Chapter 198 Please Help Me

Chapter 198 Please Help Me
\[Collin’s POV\]

“So, what’s your relationship with Jeremiah?”

It’s the first question I can think to ask Rika as she and I stand in line for our drink and pastries.

“What do you think our relationship is?” She asks, dodging my question completely.

“Partners in crime.” I offer.

At my words, a laugh escapes Rika and I feel the tension between us lifting.

“I guess you could say that.” She sighs. “But I think shields is a better choice.”

Shields. I didn’t need to ask what she meant by that because I kind of understood it.

In their world, the world that I made sure to escape, but still hovered dangerously on the edge of, the only relationships that truly mattered were the ones that involved mutual benefit.

If I had stayed in that world, I was certain my parents would have already attempted to set me up with some high-class princess that would look pretty beside me, make a few heirs, and bring my family even more power than they already had.

It’s disgusting.

I hated every fucking thing about that world and that was the reason I left it, but not everyone was so lucky. And…I take Rika in as she remains calm. Some don’t want to leave it.

Don’t assume you know everything, Collin. I tell myself as our order arrives and we retrieve it.

“Should we wait a bit longer?” Rika asks as we head out of the cafe and back to the place that Lilah and Jeremiah were waiting. “Maybe give them a bit more time.”

“No,” I tell her. “I believe they’ve had enough time.”

At least, that was what I thought, but when we walk back into the apartment and find Lilah and Jeremiah sitting side-by-side while Jeremiah’s hands move across Lilah’s cheeks, I immediately think that they’ve had too much time.

“What’s going on here?” I ask as the two remain frozen like they were caught in the act. “Anyone want to explain?”

As I speak, I note the tears on Lilah’s cheeks and my anger toward Jeremiah increases.

“You made her cry,” I say slowly, passing the drink carrier I hold to Rika and moving toward the stunned Jeremiah.

“Wait!” He gasps as I grab him by his collar and pull. “Hold the fuck up.”

“Outside,” I hiss through gritted teeth. “Now.”

“But…”

I don’t give him the chance to argue before I’m dragging him toward the apartment’s exit and when I reach, Rika easily sidesteps and waves as we pass.

“Have fun!” She calls and then closes the door so that we can be left alone.

“Explain,” I growl releasing him. “Why the hell was she crying?”

Growing quiet, I wait while Jeremiah stares at me, his expression angry, his jaw ticking with his trying to calm down.

“Do I really need to answer?” He asks. “With the way you just acted it is clear that you think I did something horrible to her.”

“Watch your tone, boy.” I warn, but he glares back defiantly. “Haven’t you been taught to respect your elders?”

“Don’t try to sound like an old man.” Jeremiah sighs and I can’t stop the chuckle that escapes. “I’d hate to think that Lilah is going to end up marrying someone who could be her grandpa.”

I don’t bother responding to his tort because honestly, I know by this point he is trying to get a rise out of me.

“Anyway, why did you drag me out here for?” Jeremiah continues. “It wasn’t because you honestly thought that I did something to Lilah, right?”

“That’s right.” I confirm. “I brought you out here for a different reason. It involves what we discovered before the whole Tony incident.”

“What we discovered,” Jeremiah repeats. “You mean about your dad?”

“Yes.”

Now that things were settling, it was a good time to address the elephant that I was trying my best to ignore.

Even if Tony was out of the picture, that didn’t mean that what was happening behind the scenes would stop, not if my father was involved.

“I need you to do something for me.” I continue.

Of course, I could approach my father, pretend that I will be a loyal son, and do what it is that he wants, but I since I had Lilah and our unborn children, I couldn’t.

“I need you to get close to my father.” I continue, hoping that Jeremiah wouldn’t deny my request. “I need proof of what he is doing.”

“And you want me to risk my neck to get the proof.”

Sadly. I think, hating that I was even asking such a thing of someone who really didn’t care for me, but for Lilah’s safety in the future, I needed to get my father out of the picture.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t go back to before where I wasn’t involved at all, not after sticking my toes in the family business, and I was certain if my father even got the slightest hint of Lilah being pregnant and there being a possible heir, well, he would either jump at the opportunity, or he would do whatever it took to make sure the heir disappeared.

“And how am I supposed to get proof?” Jeremiah asks, snapping me out of my head. “What exactly is it that you want me to do?”

“I need you to suggest a cooperation.”

“My family isn’t exactly the best of choices right now.” Jeremiah points out. “Why do you think I’m even in this political engagement?”

“It is because you are in that engagement that I’m certain my father would be willing to work with yours.”

The Reeves’ were a powerful family and if you were connected to them, you were considered useful. With Jeremiah being engaged to their daughter and therefore being guaranteed a future cooperation with them, he was a hot commodity.

“And if he isn’t?” Jeremiah pushes, clearly not happy with this idea. “What am I supposed to do then?”

“Honestly.”

I grow quiet while I try to consider any other options for what needs to be done, but I come up empty.

“If in the end you can’t do anything, I guess I’ll have to deal with things myself.”

“What about Lilah?” Jeremiah demands. “Are you just going to abandon her when she’s pregnant and Donna is lying in a hospital bed?”

“Of course not.” I snap. “If in the end I have to step up and do things myself, I will have to bring Lilah with me.”

“Your father won’t allow that.” Jeremiah says, shaking his head. “She doesn’t come from that kind of family.”

“I’ll deal with the issue if it comes.” I shrug. “Until then, please help me.”