Knix scrubbed a hand down his face, looking more tired and worn than I had ever seen him before. “As much as I wish we could,” he said, “I have a new contract to fulfill with the city.” His eyes met mine with regret. “The Whitesville Contract, it requires me to be here. I can’tleave.”
I blew out a breath.Well, there went that grand plan. “Okay,” I said. “Then westay.”
“And avoid her?” Grayson didn’t lookconvinced.
I shrugged. “I’m open to bettersuggestions.”
“I’m down,” Texas said, leaning back and threading his fingers behind his head. “In fact, I’d rather stay. I don’t want to relocate for however long it takes for Grayson to outgrow the age stipulations on his trust fundstuff.”
Marv and Grayson exchanged a look before directing their attention to Knix. “What do you say?” Marvasked.
Knix pinched the bridge of his nose for a quick moment before releasing it and pinching again. I could practically see the building migraine in his head and guilt bloomed hot in my chest. A part of me wanted to wrap them all up in plastic and cart them somewhere far away and safe. Because, despite my bravado, I had a feeling Teddi Vandersen-Caruso could be a very big problem if she wanted tobe.
“There’s really only one option,” he said, dropping his hand. “We’ll stay and it’ll be business as usual. No contact with her.” Knix’s eyes landed on me. “Especially not alone,” heclarified.
I nodded myagreement.
“What if she comes after us?” Bellamy asked. All eyes turned to him and he stared back, unflinching. “You know it’s apossibility.”
“We can address that when it becomes a problem?” Texas offeredhesitantly.
Grayson shook his head. “No, that might work if we weren’t sure if it would become a problem, but we know itwill.”
“Okay, then, so…” Texas glanced around the room. “What are we going todo?”
I huffed out a breath. “Well, for starters, we’re going to stop going around the room and we’re going to make a plan.” The guys’ attention fell on me. I straightened my back and returned their gazes. “What does Teddi want?” Iasked.
“That’s easy,” Texas said, nodding to Grayson. “She wantshim.”
Grayson scowled, but I ignored it. “That’s right,” I said. “She wants him, and she thinks we’re in the way of getting what shewants.”
Marv watched me with a light in his eyes and as I spoke, he nodded. “Yes,” he said. “She’s a narcissist. She thinks she has all the power, or that she can controlpeople.”
I smiled, matching his look. “You got it,” I said with a decisive head bob. “She’s vaintoo.”
“So, what?” Grayson shook his head. “So, she’s a narcissist? So, she’s vain? What does that have to do withanything?”
“Those are weaknesses.” Bellamy leaned forward and balanced his elbows on hisknees.
“We want to make her give up,” Isaid.
“Give up?” Grayson repeated with afrown.
I tried to tamp down my smile as it widened, but it was an impossible feat. “Exactly,” I replied. “We want to make it too difficult for her to try and take us down. We want her to decide that it’s better for her to just leave us—and Grayson—alone.”
Texas grinned. “Divide and conquer?” heasked.
I nodded to him before turning back to the rest of the group. “We need to provide a few well placed distractions while we figure out how we can get her to layoff.”
Knix scratched the stubble on his chin. “How are we going to dothat?”
I bit my lip. That was the tricky part. I had no clue. Then it hit me. Mr. Decourcy had mentioned an annual charity masquerade. I smirked as I looked up. I met Knix’s gaze as he dropped his hand away from his face and then I turned my eyes to theothers.
“We’re going to the charity masquerade,” I stated, recalling what Mr. Decourcy had mentioned earlier that evening. It seemed like just the thing Teddi Vandersen-Caruso would be interestedin.
Marv blinked and frowned. “How did you know about that? We haven’t even received invitationsyet.”
I shrugged. “One of Knix’s business associates mentioned it tonight. It’s a big deal,right?”