My chest was so tight as I walked back to Trent’s apartment that I could hardly breathe, the elevator ride stretching unbearably long. When I stepped inside, the quiet almost crushed me, but I silently thanked God that Trent wasn’t home yet.
I released a shaky breath and leaned back against the door after it’d clicked shut, sliding down until I was sitting on the floor. Pressing my palms to my eyes, I tried to focus on breathing, but it didn’t happen fast or easily.
I’d known Gregory was manipulative. There was no other way he could’ve dragged my dad so deep into his scheme that my own father was now actively working against Trent and me, but I hadn’t realized he was dangerous.
Not until today. Until the very moment he’d made it clear that this wasn’t just about money, pride, or some twisted idea of legacy. Gregory Van Allen wanted to win and he didn’t care who he destroyed to get there.
I curled my knees to my chest, pressed my forehead against them, and willed my heartbeat to slow. Trent would be home soon and I had absolutely no idea how to tell him that the fight ahead of us was going to be even worse than either of us ever could’ve imagined.
CHAPTER 42
TRENT
Iwasn’t expecting her to be home when I pushed the front door open. The apartment was quiet and I kicked off my shoes, mentally sorting through the conversation I’d had with Alex. Just before I’d left, he’d told me he was leaving it up to me what parts I’d tell Charlotte now and what could maybe wait until tomorrow.
When I rounded the corner into the living room, my thoughts stalled and my feet came to an abrupt halt. Charlotte was curled up on the couch like someone had unplugged her. Her shoes were off, her legs tucked under her, and her hair mussed.
Her phone was in her lap, but the screen was dark. She wasn’t scrolling, just staring into the middle distance with her jaw tight. My chest constricted.
“Hey,” I said, because it was the only thing I could think of. “You’re home. I thought you’d still be out with Stella.”
She looked up so fast, it was like she’d been startled out of a deep sleep. “Yeah. Um. Headache. It came out of nowhere.”
Headache. Sure. Except her eyes didn’t look headache tired. They looked upset tired.
I dropped my keys on the side table and walked over slowly. “Did you have fun with Stella? It must’ve been good to see her after so long.”
“Yeah,” she said, but it sounded hollow. Empty. “It was nice. Good weather. We walked a lot. I think that’s what triggered the headache, walking so much while talking so much at the same time.”
“Mm.” I lowered myself onto the couch beside her. “Have you taken something for it?”
She nodded. “Yeah. I’ll be fine.”
She didn’t lean into me or tuck herself against my side like she usually did. She kept her arms folded, her shoulders tight, and every instinct I had went on high alert.
“We’re meeting some of your brothers for dinner later,” I reminded her gently. “Are you still up for that?”
“Hm? Oh. Yeah.” She blinked like she’d forgotten. “Definitely. I just needed to lie down for a bit.”
Lie down.
But she wasn’t in bed. She wasn’t resting. She was here, back early, and curled into herself like she would shatter if she stretched out.
“Did something happen?” I asked.
Her answering smile was small and brittle. “Yeah, something happened. I got a headache.”
Right. And I have the secret to eternal life.
I didn’t push, though. I knew her well enough to recognize that tone, so I shifted the subject, giving her a little space to climb out of whatever dark corner her head had wandered into.
“I talked to Alex,” I said quietly.
She straightened up a little, turning toward me and searching my face for a long moment before she finally nodded. “Yeah, I remember. How did that go?”
“It’s messy,” I admitted. “Gregory is playing dirty and it doesn’t look like he’s going to just give up.”
“And?” she asked, her voice soft and afraid. “What does that mean?”
