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“Anything.”
“I’m… kinda jealous,” I confessed. “Knowing what I know now… I wish William wasn’t my father either. It would probably make everything hurt a little less.”
Soren frowned. “Explain.”
So… I did.
I told him everything I hadn’t wanted to burden him with before and explained what I’d found on our mother’s unlocked computer. Stanford had already filled in some details about William’s interactions and relationship with our mother, but there were things evenhedidn’t know.
By the time I finished revealing everything I could, Soren was steaming mad.
“I don’t even feel bad that Orion put the Blacks on his ass anymore,” he huffed, making my eyes go wide.
“Wait a minute, what?” I asked. “The Blacks… who is that? The only ones I know are from the art gallery… right? They live further up in the hills, by the lake…”
Soren was quiet for a moment before he answered. “They… the art gallery is the tip of that iceberg,” he explained. “And it’s best we don’t dig. Just know that when you’re on their bad side… you’ll be looking over your shoulder forever. Too much to fuck with anybody.”
“Okay… that’s insane,” I said. “And how would you know that Orion has these people looking for William?”
“Because we share a common interest.”
“Which is…?”
“You, Nala.Duh.” He shrugged, pulling himself up from his seat. “Even before I knew about Stanford, that man was dead to me, as soon as I knew he’d sent EJ after you. I went to the house, but he’s MIA. And has been since then ’cause he fuckingknows. None of us are playing around about you.”
I shook my head. “Which I appreciate, but… don’t like. You’re supposed to be my nerdy little brother, boy! Not… a shooter!”
“I’mnotthat.” He laughed. “You’re acting like I’m getting teardrops tatted on my face or something.”
“That’s what it feels like.”
“Because you’re bugging.” He chuckled. “Listen… we can talk about this other shit more another time. I have a date I need to get to on time. I just wanted to check in with you.”
“A date?” I asked, joining him in standing. “A date withwho?”
“None of your business,yet,” he quickly amended. “I’ll let you know if it gets serious.”
I sighed. “Okay,” I agreed. “But… you’re not mad at me for not telling you about the thing with Stanford sooner?”
“Nah,” he denied. “I know you would’ve. Stanford told me how you confronted him about it in your meeting.”
I nodded. “I needed to know for sure before I could figure out how to bring it to you.”
“And you didn’t have to do that at all. It worked out for the best.”
“I think so too,” I agreed, giving him another hug. “Now… go. Don’t be late. I love you.”
Chuckling, he squeezed me back, planting a kiss on top of my head. “I love you too.”
TWENTY-NINE
ORION
“Ri hasn’t takenyou to the gun range yet?”
Every set of eyes at the table went wide over Calli’s question, posed directly to Nalani, who looked at me with an accusing smirk.
“No ma’am,” she easily tattled, turning her attention back to my girl. “Was that supposed to be one of my perks?!”
