Silas' breath hitches, his chest heaving up and down like he's just run a freaking marathon. But even though he's finished telling me everything he knows, still my brain is processing it all.

At some point in the conversation I've sat down in one of the swivel chairs, unsure if my legs can handle the weight of all the information.

My mind travels back to my childhood, to that tall, shadowy father of Oli's who only came to visit his son very late at night, on a few occasions.

It wasn't until I grew up that my mother explained to me that the governor had to come that way for Oli and his mother's safety, that things in the city weren't so good and he didn't want anyone to know where they were.

I remember being scared for my friend when mom told me that they were finally coming back to town. I was scared for him at the thought that he would have to live with that disturbing man.

Thanks to the contact, we both kept in touch, and with the numerous news from Oli's father, I was able to change my perception of him. Maybe as a kid, I just wanted to see what was ahead of me, maybe he wasn't a bad person.

Because he couldn't be, not when he welcomed me with open arms when I first came to the city looking to start my college career, not when he let me sleep at his house for so long before I could dare to go to my father's house, not when Oli loves him too much and his wife seems to be the happiest person.

But maybe my ability to analyze people, which is something I have had since I was very young thanks to my father, wanted to tell me something. Maybe seeing him standing there in front of Oli giving me a shiver all over my body, it wasn't just a little kid's scare, but my instinct that said something was wrong.

Because it is, it's really wrong.

And I had to have sensed that this went much deeper than just an infidelity that led to the birth of the black-haired girl, but drug trafficking, arms dealing, massive scams and shell companies? It hadn't crossed my mind at any point.

Silas' office phone rings, his trembling hand reads the word before handing me the phone.

My blood runs cold when I see the words, knowing full well who sent the message.

But not understanding why she's looking for information on Oli's mother.

I look at Silas, the boy just as pale as I am. I swallow thickly, trying to pull myself together as much as I can.

"You said Sophia Young didn't work alone, you said she worked with someone or for someone." Silas nods. "I need you to find him, I need to talk to him."

I plop down on one of the couches in Oli's garden, groaning from the pain all over my body, after baking almost 100 cookies for tomorrow's event.

I watch Oli and Luna talking about what's on TV, feeling strangely uncomfortable in this house.

I look inside—the furniture, the pictures—everything so familiar as if it were mine, but so foreign after all the information gained.

I look over at Sophia, she has stayed in watching TV, sipping on her iced tea.

I wonder how long she has been planning everything, how long she has had the information, and how she can act so calmly at her brother's side without dragging him out of there and telling him everything his dad has done for so long.

My body itches, itches with the desire to get them both out of here, away from the governor.

I could explain what I'm doing to Oli, I know he'd understand. I could persuade Sophia that whatever it is she's looking for, it's not worth it.

But I can't, I can't for the same reason Sophia decided not to ask me anything about my father's relationship with my mother's sister, because it's my secret, my family. She deserves to do whatever she wants to do, even though I can't help but wonder if it will end up affecting her more than it will affect the governor.

Not knowing if I'll be able to handle it.

I look away from her, forcing myself to stare at the TV screen. Forcing myself to calm my heart.

I wait impatiently for Silas to write me when he has been able to contact whoever has been hiding the identity of the black-haired girl for so long.

We arrive early at Oli's mother's event. I frown at the large number of people lining up to donate—many people wearing T-shirts with the governor's face on them, some with Oli's mother's face on them.

And for the first time, my hatred for this kind of event goes way beyond boredom, now I can barely contain myself to tell all these fanatics that their governor is not who they think he is and possibly Oli's mother isn't either.

I move my neck sideways, trying to be less tense, before grabbing one of the boxes full of cookies and walking to one of the stands we've been given.

Sophia approaches me, pointing to where I can put them.

The black-haired girl smiles at me as I put them down, I look at her little dark circles under her eyes and wonder how she can sleep at night.

Sophia tilts her head in confusion, but I try to give her a smile.

"Everything okay?" she asks, looking into my eyes with mild concern.

"That's what I should be asking, aren't you tired?" I ask, knowing full well that she is.

She spent all morning helping at the museum and then all afternoon baking cookies. Getting up early on a Sunday to keep working... Well, I wouldn't be surprised if she gave up at any moment.

Her smile left me still for a second. Luna's painting pops into my mind, and I understand why the redhead felt the need to portray her.

I hope she hasn't sold the painting yet because I need to buy it myself.

"It's all for a good cause, isn't it?" she replies, but this time, her smile doesn't reach her eyes.

I look ahead at the line of people, ready to play along with whatever Oli's parents say or do.

I sigh, hoping that the proposal I send to the Sophia's contact will be approved.

I park my car in front of Oli's house, feeling that it is physically impossible for me to enter that house today.

I thought that it'd also be a terrible idea to go out tonight, but at Luna's insistence, no one could say no.

I open my eyes, watching as Sophia's car pulls in and parks almost in the driveway.

She fixes her hair and then grabs her purse before jumping out of her car. I laugh at this, waiting for the moment when I can tell her that there are smaller cars.

My eyes travel from her face to her body. I took advantage of the darkness of the night to look at her a little longer than I normally allow myself to do.

Her black boots have a platform, but they don't look as uncomfortable as some of the shoes she wears. Her arms are covered by a thin black cloth, her black bra showing through this.

I close my eyes as she gets close enough to see me.

Trying to calm my thoughts and my breathing.

The evening breeze moves her hair, Luna and Oli in the back of the car have decided to get affectionate, enjoying the ride.

Sophia seems to want to ignore them at all costs, she has turned up the music in the car and is bobbing her head up and down.

The black-haired girl feels my gaze, when her greenish eyes look at me I can't look away.

A beautiful smile dances on her lips. I am really concerned for myself tonight.

I avert my gaze, crossing down a street to look for the bar Luna mentioned in the morning.

Ian's Outfit