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“It sucks. Costs a fortune to build on, and let’s not even get into all the landowners who are trying to hold it up,” I grumbled, leaning forward, mirroring my brother’s posture.
He smirked. “It ain’t going anywhere for a long time, little brother.”
“You’ve got it buried so deep in legislation, it won’t see the light of day in our lifetime.” For all the connections I’d made with politicians over the years, they were nothing compared to those of my father.
“Had to. At least until we can come to some sort of understanding.”
“When the three of you get together, I might as well not even be in the room, so don’t tell me about coming to an understanding,” I said bitterly.
“What can I do to help?” He skipped right over my comment as if I hadn’t even said it.
“Why would you want to help me?” I asked.
“Because you’re my brother. I don’t think you’re totally lost yet,” he said.
Easton was wrong. I’d been gone a long time. “You didn’t give a shit when I needed you before,” I mumbled.
His brows dipped. “What do you mean? Damn it, all you do is talk in riddles.”
“It doesn’t matter.” I’d already said too much. “How’s Mama?”
“She’s okay. Still sleeping. And we’re not done with this conversation.”
“Yeah, we are. Where’s Dad?”
“He’s with Mama. Let’s go sit on the sofa. These chairs will give us permanent back damage.” Easton stood and stretched, then offered me a hand. I took it, and he pulled me to my feet.
“Mulaney here?” I asked as we walked to the room where we’d set up camp.
“No. She had some work to take care of. SPE is in a hell of a mess.”
Tell me something I don’t know.That mess was going to get worse tomorrow, when nearly a million of their funds went to pay Salter Steel.
“I wouldn’t know, seeing as I can’t actually go to work,” I said smartly.
“How did you end up with SPE?” he asked.
I snorted. “They were in worse shape than Carter Energy, andIhad nothing to do with that.” Easton gave me an unimpressed look. “I caught wind of their problems and made an offer before word got out. It was one they couldn’t refuse.”
“So forcing Carter Energy to sell was your goal the entire time?”
“The opportunity presented itself, and I took it.” The corners of my mouth turned down. “Looking back, it would have been a lot easier to force Carter to close.”
Easton looked at me incredulously. “Is that what you really wanted?”
“Yeah.”
“Unbelievable,” he said under his breath.
“That none of you figured out what was going on? It is.” Easton scowled, clenching his fist into a tight ball. “You gonna punch me again?”
I hadn’t seen that ass-kicking coming, and it still hurt that we’d come to blows . . . especially over his wife.
“I need to. But not here.” He seemed to hit a reset button, relaxing deeper into his chair. “What’s going to happen with the Rangers this season? Think they’ll take it all?”
I went still. My temper boiled, the crack in my heart growing wider. “I don’t give a shit.”
Easton gave me an odd look as he dropped onto the sofa. “The hell you don’t,” he challenged. “You’re telling me that the most obsessed person with baseball to ever walk this planet doesn’t have an opinion about the Rangers? I know you still keep up. There’s no way you couldn’t.”
