Semua Bab Beautiful Disaster: Bab 211 - Bab 220

Stunned silence followed Lukas' revelations, leaving Austin reeling on his feet. He promptly sat down, convinced if he didn't, the force of gravity would yank him down."What did you say?" he asked, even though he was pretty sure his hearing was still perfectly fine."You heard me," replied Lukas. "Those records got Iris killed. And I beg you, please, Son, get rid of them. And do not breathe a word to anyone about this.""Father, you knew," Austin whispered, unable to believe that his doubts about his father's innocence and the truth had finally collided so unexpectedly.Sure, he'd had his suspicions for a while now about the ledger. But his father confirming what he'd long suspected wasn't as liberating as he thought it would be. In fact, it filled him with an all-new dread because it wasn't just his life on the line now, but Marybeth's too, since she'd seen the ledger."You knew," he whispered again, and before he could talk himself out of what he was about to do, he'd already jumped

Austin followed Lionel out of the house, pulled out a cigarette, and sat on the flimsy steps."May I?" Lionel asked, pointing at the pack beside Austin as he joined him, the rotting wood grumbling under their combined weight."Are you allowed to smoke?""The only good thing about dying is that I'm allowed to do anything I want," Lionel smiled, and Austin couldn't help but like him a little. Anyone accepting death with as much grace as his father-in-law displayed was worth liking."How long do you have?" he asked, handing him the cigarettes and his Zippo."I told you I don't know," Lionel replied, fumbling with the lighter."The doctor must have told you something.""It could be a year, three months or a week," Lionel said. "He wanted to run extensive tests, but I felt it was a waste of money.""Do you want to live? Because if you do, I'm sure we can make a plan," Austin said, giving him a sidelong glance through the thick haze of smoke."I think I've lived," Lionel said, stuffing the c

They cruised through the nearly-deserted streets for a few more minutes, taking in the sights before they left the town square and got on a lonely stretch of dirt road that took them further away from civilisation the longer they drove.Marybeth stared in wonder at the natural beauty of the mountains and valleys surrounding them, and as the road narrowed and the trees and foliage grew denser, she couldn't help but notice how isolated they were."We're here," said Austin a few quick turns later as they drove into a cosy campsite surrounded by tall pine trees, where his men were already hard at work, pitching up their tents."Daddy! Marybeth!" Orlando squealed and dropped her tools as soon as she saw them, running to their car like her life depended on it. She almost lost her mind when she saw Lionel and Danica.Marybeth couldn't stop smiling as she watched her father scoop her up in his arms and twirl her in the air, giving in to her demands when she screamed, "Do it again!"Austin remo

Orlando was a busy bee, helping Anna grill fish over the open flame when Marybeth and her little group finally returned to camp."Marybeth, come see what we caught," she chirped excitedly when she saw them."What did you catch, Orly?" Marybeth asked, glancing at their loot sizzling over the fire."I don't know what it's called, but we can eat it!""Impressive, Orly!" Marybeth said. "And you caught it yourself?""Grandma De Jager helped me," Orlando announced, beaming up at Marybeth."It's Grandma, Orly," Anna reminded her. "Grandma De Jager sounds so formal.""Right," said Orlando absently, her attention on their meal."Where's your father?" Marybeth asked, but Anna responded, pointing at Austin pacing up and down near a grove of trees, his cell phone glued to his ear."He's been on the phone since we came back.""With who?"Anna shrugged. "Work, I guess.""And he promised me he wouldn't work this weekend," Orlando chimed in, her rosy lips forming a perfect pout as she rummaged through

Austin was still pacing near the stream, trying to calm down with a cigarette, when Benji drifted over with an update, "Anna remembered something; кума got her to talk.""What did she say?" he asked, looking away from the cloud of smoke floating above his head."Blake. He's the only other person she told about the trip."Austin was struck speechless, and when he still couldn't articulate his thoughts after a moment, or two had passed, he began walking along the riverbank."How do you want to proceed?" Benji asked, falling into step with him. "If he is behind this, we need to rein him in ASAP—""He's not!" Austin cut in sharply as they paused in front of a huge boulder. "I know my brother. He doesn't have the balls to pull this shit off.""Or maybe you're underestimating him, and that's what he's banking on," Benji suggested as he sat on the rock and stared at Austin. "Think about it. Who else has an axe to grind with you?"Off the top of his head, Austin could think of several people w