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“As long as you’re not about to give me some bullshit, family-counselor speech, I might hear you out, but I’m leaving if you’re trying to lead me toward seeing Dad’s side of it.”

“I’m not,” he said firmly. “I’m trying to tell you how Jane is feeling and why she’s considering it at all.”

“She shouldn’t be.”

“I’m inclined to agree, but ironically, she’s considering his request to consult for the company in the hopes that it’ll keep him busy enough to keep his distance on a personal level.”

I blinked a couple times. “I’m sorry, what?”

“This has been a lot for her, Holden,” he said patiently, but there was nothing patronizing or condescending about his tone. He was merely laying it out for me. “Ever since Court got arrested, she’s the one who’s been holding everything together. All of it has been on her shoulders from day one, taking care of the family. Trying to save the company. Rebuilding your reputation.”

Alex took a long swig of his drink and sighed. “Now that he’s getting out, she’s also been responsible for making the arrangements. Dealing with the lawyers. Everything. Again.”

“Okay,” I said slowly. “So?”

“So the fact that he’s coming back has reopened a lot of old wounds for her,” he said bluntly. “It’s also shone a spotlight on some of her insecurities.”

“Jane doesn’t have insecurities.”

Alex snorted, his eyebrows inching up. “Call her. Right now. Ask her point blank, Holden. She’ll tell you herself. She’s also still pissed off at the man. She’s furious with him, actually. She definitely doesn’t want him to have any power in the business she rebuilt after he demolished it, and she wants to protect all of you.”

“So why bring him back?” I asked after a few long beats. “Why not tell him to fuck himself instead of finding him some fancy penthouse to serve out the rest of his time?”

“That’s part of protecting you,” he said. “If the press finds out he’s been left out in the cold, it’ll turn the spotlight on the whole family. This way, most of that light only shines on Court and Thayer Steelworks.”

I groaned. “I hate that you’re making it make sense.”

He chuckled. “Trust me, so do I, but ultimately, if you set all those things aside, she also still loves him. He’s her father and she had a lot more time with him before all of this than any of you guys. This has been rough for her. I know it’s been rough for all of you, but think about all the responsibility she’s shouldered. What she’s done for the company and for all of you.”

My lids slid shut and I drained at least a quarter of my drink. Shit, I need to check in on my sister.

Jane had dragged me back to school when I’d been perfectly happy destroying my plans for the future in an office. She was always the person who kept calling when I wouldn’t answer. She’d fed me when I’d lived on ramen and protein powder, and for a long time, she’d been the only reason any of us had gotten anywhere, including graduating from high school.

She’d fought for us when we hadn’t wanted to fight for ourselves. “Fuck, I’ll call her.”

Alex smiled, seeming genuinely relieved. “Thank you. She’d like that, but also, she needs to hear from you. I swear, she’s not trying to make anyone forgive him and she’s not working with some kind of ulterior motive with this whole consultancy thing. She just wants his mind occupied.”

“So he’ll leave her the hell alone,” I finished for him this time. “Yeah, I guess I see that now. I just didn’t want to before.”

“No, but that’s okay too.” His gaze drifted to my empty glass. “Do you want another one?”

“At these prices?” I snorted and shook my head, but I also didn’t stand up right away. “No, thanks. I just need a minute. I don’t want to go home with all of this.”

“Yeah. That makes sense.” He paused for a beat, a slow smile spreading on his lips as he looked back at me. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“Talk about what?”

“Marriage. Alicia. The fact that you actually heard me out tonight when I thought you were going to clock me for bringing Court up at all.”

I let out a dry, choked laugh. “You really thought I was going to do that?”

“Yeah,” he said. “Birth control? We can talk about that too. Sex? I mean, you’re married now and there’s the whole heir thing to consider, but⁠—”

I stood up, scoffing down another laugh as I shook my head at him. “I’m all good. Thanks, though.”

He smiled up at me. “For what? You didn’t even want any tips about⁠—”

“For not pushing me to accept him back into our lives,” I said, cutting off his teasing remark because I needed to get this off my chest. “Seriously, thank you, and thanks for spelling it out to me from Jane’s side too. I don’t think I would’ve gotten there on my own.”