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The weight of this revelation pins me to the spot on the sidewalk next to the guard gate. Smoke and shouts fill the air, and glass and pieces of metal litter the road. Two cars are tipped over. One is Peter’s. Slowly, I find my feet walking closer before the guard gate stops me. I zero in on the river of blood flowing out of the bent and busted-up car that belongs to my brother. His face is clear because the window is completely gone, his neck at an odd angle, eyes closed, almost looking peaceful.
That’s the last time I saw my brother, but what hurts more is knowing the last things he heard. They were not words of peace, love, or happiness. They were admittance of terrible crimes.
Chapter 7
Poppy
"Listen to me, Poppy," Julian demands, his voice taking on that authoritative edge he uses in the boardroom. "You are not to blame for what happened to Peter."
"But I was the one who called him," I protest weakly. My call to Peter put him in the car made him so worried he forgot to put his seatbelt on and ran a stop sign as he tried to rush to save me.
My actions killed my brother.
Julian grips my shoulders, trying to anchor me back to reality. "It was an accident," he insists. I can see him wrestling to find the correct words that will make me see the light.
There are no words, just darkness.
"He won't get away with this, Poppy." Julian seals his promise with a kiss on my forehead before adding, "I need to speak with my uncle."
Dread and guilt surge within me. "But then everyone will find out."
Gently, his hands cradle my face. "You've been drowning in this alone, but we're all here, ready to pull you back to the surface. Let us."
"I... I don't know how to tell Harper. She reacts like Henry. She won’t think about her actions.” My shoulders slump,“I don’t know how to tell her, Julian. I don’t think I can.” It’s shameful. Harper is so strong. She would have fought. She won’t understand why I didn’t.
"Do you want me to tell her for you?" he offers.
My lip trembles. I’ve been bearing this burden for so long, and he’s so willing to offer to take some of it. I hug him, nodding a reply as I continue to cry into his chest.
***
I'm roused by the rhythm of Julian’s calm breathing as he gently stands. "Shh, just sleep, Pumpkin." His arms cradle me as he carries me down the hall to his bedroom.
"Did I fall asleep?" I mumble, disoriented.
"Yes," he whispers, lifting me slightly higher to plant a soft kiss on my head. "Go back to sleep and know when you wake up that you will never have to fight your battles alone again."
Chapter 8
Julian
I gently tuck Poppy into bed, pulling the covers up to her chin and placing another kiss on her forehead. Turning to leave, I glance back at her once more before softly closing the door behind me. I inhale, letting all my fury and rage ignite. My phone is out in seconds, and a quick message is sent to my uncle, followed by a text to Harper asking her to meet me here. Striding down the hall, each step is driven by a determined anger. Andrew will face the consequences of his actions.
I've known anger, felt the sting of loss, endured the ache of a broken heart. But this—this unimaginable fury surpasses them all.
Uncle Dan calls me back right away, and once I'm in my office, I tell him everything. There's no shock, no exhales of anger. My uncle is a mask, his emotions ever hidden. "Oliver Sinclair isn't an easy target, Jules," Uncle Dan warns.
"I'm a good shot," I snap. Oliver Sinclair is Andrew’s father, the man most likely to win the presidential election. I’ve seen his face plastered all over; I actually thought the guy wasn’t bad. My poor judgment is a reminder never to trust a politician.
"A single bullet won't derail this train. You're going to need an army."
"Will you help me, or do I need to do this alone?" I challenge him. If he won't assist me, I know a few guys I can call. Former Delta Force, ready to drop everything to aid a brother. I would do the same for them, and I have done it before. Just like my brother Theo, I've done things that would shock my uncle. I've supported my brothers, embarking on missions of our own.
"That's a stupid question, and you know it. You don't back me into a corner, Julian. I'm always here to help, and this is exactly why I need you to listen to me."
He's right. "I'm sorry. I just want to keep Poppy safe. Andrew's still watching her, still invading her. All those cameras, all those years of monitoring her, are a continual violation," I reply. My chest feels tight. There is a rage inside of me that is foreign and feral.
"Listen, Julian, we need to approach this carefully. Any evidence from the assault at the party is a waste of time now. It falls into murky waters. These accusations against politicians often get dismissed and twisted to discredit the victim. It will backfire, especially against someone as revered as Sinclair," Uncle Dan explains.
