Minxy sighs dramatically. “You ruin all my fun.”
“We do our best,” he says.
Silas looks at me next. “Shower and get dressed. Today’s going to be interesting.”
My stomach tightens. “Right.”
Talon squeezes my hand as I pass. “Don’t let him get into your head.”
Minxy waves from the table with a spoon. “Bury him in the park if he tries.”
“Not helping,” I say. “And I’m not burying him; he's my dad. Burying one parent early was enough for this lifetime.”
Silas grabs my wrist gently as I reach the hall. “I’ll be right beside you.”
Something eases in my chest. “I know.”
I take a steadying breath and head for the bathroom.
Today we face my father. Soon we face her mother.
And Minxy?
She’s not scared anymore.
She’s ready for war.
Steam still clings to my skin as I walk back into the living room, hair damp, wearing one of Silas’s shirts because it was the first thing my hand landed on. My head feels clearer after the shower, but my stomach is already twisting with the thought of meeting my dad.
Silas hands me a fresh mug of coffee as I sit. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I’m about to walk into a trap wearing mascara,” I admit.
Gideon looks up from his tablet. Something in his expression shifts. “Good. You’ll need to be prepared.”
My heart stutters. “For what? I thought I was just meeting my dad and explaining why I was at Velvet with Silas.”
He turns the screen toward me and taps. “I think I figured out who Abi's been working with.”
Silas straightens. Talon freezes mid-reach for his toast, dark brown eyes widening behind his glasses. Minxy sits up so fast her chair squeaks.
“Who?” she demands.
Gideon’s voice drops. “Jensen Rowe.”
Talon frowns. “Who the hell is Jensen Rowe?”
Silas’ shoulders lift, rise, fall in a slow wave of recognition. “Your mom dated him in high school,” he says. “He was…not a good guy.”
“Felony assault,” Gideon confirms. “Served time. Got out six months before Dominic died.”
Talon’s jaw flexes hard. “And?”
“And Abi’s been sending him two thousand dollars a month,” Gideon continues, “for the last five years. I hacked the bank website and have been combing through her accounts.”
The room goes silent.
Minxy presses a hand to her mouth. “Five years… that’s when Dad died.”
