pull me back | a drag me down spin off

【twenty six】

I'm trying to calm myself down, but I don't know how. How will I be okay ever again? I can't even process my emotions, so I get out of my car and slowly walk up my driveway. My legs feel like jello, they're completely numb. My palms are starting to sweat and my heart is pounding heavily in my chest. I try to control my breathing.

Since I feel like a stranger in my own home, I ring the doorbell and clutch the newspapers against my chest. I have no idea how I will react to seeing either one of my parents, or Duke.

When the door finally opens, Mom is standing in front of me. She has dark bags under her eyes and her hair is thrown up into a messy ponytail. Her entire face is drained and pale.

She nervously gulps when she sees me holding onto the newspapers. "Grace, you're here."

"Game over, Mom. I know everything. There's no secrets or lies anymore. I know all about Dad being in the masked phantoms and you being part of a robbery with them. It's time to tell me the whole truth." I say as calmly as I can, trying not to let my temper loose this early on in the conversation.

My words cause her entire face to drop. She's stunned, speechless. Her eyes are wide and terrified as they land on the newspapers. "How did you get those?"

"From the safe in your closet. You need to find better hiding spots around the house." I gulp.

Tears automatically fill her eyes. Her sad and broken facial expression almost makes me break down on the spot. I hate seeing my mother cry, but I need to stay strong and put my foot down.

Without saying a word, she steps to the side and lets me into the house. The house that no longer feels like home to me, it now resembles secrets and lies.

"Grace, thank god you're here." Skylar goes to hug me, but stops herself once she sees how upset I look. "Are you okay?"

The heavy thud of footsteps catch my attention, allowing me to turn my head. Dad and uncle Duke come down the steps, and both of them seem traumatized when they notice what I'm tightly holding onto.

"Grace." Dad chokes out.

"We're going to sit down and try to have a calm family meeting." I say, looking back at Duke.

"She knows everything, Grayson." Mom says between her sobs. Panic flashes through Dad's face, while uncle Duke curses under his breath.

"What's going on? What do you know?" My sister asks me.

Instead of giving her a direct answer, I take a seat on the couch. Skylar sits down next to me, looking confused. I notice that she tries to sneak glances at the newspapers.

"We can explain." Uncle Duke runs a hand through his hair.

"Where did you get those newspapers?" Is all Dad asks.

"I found the safe in your closet a few weeks ago, and today Riker and I finally decided to see what was in it."

"Of course this has to do with Riker." Dad practically growls.

"You have no right to say a bad thing about him when you were in a fucking gang." I raise my voice a bit.

"Wait, what?" Skylar whispers, her head snapping toward our father.

"Our entire life is a lie. Mom, Dad and uncle Duke have been keeping major secrets from us. I guess we should start with Dad being in the masked phantoms." I speak directly toward my sister.

"What the fuck? Is that true?" She gasps.

Before anyone can explain, I slam one of the newspapers on the coffee table. The headline is right in front of our eyes. GRAYSON DOLAN, A MEMBER OF THE MASKED PHANTOMS, TURNS HIMSELF IN & CONFESSES TO CRIMES. His mugshot is plastered on the front page.