“Enlighten me.”
“This is too good to be true.” Harrison clasped his hands behind his back and paced like a professor giving a lecture. “Where to start, where to start. Ah, how about at the beginning, dear brother?”
Cody looked like a fighter about to go down. He wobbled on his legs and Harrison caught him. He wasn’t done toying with him yet.
“That’s right,” Harrison hissed. “Haven’t you ever wondered why our parents divorced the same year? Or why my father’s always been so kind to you? Even going as far as to have his legal team represent you to get your sentence reduced? It should have been manslaughter, but Daddy couldn’t let his youngest end up in prison, could he?”
Cody shoved Harrison off him. “You’re lying!”
“I wish. But your whore of a mother couldn’t keep her legs closed around my father. God knows how she lured him to bed. Probably got him drunk. Alcohol has always been the choice weapon in your family.”
“Don’t talk about my mother!”
“Why? She never wanted you. She wanted my father. You were just a misfortunate byproduct of their affair.”
Cody staggered back from Harrison’s cutting words. Shock and disbelief warred on his face.
Hannah couldn’t take anymore of this nightmare. She slipped from the backseat of the car and edged her way toward Cody, slipping her hand into his. He looked at her, momentarily dazed, like he’d forgotten she was even there.
“Come on. Let’s go,” Hannah begged pulling Cody toward the open garage door.
“Think about it, Cody,” Harrison called. “Deep down you’ve always known it’s true.”
Hannah tugged relentlessly at Cody’s arm, making progress one foot at a time. They were almost out of the garage. Cool air brushed her skin with the promise of freedom, but Harrison wouldn’t stop. He just kept taunting.
“Too bad everyone always chooses me,” Harrison goaded. “Elena, Hannah, Our Father. He knew the truth about Elena, ya know? He knew I got her pregnant, but he wasn’t going to let my record be tarnished. That’s why he let you take the fall. You’re illegitimate and you always will be.”
“What’s to stop me from going to the police about this?” Cody snarled as Hannah clung to his arm, holding him from falling to pieces.
Harrison laughed. “Like anyone would believe you.”
Hannah had enough. She’d tried to stay quiet, but this was too much. She spoke in a deadly calm voice staring directly at Harrison. “But they might believe me.”
“That’s sweet. But you don’t have any proof.”
Hannah slowly reached into her black clutch and pulled out the camera she’d stolen from the back seat of Harrison’s car.
His eyes widened and his nostrils flared with hatred. “You little bitch.”
“Run,” Cody yelled, pushing Hannah out the garage door.
She heard him scuffling with Harrison behind her as she ran as fast as she could toward the house. The sound of gravel crunching behind her made her turn. Cody sprinted after her. But just steps behind him was Harrison.
“Keys,” Cody shouted, throwing them at her. “Get to my car and get out of here.”
She caught them and nodded, not hesitating for a second. She spotted Cody’s Range Rover parked in front of the manor. She got in and started it up. The seat remembered her, boosting her forward as she pushed the clutch into drive, speeding back toward the garage.
Cody and Harrison were rolling around in the gravel trying to kill each other. Hannah laid on the horn and skidded to a stop as close to them as she dared. It had the desired effect. Both boys separated, launching themselves out of the way thinking she was going to run them over. Cody jumped into the car and Hannah hit the lock button, leaving Harrison chasing after them as they sped off into the wild wooded darkness.
46
Hannah careened down the driveway and out the gate, fishtailing wildly on the soft dirt road. Cody was breathing hard, his arms cradling his head as he rocked dangerously close to the dash.
“I think I’m going to be sick,” he mumbled.
“Just breathe, Cody. I’m right here,” Hannah murmured.
She wanted to rub his back soothingly but she didn’t dare take her hands off the wheel. She was driving at a breakneck pace and each bump threatened to send them hurtling toward the trees.
“Those things he said . . . it’s all true isn’t it? He’s my brother. He got Elena pregnant. And his father . . . our father covered it up?”
