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If it were up to me, I’d stomp it out like the bud of a flamed cigarette and forget about it under the heel of my shoe. Letting what’s leftover of what is left linger there forever. We can’t change it, so what’s there to discuss?
“You’re right.”
Eli gapes while Finn openly sneers, but I continue ignoring both reactions.
“We should discuss this.” I turn my head but don’t shift the weight on my legs. “Eli, Rory should be home in a few minutes from Hailey’s. Keep her occupied for at least an hour.”
I have to force my teeth not to scrape, grinding my molars as I push out each fresh word from my mouth. I don’t like the idea—hate it actually—but I’m shoving aside my own discomfort for her. Everything I do is for her.
Now Finn’s the one whose face is alert, eyes wide out of his own bewilderment. Eli’s the one who’s studying me, gauging everything. Their roles switching in an instant. Same as my mind, mine far more subtle.
Finn’s neck straightens. “You don’t get to make decisions for the both of us, C.”
I keep my temper neutral. “Actually, I am.” I speak, “Now, Eli. Out!”
I could’ve punched Finn straight in the nose and he’d have felt less. His jaw clamped so tightly shut it’s like it’s wired closed.
“Fine,” Eli agrees, heading out with a ghost of a smile dancing across his lips.
That better be the only place they try and move to.
“Rory’s right, you do put the dick in dictator,” Finn seethes only after Eli’s gone.
The corner of my mouth lifts the smallest fraction but that’s the only indication I give him to show I’m amused.
“Calm down, I’m not talking about that.” Not directly anyway.
Finn stands there, both of us knowing whatitis. I’d sent Eli away because I didn’t want Rory knowing this. Don’t want to scare her when I don’t know what it is yet to be worried about specifically. She already has too many things she’s dealing with as is.
Her telling me she’s concerned something is up with Hailey as well.
Not having Rory here, phase one, now it’s time for phase two. Shockingly, I did want to talk to Silas. Sure, I work with him but if he’s the one who wants to schedule a meeting it must be something big and I want to know what that is.
We’ve already lost our half of Hardin, so that means he has news, or he needs the both of us for something. Silas is scheming and I need to know what those intentions are.
“We need to figure this out.”
“Not today, we don’t,” Finn denies, not understanding.
Shaking my head side to side, I clear his refusals. “Not that. That’s… whatever. We need to meet up with Silas, and we have to be on the same page. It’ll throw him off.”
Finn’s head shoots back. “What the fuck are you talking about? I’m not meeting with himandyou.”
“We need to know what he’s up to.” I try my best to keep my patience, even if he’s making that impossible as of current. I don’t like this any more than he does.
At least his family still has its shares of Hardin, which I not so nicely or subtly hint at. To which his response is to storm around me and shove the wadded-up pair of black sweats back into his dresser. Slamming it shut with dramatic gusto.
“I’m not going to be your scapegoat. Your family’s already fucked up enough as is. I don’t want to be a part of it any more than I already am.”
“Help me. Cooperate and be there,” I urge. “There’s more to this.” There has to be. “We know how he is. Silas never would have come forward with that information unless it benefited him somehow.”
“So?”
“So,” I clarify. “He’s convinced you managed to figure it out yourself and took the Kellet portion of Hardin.”
“I didn’t,” he snarls.
“I know, but Silas is getting desperate. Hardin is his entire life, and I can almost guarantee he thinks you had Abram’s help.”
