Chapter 13 Summary, Analysis, and Key Takeaways
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Chapter 13 opens with Avery texting Grayson and Xander to meet her in the circular library. Eve arrives with them. Avery silently holds up the disk she and Jameson recovered. Eve takes it hesitantly, and the room falls silent. When Eve asks how much the disk is worth, Avery admits they do not know the exact value but that it is substantial. Eve reluctantly returns the disk.
Grayson asks if there was a message, and Avery hands him the paper. He notes that the kidnapper did not demand a ransom. Avery recalls that the day before she had considered three possible motives for the kidnapping: the kidnapper wanted something from Toby, wanted to use Toby as leverage, or wanted to hurt him. Given the lack of a ransom demand, the third motive now seems far more likely.
Xander reads the note over Grayson's shoulder and decodes the message as quickly as Jameson had. He describes it as revenge-themed. Eve desperately asks what the revenge is for. Avery immediately connects the message to Hawthorne Island and the fire that occurred more than two decades earlier. That fire, which the world believed had taken Toby's life, also killed three other young people: David Golding, Colin Anders Wright, and Kaylie Rooney.
Jameson begins pacing and points out that three victims mean three families, which gives them multiple suspects. Eve asks what fire, and Xander gives a brief, darkly humorous summary: Toby accidentally-but-kind-of-on-purpose set the fire, involving daddy issues, inebriated teenagers, premeditated arson, and a freak lightning strike. Avery repeats the phrase "three victims" and looks at Grayson, saying "three families." Grayson replies that one of those families is hers and one is his.
Avery reveals that her mother's sister died in the fire on Hawthorne Island. Billionaire Tobias Hawthorne saved his own family's reputation by pinning the blame for the fire on her. Kaylie Rooney's family—Avery's mother's family—is full of criminals, the violent kind, and they hate Hawthornes. Avery leaves the library, her stomach heavy, saying she has to make a call.
In a winding corridor of Hawthorne House, Avery dials a number she has only called once before. She recalls the previous call, during which her grandmother told her to forget the Rooney name and said that if Avery were lucky, the family would forget hers. The grandmother had also threatened to put a bullet in Avery's mother if she hadn't run. Now, when the grandmother answers, she immediately asks if Avery thinks she is untouchable. Avery asks directly, "Do you have him?" The grandmother responds with threats, saying she can get to Avery even in her castle. Avery tells her it would be a mistake to underestimate her, and repeats the question.
After a long pause, the grandmother says she might have one of the pretty Hawthorne grandsons, and that he might not be so pretty when Avery gets him back. Avery realizes that unless the grandmother is playing her, she has just tipped her hand. Avery knows where the Hawthorne grandsons are, but if the Rooneys do not know Toby is missing—or do not believe he is alive—Avery cannot let on that the grandmother guessed wrong. So she plays along, pretending to believe the grandmother has Jameson and threatening her if she harms him.
The grandmother responds with a saying about lying down with dogs and waking up with fleas, then says that in her family they have a different saying. Without warning, the line erupts with vicious barks and growls from at least five or six dogs. The grandmother says the dogs are hungry, mean, and have a taste for blood, and tells Avery to think about that before calling again. Avery hangs up, concluding that the Rooneys do not have Toby.
Nash Hawthorne appears, gentle and with remarkable timing, and asks if she is okay. Avery says she is fine, but Nash pulls her into his chest. She mumbles into his shirt that she has a knife in her boot, is an excellent shot, and knows how to fight dirty. Nash strokes her hair and says she sure does, then asks what this is about.
Key Events
- Avery shows the disk to Grayson, Xander, and Eve; Eve confirms its value is unknown but high.
- Grayson reads the note and notes that no ransom was demanded, shifting the motive toward wanting to hurt Toby.
- Xander decodes the message as revenge-themed, and Avery connects it to the Hawthorne Island fire.
- The fire killed three people: David Golding, Colin Anders Wright, and Kaylie Rooney, giving three families as potential suspects.
- Avery reveals that her aunt died in the fire and that Tobias Hawthorne blamed her; her mother's family, the Rooneys, are criminals who hate Hawthornes.
- Avery calls her grandmother, who threatens her and implies she may hold a Hawthorne grandson.
- Avery plays along to protect the secret that Toby is missing, then hangs up, concluding the Rooneys do not have Toby.
- Nash finds Avery and comforts her, acknowledging her toughness.
