Jack sits behind his desk and drums his fingers against the desk. “Thayer and I will discuss a few more of the particulars of our alliance. We’ll need to offer a bigger portion than we initially thought.”
“I can take care of the details.”
He narrows his eyes. “I will not be sidelined. One battle doesn’t mean you’ve won the war, boy.”
I meet his gaze unflinchingly. “I know what today is.”
To his credit, his careful mask doesn’t slip. “Today is the day we secured an alliance with the Thayers.”
“It’s Mom’s birthday,” I add. “I can set up a call with Olivia and Oliver, and I’m sure Mathew is lurking somewhere—”
“Get out,” Jack interrupts.
“You can’t just ignore what today is, of all days. I know you miss her—”
Jack crosses over to me in a few strides and twists my arm behind my back. “If you value your life, you will not finish that thought.”
I offer no resistance as he pushes me toward the door. “She deserves to be remembered. You know that.”
“I don’t need her birthday to remember her.” His voice is deceptively soft. Then, he slams the door shut in my face.
Why did I think today would be different?
I can’t remember the last time any of us talked about her together or even lit a candle for her.
Without her, other than the blood running through our veins, we have nothing in common.
I’ve spent more time than I’d like to admit making my peace with it.
“Ah, the prodigal son returns. How did you fuck up this time? Did you pull a gun out on Thayer?”
I clench my hands into fists and turn to face Mathew, who has an infuriating grin on his face. “Not today.”
Mathew moves closer to me. “You know, it’s good that Dad is finally realizing what a fuck up you are. I’ve been trying to tell him for years, so you’re doing me a favor.”
My eyes narrow into slits. “I suggest you shut the fuck up before I rip your tongue out.”
“What’s the matter, did your plaything realize she chose the wrong Payne brother? Don’t worry, I’ll show her what a real man is like.”
I slam him against the nearest wall and bare my teeth. “One of these days, you’re going to push too far.”
Mathew smiles. “It’s not far enough as far as I’m concerned. When the women in your life realize what they’re missing, they’ll come to me. Even your new little friend. I’ve heard Elise Thayer is a wild little thing.”
I grab Mathew by his neck and push my face against his. “Do you know what today is?”
Mathew trails off and raises an eyebrow. “Why the fuck should I care?”
I push myself off him. “Yeah, you’re right. Why should you care that it’s Mom’s birthday?”
Mathew’s expression changes. “Oh.”
I clear my throat. “Exactly. Today of all days, we shouldn’t be fighting.”
“Mom hated it when we fought. Remember that birthday when we were ten, Olivia was eight, and Oliver was five? When we tried to make her a cake?”
I pause. “I remember you almost setting the house on fire.”
Mathew snorts. “You remember wrong. I was putting out the fire. It was your idea not to grease the pan.”
