Page 33 of We're All Liars
How could I not have?“He won’t get the chance.”
“You can’t guarantee that.”
“Yes, I fucking can.” I will. I will make sure it goes exactly how I plan. I just don’t know what that is now because Dad totally wrecked by previous scheme. It wasn’t perfect. But it has to be now. And it will be. For RyderandMaddie’s sake, I will make our father regret ever having me.
29
CADE
“Seriously, man. That’s what he said.” I doubt Ryder believes I’m making this shit up. He has no reason to. But I don’t blame him for needing me to repeat it. I was there and heard Thatcher say it with my own ears, and I’m still having a hard time understanding it.
“But can we really trust Thatcher?”
“Fuck no. But we can’t put our fate in your father’s hands either. So, who would you rather take a risk trusting?”
“You already know the answer to that.” Ryder sits on the edge of his bed; his head drops to his hands. “But what the hell are we supposed to do?”
“I want to win the game and let the crooks deal with him.”
“There’s no guarantee that’ll happen. I mean, you can’t know with a hundred percent certainty that you’re going to win. The Trojans are tough. They’re undefeated. I clearly don’t feel as good about gambling as the adults around here.”
As soon as the bedroom door begins to open, I already know it’s her before she steps into the room with a pissy stare pointed at me. “Jeez, let me guess. You told him.”
Good guess.
“What part of ‘leave him the fuck out of this’ did you not understand?”
“I had to. You’re not taking this seriously enough. We’re not talking about winning or losing a high school football game.” I lower my voice but keep it blunt. “Your dad wants you dead.”
“Yeah. I understood that part.” She turns to Ryder. “Now that I don’t have a choice but to work with the two of you, what’s your big plan?”
“Don’t have one yet,” I respond.
“That’s just great,” she sulks as she walks over to me. “Whenever the two of you figure it out, let me know.”
“I thinkweshould killhim,” Ryder declares.
Morgan points a stunned look at her brother, and I have to say, I feel the same way. Dumbfounded at his words, even if I do completely agree.
Ryder looks like he’s carrying the weight of the world. “We’ll never be safe. The man wants to kill us for money. And I don’t think he’ll give up until he succeeds. So, even if we avoid this particular situation, are we supposed to look over ours shoulders our entire lives?”
“I won’t,” Morgan retorts. “So, let’s turn the tables on him. But I think we should make him suffer a little bit. Not make it too quick and easy.”
“What are you thinking?” I ask hesitantly.
“We win the title. Let the bet go sour. They’ll deal with him just like you said. And if they don’t. Then we will.”
“But what about if we lose the game?” I ask, because Ryder is right. I’ve been lucky so far to be in control. But the tables can turn at any second.
“We don’t get in a car with him. We know when and where he’s planning it. So everything will be good.”
“It’s risky.”
“Not as risky as trying to get away with murder again.”
Morgan has a point. Unfortunately. I look to her. “Then it’s settled. We win the game. Watch the pieces fall into place from the sidelines, and you don’t put yourself in his path any sooner.”
“Yes, SuperCade. You’ll be able to save the day.”