“Iamthinking about family,” I hiss at him. “Are you?”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean? You kids, your mom…you’reallI think of. What do you think all of this is for?” He holds his hands out wide as if to indicate the mansion, the fortune, all of it, and my mother rolls her eyes again.
“Is it for Archer?” I hiss.
When he freezes at the mention of my brother’s name, that’s the moment I know thatI chose wrong.
He doesn’t answer.
“I heard through the family grapevine that his name was on the underground casino. Is that true?” I press.
“It’s complicated, Everleigh.” He sounds like he’s scolding a child, and I feel like I’m just about done here.
“No, Dad. It’s a pretty straightforward question. Was Archer’s name associated with your illegal casino?” I ask, spelling it out for him.
He sighs and presses his lips together. “Yes,” he finally admits.
“Oh, Tom.” When my mother shakes her head and rolls her eyes for a third time, I realize that evensheis fed up withhis lies, condemned to living the rest of her days with a man who thinks of no one but himself.
“Then change it. Get his name off,” I hiss at my father. “Take the fall for your son if you care so goddamn much about the family legacy.”
If I’m supposed to be the protector of my siblings, maybe this is my moment. My mother has never taken on that role, and my father keeps pushing all of us into danger. But I’ll do whatever it takes not to let Archer go down for this—including telling Maverick to name my father.
Maybeespeciallythat.
It’s what I should have done from the start. The feds won’t care that it was Archer’s name on the paperwork if my father is the one behind it, and I’d imagine two of his own children testifying against him—Dex and me—would be enough to take him down.
“It’s not that simple,” he says.
“Then figure it out.” I walk out with those as my last words, and I scramble to figure out what to do next.
Yes, I chose wrong. I just hope it’s not too late to fix it.
CHAPTER 46: Maverick Jennings
Mr. Dalton’s Office
I guess Jack was too busy to send his minions today, so I’m waiting outside his office after practice on Wednesday evening.
It’s been a long day.
I’m tired since I’ve been getting up early every morning to visit the shelter.
It’s the only thing that helps ease the ache. Petting dogs. Who would’ve thought?
Wednesday is the day I push the hardest in practice. It may be midweek, but it’s the furthest practice day away from gameday, so it gives my body a few days of recovery to push the hardest and be ready to go on Sunday. Each day after today gets the littlest bit easier until we hit Sunday and it’s time to take the field.
Coming off our bye week, today was harder than usual. I didn’t exactly rest last week, but I didn’t have daily practice and drills to keep me on my toes. I’m ready to go home and rest up so I can get here and get back at it in the morning.
My focus is here now. Again. Right where it should be. It’s on the game. I’m not running around doing stupid things because of the constant threat that my job could be at stake with Jack overseeing my progress. I still haven’t heard from the DA, and I could be in legal trouble. I’m doing everything I can to stay under the radar.
And truth be told, I don’twantto do anything. I just want to be alone. I just want to sit in the dark and stare out the window at the blinking lights of the Strip as I imagine people having fun and living life and not feeling like everything’s been ripped out from under them.
But instead, I’m here at Jack’s office, waiting for some unknown fate that’s more than likely going to put me in an even worse mood.
“Mr. Dalton will see you now,” Lily says, and she nods to the closed door.
I glance up at her, and she nods.
