Uncovering You 8: Redemption Read Free Page B

friends.
    I texted him to let him know we were coming, though. He replied with a single word:
     
    Unacceptable .
     
    My gut sank when I read it on the screen. But I soldiered on, feigned conviction, and said:
     
    Too bad. We’re coming. Deal with it .
     
    Then I turned my phone off and boarded the plane.
    “Looks like you got your wish.” I say to Fey, only half-joking, as we lift off. “You said you’re not leaving California without me.”
    She gives a thin smile, then takes my hand and squeezes tight.
    Tension grows among the three of us during the six-hour flight. Fey is nervous. I can tell. Robin is, too. But he masks it well.
    And me? I’m terrified. Not of what tonight will bring, but of what the consequences of this meeting might be. I sprung it on Jeremy in the worst possible way. At the worst possible time. He told me, when he invited me to come with him, that he’d be busy during his trip and we wouldn’t have time for each other. This definitely throws a wrench into his schedule.
    Hours later, we touch down. Fey puts on a brave front. But I can see the worry and anxiety digging at her. Robin, too.
    I don’t blame them. I mean, hell, look at us. What are we? Three college-aged kids about to face one of the most powerful businessmen in the country? A façade of strength is laughable. Anybody would be intimidated having to meet Jeremy.
    The thing that I’m most worried about—the one thing I cannot change—is that Jeremy and I won’t have a chance to speak in private beforehand. I won’t be able to confront him about why he blocked my phone. We won’t be able to create the united front we need to present to Robin and Fey.
    This’ll be both of us improvising on the fly, hoping to have enough of a read on each other to avoid any major screw-ups, any big catastrophes.
    Some couples know each other so well it’s as if they can read each other’s thoughts. Jeremy and I are not like that. We are far, far apart, at opposite ends of the spectrum. His mind is as shadowed to me as mine is to him. Maybe, I can grant that he can read me better than I him. But he still knows nothing of my ultimate intentions.
    Nobody knows. Nobody is allowed to know yet or things may still be ruined. Growing affection for him be damned! Jeremy has to pay for the things he did to me when he was Stonehart. He has to. It is a promise I made to myself. I am not about to back off now.
    Or ever.
    So do I consider myself more capable of dealing with Jeremy Stonehart tonight than Fey and Robin are? Of course. I’ve already proven it. The tricky part is, our charade will have to go on before a live and skeptical audience.
    Just as we’re stepping into the lobby of Logan International Airport, a thought occurs to me. “Hey, Fey,” I ask. “How is it that you found out Jeremy’s father’s name?”
    “What?” she says. “I don’t know his father’s name. Why would I? Does it matter?”
    “Um, yes you do,” I say. “You texted me. Remember?”
    “No,” Fey shakes her head. “I didn’t. I—”
    “Excuse me.” A federal agent stops Fey, Robin, and me in our tracks. I look up, and find us surrounded by four others. All are fully armed. They ostentatiously display their guns. “Is one of you Miss Ryder?”
    Dread washes over me. The stream of passengers coming off the plane gives us all a wide berth, like a river splitting around a boulder.
    “Yes,” I say. “That would be me.”
    “I’ll need you to come with us, Miss,” he informs me. “Your friends can stay behind.”
    “Hold on,” Fey jumps in. “What is the meaning of this? You can’t just pull her away from us for no reason!”
    “I need you to remain calm,” he addresses her. “There is nothing wrong. This is just a routine security screening. Miss Ryder, if you’ll come with us?”
    I step away from Fey and Robin, toward the officer. Fey grabs my arm and tries to pull me back. “Hold on,” she prompts.
    “Fey, let go,” I tell her. I have no