known who your parents are this whole time. I think you’ve been working with them to infiltrate my family.”
“I don’t know my parents!” she cries out as tears begin to form in her eyes. “I don’t know what’s going on, Nate! Stop it!”
“She’ll break soon,” Pops says.
“Why did you really move here?” I yell again, grabbing her upper arm and putting a little pressure against it. “Who was the woman who raised you? What is your connection to the Ramsays?”
“I don’t have any connection!” Her tears begin to flow freely. “I don’t know them! I’ve never met them! Nate, please stop!”
“Lies,” I growl. “I know why you’re really here, Ms. Bay or Ramsay or whatever your name really is. You can stop denying that.”
“Ramsay?” Cherry’s teary eyes stare into my eyes. “Is that what this is about? Are…are you trying to
tell me that my birth parents were Ramsays? Those people who live on the west side of town—the ones you have some kind of rival with—that’s my real family?”
“Are you saying you didn’t already know?”
“No, of course not. That’s why…it’s why I’m here in the first place.”
“So you say.” I grab her other arm, squeezing them both. “But you did know. You always knew. Now, tell me what you know about my brother’s murder!” I shake her. “Tell me what you know!”
“I’ve told you everything!” Cherry cries. “Please stop, Nate! You’re scaring me!”
“She’s lying!” Pops screams at me. “You know she’s fucking lying!”
“Nate, think! If I wanted to keep my identity from you, why would I ask for your help finding out who my parents are?”
“You’re lying!”
“I’m not!”
“Tell me! Fucking tell me what you know!”
“Nate, please let me go!” She sobs and turns her face away from me, tears streaming down both cheeks. “I don’t know what you’re talking about! I don’t know anything about the Ramsays. I swear!”
I relax my grip on her arms and swallow hard. What if she’s telling the truth? My chest aches and my breathing becomes more labored as doubt seeps in.
“You can’t let that influence you, Nataniele.” Pops places his hand on my shoulder. “All that crying is just a weapon they use, you know. You can’t let a woman’s tears stop you from doing what needs to be done.”
I inhale, and my breath is ragged, nearly choking me.
“You came here because your family wanted to infiltrate mine. You maneuvered your way into my life in order to take control of this town. You know my brother died because he found out about you, and you probably had something to do with his murder. You’ve known all this time exactly who you are, and you used me. You fucking used me!”
Cherry’s mouth hangs open as she shakes her head wordlessly.
“I was falling for it, too.” I lean in, nose-to-nose with her. “I was starting to think I was actually in love with you.
“Nate…” I can barely hear her whisper.
“That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?” I growl into her face and tighten my grip on her arms until she cringes. “You wanted me to fall for it all. You wanted me in so deep, I wouldn’t be able to turn away from you. Well, it didn’t work. You are going to tell me the truth, Ms. Ramsay. You’re going to tell me now.”
“I…I don’t—” Cherry turns her head to the side, squeezing her eyes shut.
Outside the office, I hear shouting.
“Get the fuck out of my way, Antony Orso!”
Suddenly, the door is thrown open. I see Antony trying to block my sister from entering. A moment later, Nora’s knee comes up, and Antony cries out. He crumples where he stands as he grasps his crotch, and Nora shoves past him and marches straight up to me.