“It’s not all true, Cody.”
“What part?”
“The part about everyone choosing him. I didn’t choose him. I’m choosing you.”
Cody looked at her for the first time. His face was a bloody mess but he smiled ruefully, reaching his hand over to take hers. They laced their fingers together and squeezed. “Thank you,” he whispered.
They finally reached the main road, but Hannah still didn’t feel safe. She glanced in her rearview mirror repeatedly, expecting to see Harrison tailing them.
“Where to?” she asked.
Cody laughed. “I don’t know. Where do you go after learning your life has been one big lie?”
Hannah squeezed his hand affectionately. “I know just the place.”
Hannah pulled up to the grassy ridge overlooking the stables. It was almost more beautiful at night. The frantic pounding of her heart finally began to slow. There was nothing around them for miles. They would be safe here. She looked over at Cody. His eyes were closed tightly, as if he was wrestling heavy demons.
“Wanna get some fresh air?” she asked.
He opened his eyes and visibly relaxed once he realized where they were. “I like your choice of location.”
“Someone once told me this place makes everything better.”
Cody tried to smile. “At least some things are still true.”
“Come on, let’s get some air.”
They exited the car and walked to the front, leaning back against the warmth of the grill.
“The stars look beautiful from here,” Hannah remarked.
Cody remained silent, staring off into the distance.
“Nothing has to change unless you want it to,” Hannah whispered, slipping her hand into Cody’s.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in tight. “But I want things to change. I want this . . . us . . . to be real,” he said with resolve.
Hannah gazed up at him, watching the starlight that danced across his dark eyes. His face was bruised and bloodied, but he’d never looked more beautiful to her. Cody inched his face closer to hers, his breath catching when it mixed with hers.
“I do too,” she whispered, stretching to her toes, closing the distance until their lips touched.
For a moment the world stood still. Her lips on his—breathing as one. And then they let go and lost each other in a kiss that transcended all others. It spoke of undeclared love and compassion, and longing. It promised trust and faithfulness. And above all, it was pure—untainted with any motive other than their hearts’ honest desire for each other.
When they pulled away they were breathless. It was Hannah who spoke first.
“Cody, I want to be here for you. Whatever decision you make, I’ll stand by you.”
“I don’t know what to do, Hannah. But I can’t live with all these lies anymore. It’s killing me.”
“Then let it out.”
“How?”
“I have the video. I got Harrison’s whole confession on camera.”
“How did you manage that?”
“You don’t want to know.”
“I don’t want any secrets between us,” Cody pleaded, gently tucking back a stray hair from Hannah’s face.
“Harrison set up a camera in the car. He planned to record his conquest,” she said softly.
“Hannah? Did he hurt you? Because I swear—”
“No. But I think he would have if you hadn’t shown up when you did.”
Cody’s hands sho
ok as he placed them on either side of Hannah’s face letting his forehead rest against hers. The anguish on his face was excruciating. His whole body trembled with the strain of the night.
“It’s okay,” Hannah soothed gently trailing kisses over his cheeks and eyelids. “Everything’s going to be okay.”
“Hannah, if I lost you . . .”
“Shhh . . . I’m right here, Cody.”
He opened his eyes and looked at her. “Tell me what to do. How do I fix this?”
“I say we share the video. Now, before Harrison has time to cover it up.”
“But . . . what about you. You’re on the video too.”
She nodded.
“I don’t want to drag you into my messed up life.”
“I think it’s too late for that,” she smiled running her hand through his hair affectionately.
“True.” He sighed. “So you really think I should do this?”
“Yes.”
“Now?”
“I think the best thing you can do right now is follow the rules.”
“Rules?”
Hannah smiled shyly. “A very wise man once taught me three important rules to success. Be truthful. Do what I say without question. And work quickly.”
Cody laughed for the first time since they arrived. It was good to hear the familiar sound. “You know I was really just winging it, right?”
