“I don’t know what you’re referring to, Loren. I don’t have friends.”
I held in a snort because she wasn’t wrong. Jacqueline didn’t see people as companions. Everyone was viewed in terms of their bank accounts and what they could provide for her life. They weren’t friends, but mere commodities and doors to leverage to get her where she wanted to go. I wish I’d realized it sooner. It might’ve saved me a lot of grief over the fact my mother didn’t seem to care about me. But she didn’t care about anyone other than herself, and she didn’t even try to hide it. At least not with me.
“You’re right, Mother, my apologies. It seems your business partner and you have been busy. There, is that more accurate?”
She stiffened, but didn’t say anything. I hardened my eyes as I stared her down.
“The question I’d like to know is, what were you planning to do with the contents of storage locker 8374?”
She sucked in a gasp, looking over at Brian, who gritted his teeth, but didn’t speak. I didn’t know if he was smart, or just that angry. When neither answered, I had to assume they wanted to know how much information I had.
My hand tightened on the table around the fork I’d picked up, and I felt Nicco pull it down, lacing his fingers with mine, rubbing his thumb over the top of my hand in a soothing gesture. I took a few seconds to count in my head, needing to keep my breathing even. It would be so easy to unleash my anger, but that was what they wanted. I could see that now. I needed to be cold and unattached to get through to them.
“Last chance to come clean.” Jacqueline began to fidget but still didn’t open her mouth. I didn’t know if I was relieved or disappointed. They weren’t trying to lie to me for once, but they also didn’t deem me important enough to be honest with. There was a fine line between truth and lies, after all.
“Fine, have it your way. I’ll just have to keep it to myself rather than share what I’ve been up to in the past two days. If you have nothing to offer, your presence is no longer needed. You might’ve been able to manipulate me in the past, twist things around to get what you wanted, but I’m not that person anymore. I will prosecute you to the letter of the law for the things you’ve stolen from me, and I will make damn sure that every one of your peers knows it, too. In fact, starting tomorrow morning, there won’t be a single person in Kenilworth who doesn’t know the scum you both are. But I’m not stopping with the suburbs, your names will be worthless throughout Chicago by the time I’m through.” I sat back, taking in some joy at seeing my mother and ex-husband’s faces turn red. “Though, now that I think about it, you’ve already ruined your reputation all on your own. Isn’t that right, Mother?”
She stuck her nose up, scooting back to get up. “I came here, hoping you were willing to listen, but I see that you’ve let yourself become some whore for these men. No one will take you seriously, Loren. Wait until I tell your father this.”
She stood, turning on her heels, but was stopped by Topher. She huffed, and he only smiled, taking her arm. Brian stood slowly too, buttoning his jacket, an evil smile on his face. I knew he was about to launch an attack. I just prayed we’d planned for it.
“Your mother owes me a significant amount of money, Loren. I have no quarrels with you. I just want what was promised. You can pay her debt for her, or more like, you should.” Brian turned, waiting for me to ask. He was an expert in that particular manipulation tactic, and I hated it with everything in my body. He’d make a statement, but wouldn’t finish it, leaving it hanging, so you were forced to ask him in order to find out. Rolling my eyes, I sighed, tired from this game.
“And why should I?”
“You’re not the only one with new friends.”
Atticus had enough, not liking the threat, and narrowed his eyes on the asshole I used to think loved me. It was clear now he only loved himself.
“I’d be careful with threatening Loren, Mr. Carter. You might not have understood the precious gem you had, but I do. More importantly, we do. If you come after Loren, you’ll be facing all the men in her life who care for her. And we’re not corporate scum that you can bully into getting what you want. I invited you here as a courtesy to give you the chance to do the right thing. If you choose to ignore that, well, that’s all on you. I plan to fight you in a different way.”
“You don’t scare me, Mr. Mascro,” Brain spat, stiffening his spine in indignation that Atticus was calling him out.
“That’s too bad. I should. And well, he certainly should.”Atticus gestured behind Brian. Sax had walked around the table, and was now glaring down at Brian, and I watched as my ex winced when he spotted Sax. But his ego was too big, and he pulled his shoulders back, acting as if he didn’t care.
“Am I free to go, or will I be treated like a criminal?”
“Your purpose has already been served, so you may go, but I wouldn’t go far. There will be some people visiting you in the morning. Do yourself a favor, and don’t make it hard on them.”
Brian sneered, but Sax clapped his hand on his shoulder, directing him out of the party.
“Are you sure this was the best play?” I asked, anxiety filling me now that they’d gone. I’d never stood up to my mother or Brian in such a public way. It was terrifying and exhilarating all at the same time.
“Definitely. They’ve been photographed, and they will be in the paper tomorrow. We’ll hit them on multiple fronts. Socially, financially, and publicly. Their names will be mud by lunch tomorrow.”
“And my father?”
He turned, looking me over. Atticus hadn’t wanted to give my father a pass, but I insisted he deserved a chance. “If he went along with my associate, then he has nothing to worry about.”
Nodding, I sighed, some of the anxiety leaving me that Brian and my mother were gone. I knew it wasn’t over with them, but we’d shown our hand, or the part we wanted them to see, sending them running for once. Now, we just had to sit back and wait, and hopefully, they would hang themselves. If not, Atticus had an ace up his sleeve. But it was the waiting I found so difficult.
Nicco’s thumb rubbed in a circle on my leg, and I turned to look at him. His smile settled me, and I leaned into his side, needing his constant reassurance.
“Two mice down, now it’s time to see if our trap worked for the big cheese,” Nicco whispered, kissing my temple. I giggled, his use of Atticus’ metaphors making me relax. After we nibbled on some food, I looked around the table, seeing the unease, and I knew it was time to face the last obstacle.
Standing, I held hands with Atticus as we walked over to confront Darren. Except, as we headed toward him; he was no longer where we’d last seen him.
Shit, this couldn’t be good. I looked over at Atticus, but instead of shock, he had a satisfied gleam in his eyes. Well, then.