Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 68598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
“That would be me,” Sunny called. “I’m sorry. I just…”
We all looked over to see Sunny with his dog on a leash, smiling sheepishly.
I blew out a relieved breath, happy to know that people weren’t out spreading my information—or more specifically, Folsom’s—at a time like this without first thinking it through.
“Oh, good,” I said.
“As for why I’m here,” Myen said with annoyance. “I’m here because our father passed away, and I’ve been trying to reach you.”
Ten years ago, that news would’ve stung.
Now, it was like hearing about an acquaintance you used to know dying, but the information was nothing but slightly bothersome. You feel bad for the person that died, but it didn’t really affect your life any.
“That’s unfortunate,” I admitted. “That still doesn’t explain why you’re here.”
Myen’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “I just told you that our father died, and you don’t care? It’s unfortunate? I knew you were dumb, but I didn’t realize just how dumb you really are.”
Folsom visibly bristled at my side, and I caught her hand before she could launch herself at my sister.
Pulling her firmly into my side, I said, “My intelligence isn’t a factor here.”
“Your brother is a successful man who has started a business from the ground up.” Folsom seethed at my side. “He’s one of the most sought-after men in the world right now. Do you know why? Because he’s very, very good at his job. And yes, he might not have a genius IQ, but he’s the most intelligent man I’ve ever met, and you lost something when you went with the story you went with, accusing him of being complicit in the murder of that man that was ‘raping’ you. Your father chose you and your fucked-up shit,” she waved her hand in the air as if she was encompassing Myen in an invisible cloud. “And let Kobe, one of the best men in the world, go. So, of course, he doesn’t give a single shit that he passed away. Your supposed ‘genius’ IQ obviously doesn’t give you very much common sense.”
Timothy or Anthony, I wasn’t sure which, started to snicker behind us.
They obviously loved their sister as much as I did.
And even though that was my first time admitting it, my love for the woman currently digging her nails into my pectoral muscle because she was so mad, it felt inarguably right. As if this was how it was always meant to be, her here, protecting me with her sharp tongue and her angry eyes.
My sister gave Folsom a once-over, her disdain for her clear in that one look.
“I don’t know who you are,” she said, “but this is a private conversation between family.”
“Don’t you know that family isn’t blood, but it’s who you make it?” Folsom countered. “I’ve been his family since you decided to put him last. And let me tell you something, the man knows how to pick his family. Not one of us, genius or not, would treat him the way that you treat him.”
“I think that’s my cue to escort you out,” Sunny butted in before any more words could be exchanged between the two women.
“I’m not leaving until I explain why I’m here,” Myen countered.
“You’re leaving,” I countered.
“Being on a public street is legal,” Myen tried.
“You’re not on a public street,” Sunny countered. “You’re in a privately owned subdivision, on a privately owned street. Owned by the woman currently standing in front of you, actually. If she asked you to leave, then you’re leaving. With or without police assistance has yet to be seen.”
Myen growled.
She hated it when she didn’t get her way, and it was showing now.
“I’m here because your father left me in poverty!” Myen screeched. “Don’t you remember that the eldest male always takes care of the females in our family?”
Folsom scoffed but didn’t say anything. Instead, she caught my hand and tugged me. “Let’s go back inside.”
I followed her, but just because Myen was out of sight didn’t mean she was out of mind.
And, leaving the brothers and sister to talk, I found myself needing a break.
I eyed Timothy and Anthony.
“I have to go to my office,” I said. “Check my email, follow up on a few things… Y’all will stay with her until I get back?”
Anthony narrowed his eyes at me, but it was Timothy who said, “She’s still in danger?”
I was already shaking my head as I reached over and caught the Gator Bait MC cut that I’d slung over the corner of one chair upon entering Folsom’s house.
Folsom watched me with knowing eyes, her gaze saying she was allowing me the space, but she would definitely be pursuing it later if I didn’t come back to her.
I would.
I pushed that to her with my own gaze, the knowledge that I would be back.
She nodded once before I answered her brother, saying, “No. She’s not in danger, as far as we can tell. The information that we have gathered shows that everything is okay now. There’s no active hit on her. All parties that have ‘taken’ the hit have been dealt with one way or the other. The latest one was arrested for a past crime she’d committed that authorities were able to pin on her based on evidence they gathered. Or your sister helped them gather. As for Farrell and Lisbeth…they’re not a danger. Our information shows that they don’t do their own dirty work, they hire it out. And they don’t have the money to do it right now, but even if they did, they have authorities watching over their every move. If they do find a way to make anything happen, we’ll get a heads-up first.”