Fraud

I struggle to contain my grin, my eyes locking to Jase’s when he moves as if he’s going to rush at her again. Thankfully, he reconsiders it when he sees just how serious I am about protecting her.

Her eyes return to Ta

“Anyway, after they finished that part of the conversation, my dad told Jerry he needed to destroy the business. Dad said he didn’t care if his wife was dying or that it would leave John with nothing. He also said, ‘John Bailey ca

Luca’s expression twists with grief, and she turns to bury her face against Ta

“What do you make of this? Has Warbucks said anything more about what information he wants on Governor Callahan?”

“Not a word.”

Although now that I know this much, I have every intention of digging deeper.

Ivy turns to me.

“What information did you all think my father had? And why would your father want it?”

Thankfully everyone who grew up with us knows Warbucks is what we call my father, and I don’t have to take the time to explain it to Ivy.

“He said it had something to do with a new financial law your dad is pushing.”

She smiles.

“Oh, that. Yeah, he’s pushing it because of your fathers. I can’t blame him for wanting to hurt them. The men who raised you are monsters.”

My gaze lifts over her head to look at Ta

With one arm still wrapped around Luca, he stabs a hand through his hair, openly aggravated with this new twist.

“From what I can tell, we need two things. One, we need to know exactly what Warbucks is looking for. After hearing this, I think it has nothing to do with the law being pushed, and he’s just using that as an excuse. And two, we need to know why Ivy’s dad was involved with Jerry Thornton.”

“Three things, asshole.”

We all turn to look at Jase.

“We need to know where the hell Everly is, and now I’m a hell of a lot more interested to know what it means that she was at Yale for a specific reason.”

As usual, Jase is only focusing on the Everly thing, but in this instance, I can’t claim his concern is trivial. Hearing that there may have been more to Everly’s presence has me wondering as well.

“I need a drink,” I a

My gaze seeks out Emily where she’s seated between the twins.

“Is there alcohol anywhere in this cabin?”

It’s just like Emily to sneer in my direction. Ivy and I might be on better terms, but her red-headed sidekick and I never got along.

I half expect her to tell me to go fuck myself, but instead she points to the rooms beyond the stairwell.

“There’s a liquor cabinet in the den.”

“Thank you,” I say, meeting her eyes.

Although Emily and I will never be best buddies, she’s still important to Ivy. If there is ever a chance that what’s going on with Ivy and me can be something more, a war with her best friend wouldn’t make it easy.

Emily’s eyes flick to Ivy and back to me before she grumbles, “You’re welcome.”

It’s as civil a conversation as can be expected at the moment.

Stepping away from Ivy, I leave the living room and head into the den.

Thankful for the brief silence, I find the liquor cabinet, and I’m pouring a whiskey when Ta

His voice is cautious when he asks, “Did you just do what I think you just did out there?”

I laugh and take a sip of my drink, my eyes closing as it makes a smooth path straight to my bloodstream.

“That was probably the most cryptic statement I’ve ever heard. I’ll be sure to order you an award for it,” I say after swallowing.

Ta

“Stop shitting me that you don’t know what I’m talking about. You stepped in front of Ivy...for a second time, I might add. The first time I thought was to shut me up-“

“It was.”

“Fair enough, but the second time?”

“Jase’s temper was a little too hot for my liking.”

Ta

“What’s going on, Gabe?”

Finishing the drink, I pour another.

“I don’t know. Are you asking this so you can bitch at me and warn me about her, or because you need to know how to behave?”

It’s rare Ta

“Is she family?”

I slam the second drink and turn to face him.

“I don’t know”.

His dark green eyes lock to mine. “Should I consider her that until you do know?”

Fuck my life.

I’m not cut out for this shit.

I pour a third drink before answering him.

Seeing that, Ta

“I’ll take that as a yes. And how the hell do you plan to drive tonight after taking half that bottle out?”

“I don’t,” I answer after another healthy gulp. “I’ll stay here tonight and leave tomorrow.”

Leaning back against the wall, he crosses his arms over his chest.

“Fine. But once you get back tomorrow, we need to figure out what to do about this new turn of events.”

Finishing the third drink, I eye the bottle for a fourth, but decide against it.

“I have an idea about how to figure this out.”

As soon as I hear Ivy’s voice, I forget my better judgment and reach for the bottle while Ta

“No offense, Ivy, but you have no clue what’s going on here.”

Her eyes shoot to him. “That may be true, but I do know when I see a game being played. Someone is lining up all the pieces around your group at the moment.”

Not all games, I think, my thoughts going back to how she ended up here in the first place.

Ta

How the hell will I ever explain it?

His gaze snaps back to Ivy as if intuiting my thoughts. “What’s your idea?”

“We ask our dads for more information,” she says with a shrug.

Ta

“No. The fact you don’t understand what I’m saying is cute. This might be a good time for you to stop thinking you’re the master player, Ta

My brow cocks at that, but I say nothing.

Attention sliding back to Ivy, Ta

One thing I like about Ivy is her refusal to back down. I only wish she would be a little more selective about the times she chooses to show that side of her.

“If I had to guess, I would say it’s your fathers at the present moment.”

“At the present moment?” Ta

Ivy grins. “You’ve been played in the past. I’m pretty sure of that. But your arrogance kept you from seeing it.”

Ta

“Ivy,” I say, cutting off the argument I know is coming between the two of them, “why do you think we can simply go to our fathers for more information?”