Chapter 123: Family Secrets

Micah

The last few years have been like an avalanche; so many things happened that I can’t even measure them. The most memorable ones were certainly my reunion with Morgan—it was truly a breath of happiness in my life. I swore she was dead; fortunately, fate brought us together again. Unfortunately, many of the things that happened after that were not exactly happy—actually, quite the opposite. The situation Morgan is in has tested every aspect of my carefully planned life. I thought I had built enough influence to be able to help my friend, but information alone was not enough. While Laurel had truly dangerous people willing to do things for her, I was always one step behind, and that’s how Morgan was kidnapped, assaulted, shot, and went through moments when death almost took her. I felt like a useless man who couldn’t do anything right and who seemed to be playing at being an adult.

Every day I looked at myself in the mirror and found my figure pathetic.

I hated myself every second for not being able to do something big and real to help Morgan, but that ends now. At last, luck smiled on me and I got interesting results from my information network.

In a very famous club, I walked through the corridors full of people and went up to the VIP area, where someone was already waiting for me. I spotted the person I was looking for and went over to him, sitting in the empty seat across from him.

— It’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other, Caleb. — I greet him.

— That’s true, although this distance wasn’t by my choice. — Caleb needles me.

I gave a small smile and gestured to the waiter.

— Well, you know a lot of things have been happening thanks to your little sister. — I replied.

— That’s true. — he takes a sip of his drink.

— Let’s put the pleasantries aside and talk about what really matters. What made you call me? — I asked, curious.

— I heard you’ve been investigating my dear sister. — he begins, and I nodded in agreement.

There was no reason to deny it. Many people know I’ve been digging into Laurel’s bohemian life and her scandals.

— I also heard that you discovered her involvement with the criminal underworld and that you intend to bring that into the open soon. — he finished.

— Yes, all of that is true, and if you called me here to intercede for her, you can forget our friendship. — I said.

To my surprise, Caleb laughed—he actually laughed as if I had told a good joke.

— Relax. What I want most is for Laurel to stop causing trouble. The reason I called you is that I have better material to stop her—something that can destabilize her once and for all and make her commit a series of slip-ups without even realizing it. — Caleb smiles enigmatically.

I stared at him in silence for a few seconds, looking for something that indicated he was serious, and indeed he seemed very calm and confident. I accepted it and nodded.

Caleb smiled, took a leather folder, and handed it to me.

I looked at the folder carefully, as if it were full of scorpions, but he just smiled and gestured for me to open it.

A stack of documents and photos lay inside the folder. I analyzed everything carefully, my eyes widening as I understood the content before me.

— Holy shit. — I murmured.

Caleb laughed and had the waiter serve another round of drinks. I took a sip of mine while absorbing all the information in front of me, then stopped and looked back at him.

— What did you think? — he asked with a satisfied smile.

— This is a bomb. Are you sure I can use this? — I asked, suddenly cautious.

What was in front of me could change everything and is probably Laurel’s greatest weakness.

— You can use it however you want. — Caleb dismisses my concern.

— Does Laurel know about this? — I asked, curious.

— No, and that’s exactly why it will be doubly satisfying to see her fall from her pedestal. — Caleb lights a cigarette and smiles as he exhales smoke.

— I know you two don’t get along, but I never imagined you’d do something like this. — I said.

— Micah, I hate Laurel. While I grew up being pressured to be perfect, she was spoiled to the extreme by my grandfather and my mother. My father simply didn’t care what she did, while he wanted me to live a life without scandals. She became far too arrogant, and if no one does anything, I will. — he explains superficially.

— You know this is going to make your father furious. — I said, still worried about the repercussions of the information in my possession.

— Great. Even furious, he won’t be able to do anything. I want this to be the biggest scandal of the year—there’s enough material there for that. I expect you to do it. Don’t worry about retaliation from my father; he won’t do anything. — Caleb assures me.

I nodded and closed the folder.

— In that case, let’s celebrate. Tonight everything is on me—women or drinks, I’ll give you whatever you want. — I raised my glass enthusiastically.

Caleb smiled, satisfied with my response, and clinked his glass with mine in an animated toast.

— To my sister’s downfall. — he toasted.

For the first time in months, I felt I truly had material that could change the game. I enjoyed the night like I hadn’t in a long time—something I couldn’t do because of Morgan’s situation. I finally see a light at the end of the tunnel, and the feeling of uselessness is leaving me.

It was a long night soaked in drinks and women, and when I left that nightclub, the folder I carried with me felt heavier than it really was, because it carried deeply buried secrets that, if it weren’t for a family member, would never have been discovered.

I should choose a good gift for my friend Caleb; he deserves it for what he did for me.

Before lying down and sleeping for a bit, I sent Maverick a message letting him know I would visit Morgan later and that I had a surprise.

It’s time to flip the switch and put an end to an arrogant, crazy bitch.