Character Development
Avery shows both vulnerability and strategic thinking in this chapter. She is shaken by the revelation that the kidnapping is likely revenge-driven, and her chest burns as if she has been holding her breath. Yet she quickly pivots to action, calling her grandmother despite knowing the danger. Her decision to play along with the grandmother's bluff—pretending to believe Jameson is held—demonstrates her ability to think on her feet and protect the family's secrets. The chapter also reveals a deeper layer of her personal history: her aunt's death in the fire and the criminal Rooney family she comes from. This backstory adds weight to her internal conflict between her new Hawthorne identity and her blood ties.
Nash Hawthorne appears as a quiet source of comfort. His gentle manner contrasts with the violence of the Rooney threats. He does not press Avery for details but offers physical reassurance, and his acknowledgment of her skills—"You sure do, kid"—shows that he sees her strength rather than her fear. This moment deepens their bond and hints at Nash's role as a protector.
Grayson and Xander contribute to the investigation, with Grayson noting the absence of a ransom and Xander decoding the message. Eve remains on the periphery, asking desperate questions, which highlights her outsider status in the Hawthorne world. Jameson's pacing and circling suggest his restless, analytical mind at work.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Revenge and Legacy – The chapter centers on revenge as a motive, tying the kidnapping to a fire from decades ago. The fire itself becomes a symbol of the Hawthorne family's destructive past and the collateral damage they have caused. The three victims represent three families, each with a potential grudge, and the theme of inherited hatred is explicit in the Rooney family's criminal history and their animosity toward Hawthornes.
Deception and Underestimation – Avery deliberately underestimates her grandmother's threat while also playing along with the grandmother's bluff. The grandmother, in turn, tries to intimidate Avery by implying she has a grandson. Both characters engage in a game of misdirection, and Avery's ability to read the situation—realizing the grandmother tipped her hand—shows her growing skill at navigating deception.
Family Loyalty and Violence – The Rooney family is portrayed as violent and unforgiving, with the grandmother threatening dogs and bullets. Avery's loyalty to the Hawthornes is tested as she confronts her own blood relatives. The chapter also shows loyalty through Nash's comforting presence, contrasting the two families' approaches to care.
Secrets and the Past – The fire is a buried secret that resurfaces, and Avery's call to her grandmother forces her to confront a part of her history she has tried to forget. The chapter emphasizes that the past is not easily escaped, especially when it involves family.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 13 is pivotal because it transforms the kidnapping from a mystery of motive into a concrete threat rooted in the Hawthorne family's history. The revelation that the fire killed three people and that one of those victims was Avery's aunt gives her a personal stake in the case and explains why the Rooneys might be involved. The chapter also introduces a direct confrontation with the Rooney family, establishing them as a credible and dangerous adversary. Avery's decision to protect the secret that Toby is missing—by pretending the grandmother has Jameson—shows her commitment to the Hawthorne family and her strategic acumen. Finally, the chapter deepens Avery's character by revealing her traumatic past and her ability to compartmentalize fear, setting up future conflicts as she navigates the dangerous world of the Hawthornes and the Rooneys.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Avery conclude that the Rooneys do not have Toby, despite her grandmother's threat?
Avery realizes that her grandmother's threat about having a Hawthorne grandson is a bluff because the grandmother does not know that Toby is missing. If the Rooneys knew Toby was alive and missing, they would likely have mentioned him specifically. Instead, the grandmother speaks vaguely about "one of those pretty little Hawthorne grandsons," which suggests she is guessing. Avery knows where the actual grandsons are, so she can deduce that the grandmother does not have Toby. She plays along to avoid revealing that Toby is missing, which would give the Rooneys information they could use.
2. How does the absence of a ransom demand change the investigation?
Without a ransom demand, the motive shifts from financial gain or leverage to a desire to hurt Toby. This aligns with the revenge-themed message and points toward the fire and the three victims' families. The lack of a ransom also suggests the kidnapper may not intend to return Toby alive, raising the stakes and making the search more urgent. It narrows the suspect pool to those with a personal grudge against Toby or the Hawthorne family.
3. What does Avery's decision to call her grandmother reveal about her character?
Avery's decision shows courage and a willingness to confront danger head-on, even when it means contacting a family that has threatened her life. It also reveals her strategic thinking: she knows the Rooneys are a potential suspect and wants to gather information, even at personal risk. Her ability to stay calm and play along during the call demonstrates emotional control and quick wit. The call also exposes her vulnerability, as she is visibly shaken afterward, but her resilience is evident in how she composes herself before Nash arrives.