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We’re reaching the event horizon. Lily’s almost there. Once we cross it, there’s no going back. I want to cover her mouth with my hand. I want to lick her clit until she forgets everything I’ve told her.
“Unless…” Her eyes go distant again, looking through all her memory-documents in the air. “Unless someone else sued to transfer all the consortium’s debt to one member.”
“Exactly.”
“You said that before, but I don’t see how a change like that would’ve gone through if your father disagreed. The legal structure of the consortium should have protected each of the members from a move like that. But even if it was some really weird and bad structure, the consortium wouldn’t have had standing…right. The fire. You mentioned insurance fraud. They needed the property destroyed to recoup the costs through an insurance payout. Whichshouldhave been enough to satisfy the debt.”
“Should have, but…?” I’m desperate for her to get there. I want this part to be over. I don’t want to think about the fire, for Christ’s sake.
“But the economy crashed. The insurance company would only pay the lower value. Still. They shouldn’t have been able to seize your parents’ assets. They would’ve had to give them time to respond to the suit, and that would’ve—”
Lily’s mouth snaps shut.
I could be sick.
“There would’ve been a brief window of time after your parents died and before anyone knew of their deaths when the consortium could’ve sued over the unpaid debt. That wouldonlywork if there was someone who was willing to proceed without allowing the defendants time to respond.”
Her eyes drop to my chest. I want to cover it with my hands, like that would keep her from finally arriving at the conclusion I’ve kept from her.
“Notsomeone.” Lily’s voice drops again. “The judge who heard the case. He or she could make a summary judgment.” Her face pales, then pales again. “When did the consortium file?”
“The night of the fire. While Mason was still lying on the sidewalk.”
Her eyes meet mine, and this is the worst staring contest I’ve ever been part of. The eye contact is stripping away all my defenses. I can’t mask anything. I can’t pretend.
“Jameson.” To her credit, Lily’s voice doesn’t shake. “Who was the judge who heard the case?”
I don’t want that man’s name in my cabin.
Lily doesn’t need for me to say it. Her face falls as she understands. The corners of her mouth turn down. Her brow furrows. Her lips part, and she lets out a short, disappointed breath.
Then she straightens again, facing it head-on. Facing me.
“That’s what you’re here to pay for. I want him to worry about you.”
She lets out a silentha. Her eyes dart away and she blinks, obviously hiding tears. “That doesn’t seem equal to what happened to you.”
“It wasn’t my original plan. I was going to burn his house down with the two of you inside.”
“Well.” She lets out a nervous laugh. “That would’ve made things even. Sorry about that.”
“Sorry?”
“Yeah.” Her chin quivers. “It’s screwed up to say this, but I’m sorry you didn’t—God. I’m sorry you didn’t get closure. I messed up your revenge.”
“Lily—”
“Think about it.” Another shaken laugh. “If I hadn’t been outside, I’d be dead right now, and you’d know it was over. You could’ve seen our burned-up bodies. You could’ve been sure.”
20
LILY
All the emotion drains out of Jameson’s expression along with the color.
I’ve said the wrong thing. I’ve said toomuch.
“That’s not what I meant.” It’s too late, and I know that. It’s in the air. “I didn’t mean—I don’t think you’re the kind of person who wants to look at—Jameson, please.”
