Carrick’s P.O.V.

The ID in front of me felt like a joke. Same name. Same details. Only the numbers changed. Whoever thought this plan would work was brain-dead. My name was infamous, my face plastered across half the country. Going undercover with this was suicide—or maybe that was exactly what I wanted. Let it fail, just to show my father how useless his plans were.

I barely flipped through the documents when Vale barged in without knocking, like he owned the place.

“Ever heard of knocking?” I muttered without looking up.

Vale chuckled. “Since when do I need permission to walk into your office?”

I sighed and set the papers aside. Vale was the only person I tolerated—my brother in everything but blood. But today, his cocky grin irritated me.

“Maybe you don’t need permission, but you could use some sense, especially today. I’m not in the mood.”

Vale grabbed a chair and dropped himself into it. “Let me guess… you’re sulking because of the high school gig? Come on, Carrick. You know your father isn’t stupid. There’s a method to the madness.”

I gave him a sharp glare, one that should’ve shut him up. Instead, he kept talking like it meant nothing.

“Vale, for once, stop defending that man. He may have raised you, but don’t start worshipping him. You and I both know this plan is idiotic.”

Vale crossed his arms. “Convince me.”

I leaned forward, pinning him with my stare. “One, everyone knows who the hell I am. Two, this ID? Pathetic. Three, I’m losing my damn mind sitting idle for months. I need to spill blood, Vale, not babysit some high school brat.”

Vale stayed quiet, but I saw the gears turning. His expression shifted, the usual calm starting to crack. I knew where this was heading.

Sure enough, his voice dropped. “Carrick… when was the last time you checked in with your therapist?”

My jaw tightened. I should’ve kept my mouth shut.

“Carrick,” he snapped.

I shifted in my chair, pulling at my collar like it suddenly choked me. “Been a while.”

“How long?” Vale asked sharply.

“Maybe… six months?” I muttered.

“And your meds?”

“Stopped them too,” I shrugged.

Vale’s temper finally snapped. “What the hell is wrong with you? You know exactly what happens when you go off those meds. You start losing it.”

I shrugged again, avoiding his stare. Vale paced the office like a madman, running a hand through his hair.

“Get your ass up. We’re going to the doctor now,” he barked.

I stayed seated, staring at the floor. “Can’t.”

Vale froze. “Why not?”

“Because,” I sighed, “I killed him.”

Silence. The longest, thickest silence filled the room. Vale stood frozen, mouth slightly open, trying to process what I just said.

“Why the hell did you kill your therapist?” he finally whispered, like he didn’t trust his own voice.

I leaned back, arms crossed. “Because he knew too much. You know how it works. The less anyone knows about me, the better.”

Vale dropped into the chair like someone kicked his knees out. “You could’ve told me. I would’ve handled it. Now I have to dig up another shrink to keep you sane.”

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t need to be sane.”

“Yes, you do, or you’ll be dead by thirty,” he snapped. “Next time, you talk to me before you go on your little murder sprees. Understood?”

I lifted my hands. “Fine, I get it. You can pick the next therapist. Just make sure I don’t have to talk about my feelings.”

Vale snorted. “No promises.”

I decided to shift the conversation before his lecture dragged on. “Now, back to real business. Why don’t I just kill the sheriff?”

Vale’s brow shot up. “Funny. You don’t remember what you said a month ago?”

I blinked. “Refresh my memory.”

Vale shook his head. “You said yourself, killing the sheriff wouldn’t solve anything. He’s part of a team, and if we take him out, someone worse will take his place. The only way to break them is to get their secrets… or turn him to our side.”

I cursed under my breath, leaning back. “Right… I said that.”

“Yeah, genius, you did,” Vale said. “That’s why your father put this whole school mission together. You get close to the brother, get leverage, and cripple the sheriff from the inside.”

I rubbed my temple. “Maybe I’m more screwed up than I thought.”

Vale nodded. “You think? And you haven’t even heard the best part.”

I scowled. “Go ahead, ruin my day.”

Vale grinned. “Your stepmother and stepsister are moving in tomorrow.”

I blinked. “No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Yes, and it gets better,” Vale continued. “The stepmother knows about the business, but the daughter doesn’t. Boss wants you to keep it that way. You’ll be playing the perfect big brother… and an English teacher at her school.”

My jaw dropped. “You’re kidding me.”

“Nope. She thinks you’re the heir to a luxury empire and some bored billionaire with a writer hobby. Boss had all the police records wiped, rewrote your history, and scrubbed every trace of your name from investigations.”

I couldn’t believe it. My father managed to pull off the impossible. Either he did it because he loved me… or because he wanted to play perfect husband and stepfather.

I scoffed. “He didn’t do it for me, Vale. Don’t be naive. It’s for his shiny new family.”

Vale stayed quiet.

I stood, grabbing my jacket. “Fine. I’ll play along. I’ll be the good boy, the helpful big brother, the boring English teacher.”

Vale chuckled. “And no killing the stepsister.”

“No promises,” I grinned.

Vale’s grin faltered. “Carrick…”

I waved him off. “Relax. I’ll behave… for now. But when this is over, I’m getting what I want. And when I’m done, our dear old man won’t be calling the shots anymore.”

Vale’s shoulders sagged. “I don’t know if that’s a promise or a threat.”

“Neither,” I said with a smirk. “It’s a guarantee.”