I hear Garret’s name. “You just said he was safe! Were you just lying to me so I’d sit here and listen to this?”
“Calm down. They’re not going to harm him. In fact I shouldn’t call it a punishment. It’s more of a plan. A plan that involves Garret. His father doesn’t know about it and if he did, he would never approve of it. He never wanted his son involved in anything this group does. So if this plan indeed happens, it will serve as a punishment for Pearce. That’s all I can say.”
“Are you kidding me? You can’t say something like that and not tell me more. What are their plans for Garret?”
“I don’t know the details yet. I’ve only been in on a few discussions. I don’t even know if it’s been finalized.”
“It doesn’t matter. He’ll never go along with whatever it is. And I won’t either. I’m dating him and we’re getting more serious. We’ve talked about being together in the future. Maybe even getting married someday.”
Arlin takes a deep breath and lets it out. “That brings me to the other reason we needed to talk. You need to end things with Garret.”
2
“Are you serious? You don’t even know me and now you’re telling me to end things with Garret?” I shake my head, annoyed. “Yeah, well, I know you rich people have these rules about only dating other rich people but Garret and I aren’t following your stupid rules. His dad has accepted that and so should you, or your group, or whoever else wants us to break up.”
“This isn’t an option, Jade. And it’s not my rule. It’s their rule.”
“Whoever these people are, they can all go to hell because I’m not breaking up with Garret.”
He grips my arm. “Listen to me. This is serious. You’re getting caught in the middle of something very big and you need to get out before something happens.”
“Caught in the middle of what?”
“This plan involving Garret. You’re not a part of it and right now you’re considered an obstacle. And yes, it’s true that your background is the reason for that but you can’t—”
“I’m half Sinclair. Shouldn’t that buy me some points with these people?”
“They don’t know you’re half Sinclair. I told you, Royce somehow kept that a secret from everyone. The organization just thinks you’re an underprivileged young woman from Iowa.”
“But Royce is gone now, so they shouldn’t care what he did. Just tell them I’m half Sinclair.”
He shakes his head. “I can’t. They’d be furious if they found out Royce lied. Members are supposed to disclose all information. Royce violated the rules and there are serious consequences for that. And since he’s no longer here, the organization would punish my son, William, or me.”
“So I can’t date Garret because I’m poor?”
“It’s more than that. Someone like Garret needs to be paired with someone who has had the proper upbringing. Gone to the right schools. Been immersed in this culture.”
“Garret’s dad got over the issues he had with my background so obviously it’s possible.”
“I know this is isn’t what you want to hear, but I’m telling you this for your own good. I know how these people work. I’m one of them, and even when I don’t approve of their techniques, I can’t stop them.”
“Why are you part of this group if you don’t like what they do?”
“I wasn’t given a choice. My father forced me to join just like he was forced to join. And once you’re a member you can’t get out.” He shakes his head. “It doesn’t matter. The point is that you need to know what’s going to happen if you don’t end things with Garret.”
I sigh, rolling my eyes. “So what’s going to happen?”
“If and when this plan regarding Garret is approved and finalized, you will get a visit from someone. This person will tell you to break up with Garret and will offer you a large sum of money. If you refuse to do as you’re told, you will get another visit. These visits will
“Calm down. They’re not going to harm him. In fact I shouldn’t call it a punishment. It’s more of a plan. A plan that involves Garret. His father doesn’t know about it and if he did, he would never approve of it. He never wanted his son involved in anything this group does. So if this plan indeed happens, it will serve as a punishment for Pearce. That’s all I can say.”
“Are you kidding me? You can’t say something like that and not tell me more. What are their plans for Garret?”
“I don’t know the details yet. I’ve only been in on a few discussions. I don’t even know if it’s been finalized.”
“It doesn’t matter. He’ll never go along with whatever it is. And I won’t either. I’m dating him and we’re getting more serious. We’ve talked about being together in the future. Maybe even getting married someday.”
Arlin takes a deep breath and lets it out. “That brings me to the other reason we needed to talk. You need to end things with Garret.”
2
“Are you serious? You don’t even know me and now you’re telling me to end things with Garret?” I shake my head, annoyed. “Yeah, well, I know you rich people have these rules about only dating other rich people but Garret and I aren’t following your stupid rules. His dad has accepted that and so should you, or your group, or whoever else wants us to break up.”
“This isn’t an option, Jade. And it’s not my rule. It’s their rule.”
“Whoever these people are, they can all go to hell because I’m not breaking up with Garret.”
He grips my arm. “Listen to me. This is serious. You’re getting caught in the middle of something very big and you need to get out before something happens.”
“Caught in the middle of what?”
“This plan involving Garret. You’re not a part of it and right now you’re considered an obstacle. And yes, it’s true that your background is the reason for that but you can’t—”
“I’m half Sinclair. Shouldn’t that buy me some points with these people?”
“They don’t know you’re half Sinclair. I told you, Royce somehow kept that a secret from everyone. The organization just thinks you’re an underprivileged young woman from Iowa.”
“But Royce is gone now, so they shouldn’t care what he did. Just tell them I’m half Sinclair.”
He shakes his head. “I can’t. They’d be furious if they found out Royce lied. Members are supposed to disclose all information. Royce violated the rules and there are serious consequences for that. And since he’s no longer here, the organization would punish my son, William, or me.”
“So I can’t date Garret because I’m poor?”
“It’s more than that. Someone like Garret needs to be paired with someone who has had the proper upbringing. Gone to the right schools. Been immersed in this culture.”
“Garret’s dad got over the issues he had with my background so obviously it’s possible.”
“I know this is isn’t what you want to hear, but I’m telling you this for your own good. I know how these people work. I’m one of them, and even when I don’t approve of their techniques, I can’t stop them.”
“Why are you part of this group if you don’t like what they do?”
“I wasn’t given a choice. My father forced me to join just like he was forced to join. And once you’re a member you can’t get out.” He shakes his head. “It doesn’t matter. The point is that you need to know what’s going to happen if you don’t end things with Garret.”
I sigh, rolling my eyes. “So what’s going to happen?”
“If and when this plan regarding Garret is approved and finalized, you will get a visit from someone. This person will tell you to break up with Garret and will offer you a large sum of money. If you refuse to do as you’re told, you will get another visit. These visits will
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