“Turns out you were pretty spot on.” Hannah replied. “Listen Cody, the decision has to be yours, but if you want to do something about this I think it has to be now. Or you run the risk of Harrison covering his tracks.”
Cody’s jaw twitched with apprehension, but he nodded. “You’re right.”
Hannah opened her clutch and pulled out the tiny camera.
“Are you sure about this?” Cody asked.
“Cody . . . I’m all in.”
He kissed her forehead and took the camera, adeptly connecting the Bluetooth to his phone. He uploaded the video to the Stanton student page and stared at the file for a long time. It was eleven minutes and thirty-six seconds long. That was the time it would take to change his life forever.
“I don’t think I can press post.” Cody handed the camera to Hannah. “Can you do it?”
“Let’s do it together,” she offered.
They climbed up onto the hood of Cody’s car. Hannah shivered in her tattered dress and Cody draped his tuxedo jacket over her shoulders. Then, they linked hands and pressed post.
47
Hannah and Cody lay back against the windshield, snuggled in each other’s arms staring at the sky. Once the video went live, Cody’s phone exploded to life. He switched it off and kissed Hannah softly, gazing into her eyes. “I guess you were right.”
“About what?”
“Practice does make perfect.”
Hannah laughed, leaning into his kiss. “We’re far from perfect.”
“I can live with that.”
“Me too.”
Epilogue
An official investigation was opened after Hannah’s video caught the attention of law officials. It turned out everything Harrison said was true. Well everything except for the fact that he always won. This time he lost. And he lost big time.
Harrison and his father were both convicted of fraud and sentenced to prison. The investigation revealed even larger cover-ups in the Cohl family. And Mr. Cohl was indicted on several charges.
Cody’s record was expunged and he received a huge settlement from the state for being wrongfully accused.
After graduation—where Hannah gave an epic speech about leaving juvenile pettiness behind to forge a new path into a future open with possibilities to become your best self—Hannah and Cody took his settlement check and chartered a sailboat for a month long adventure. Just the two of them, Custard and the sea.
And a world of infinite possibility.
The End.
To my readers,
I want to personally thank you for taking the time to seek out this great little indie book. Writing is truly my passion. I believe each of us can find a small part of ourselves in every book we read, and carry it with us, shaping our world, our adventures and our dreams.
Following my dream to write frees my soul but knowing others find joy in my writing is indescribable. So thank you for your support and I hope your enjoyed your brief escape into the magic of these pages.
If you enjoyed this story, don’t worry, there’s plenty more currently rattling around in my rambunctious imagination. Let me and others know your thoughts by sharing a review of this book. Reviews help shape my next writing projects. So if you want more books like this one be sure to shout it from the rooftops (or social media.) ;-)
- Christina Benjamin
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About the Author
Award-Winning author, Christina Benjamin, lives in Florida with her husband, and character inspiring pets, where she spends her free time working on her books and speaking to inspire fellow writers.
Christina is best known for her wildly popular Young Adult series, The Geneva Project.
Her best-selling novel, The Geneva Project - Truth, has won multiple awards and stolen the hearts of YA readers. Packed with magic and imagination, her epic tale of adventure hooks fans of mega-hit YA fiction like Harry Potter, The Hunger Games and Percy Jackson.
Christina loves to read and write across genres. YA is her favorite but she’s a sucker for a good love story. Don’t miss her romance, paranormal and historical fiction, as well as the multiple anthologies she’s been a part of.
Follow her Amazon Page to get updates when new books are released. HERE
For more information
@authorcbenjamin
ChristinaBenjaminAuthor
www.christinabenjaminauthor.com
Also by Christina Benjamin
The Geneva Project - TRUTH (Book 1 FREE)
The Geneva Project - SECRETS (Book 2)
The Geneva Project - LIES (Book 3)
The Geneva Project - DESTINY (Book 4)
The Geneva Project - Complete Box Set
The Practice Boyfriend (The Boyfriend Series Book 1) Page 15
