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“Excuse me.” He stood and walked away from the table. “Trent.”
“Great to hear your voice, Liam. Brittney’s been a mess.”
“Please, tell her we’re okay.”
“We? As in you have Sam?”
“Yes. He was brought to the resort this afternoon.”
“Excellent.”
“Trent, we need to talk.”
Trent sighed. “Seems all the Youngs like saying that phrase.”
“What?”
“Brittney said the same to me this morning— wait, she actually screamed the same to me this morning. That woman has a temper, but I love it. I love her.”
“But that doesn’t give you the right to lie to Callie Laurel to get her to do what you want for my sister, Trent.”
“Callie just needed the right carrot. I gave her the carrot. You do the same in the courtroom. I watched you at that Souarex Industries trial. You dangled a settlement before Mr. Souarex realized it was there. Then when you had him cornered, you went in for the kill. You and I are a lot alike, Liam.”
Liam’s mouth dried. He turned to see Callie laughing at something Sam had said. Would he really have done the same? His heart said no, but his gut said doing whatever he needed to for the woman he loved might happen.
“Love makes you do crazy things, Liam. I’ll do anything for my family. We might be business partners, but you’re going to be my brother soon. My family. I’ll do anything for you, too.”
“Then I want you to come clean to Callie and tell her that Sam isn’t sick.” Liam’s request only reaped silence. “Trent?”
“Sorry … connection … talk … tomorrow.” And the call dropped.
It could’ve been bad timing, but Liam wouldn’t give Trent the benefit of the doubt. His brother-in-law to-be might protect his family, but that didn’t mean he could steamroller anyone he wanted. Liam didn’t do that in trial. He pointed out the obvious and let the truth settle the argument, but over the phone probably wasn’t the best way to handle Trent. His methods in the courtroom were more about manipulation and distraction. Liam had done his own homework and knew Trent’s methods as well. After all, they’d met in battle on occasion. There was a healthy respect for other lawyers in their small town of Omaha, but there were those who would take advantage of the situation. In person, Trent wouldn’t be able to claim a bad phone line or schmooze his way out of a good explanation or acceptance of his culpability.
“Bro, I think I have a shot with Meg.” Sam’s hand clasped his shoulder.
“Don’t, Sam. These women don’t deserve us.”
“Says who?”
“Says me. We’re lying to them.”
“No, Trent lied to them.”
“Perpetuation of a lie is as bad as the lie.”
Sam shook his head. “No, Trent put you in this position.”
“That’s who I was talking to, Sam. He cut the call when I told him to come clean. I’m not sure he’s the person we thought he was when it comes to joining our businesses.”
“I don’t care about the business, and honestly, I’m fucking surprised you still do.” Sam’s jaw clenched. “You weren’t meant to be a lawyer. You were meant to be free, too, Liam.”
“Free? You think there’s captive and free. That those are the only choices?”
“I can’t imagine the person you really are, brother, but this isn’t the real you.” Sam walked away.
Was his life a lie? Could he stop lying to himself that this was enough?
He stared cross the room. Callie. She was more than enough.
