I need these files. If I don't stop Lloyd now, it's going to be too late. According to this, we only have a couple of weeks. But risking Kayla's job might upset Lynn.
"Baby," I say gently, "We should not have seen any of this. If anyone finds out that I did see it, your sister could get in trouble. She clearly doesn't know anything about confidentiality."
I receive a flat stare. "Considering that she read my diary out loud to her friends when she was in eighth grade, I would say no – she doesn't understand a thing about confidentiality."
Leaning over to nuzzle her ear, I whisper, "I have to tell my brothers about this immediately. I won't tell them how I know. Just that we have to go to City Hall tomorrow and try to get all of this for ourselves. Somehow."
"There's new security going in," she says sadly. "People have to make appointments just to get in the building. It makes Kayla feel like she's some sort of important government official, and she loves it."
I stare at the wall for a moment, thinking. Lynn looks so sad already. "Dash's new girlfriend Bridget overheard some men talking about Lloyd creating a subdivision. We thoughtthey meant over the next few years, not immediately. She was walking through an alley and overheard them or something. Ended up recording them. At least that's a bit of proof."
"Bridget really is wonderful," she says softly. She seems suddenly moody, and I can't figure out why.
Maybe I've caused enough stress for one night. Maybe I need to keep tension like this away from her.
"I'm really sorry to eat and run, but my brothers and I need to get started on planning whatever we're going to do about this. Will you forgive me?"
Lynn nods, and I'm glad she makes the first move to wrap her arms around me for a seductive kiss. Although our fire is still burning brightly, I feel a tiny shadow between us.
I was already concerned about family functions. How is our relationship going to work if I'm worried about her the entire time?
"I'll text you tomorrow, gorgeous. Thank you for a wonderful dinner."
Just as I'm leaving, I turn back. "I can tell that there's some tension between you and your sister. I don't ever want to hurt you, or tear you two apart. So I promise I won't get her in trouble. All right?"
There's a strange pause before she murmurs, "Thank you."
She locks the door behind me fairly quickly, making me wonder if Kayla has a habit of barging in. She certainly doesn't have any respect for Lynn's space, and always seems to be borrowing her car.
But family is family. They usually come first, even when they quite frankly don't deserve to.
Jumping into the truck, I send a group text for us all to gather at Mom's immediately. We're going to have to band together and take Lloyd down.
Somehow, without hurting Lynn's sister.
I wish that Acorns was open this late so I could get some of their incredible coffee. It's going to be a long night.
11
LYNN
Isit in front of Kayla's laptop, staring dismally at the files that prove Ansel's uncle is about to screw the four brothers over.
It's not fair.
It's not right that people think they can break the rules and get their own way just because they have money and connections.
My fingers drum on the wooden table as I realize that's how Kayla has always behaved. Trying to look impressive, wasting her money on things she can't really afford just to feel cool and important. Treating me like a servant, and insulting my car while at the same time insisting on borrowing it all the time.
Family or not, she has no manners, it's as simple as that. And if she's breaking the rules of her job – I'm one hundred percent sure you have to sign an NDA when you start working at City Hall – and openly sharing confidential information with someone off site, well, it's like she's asking to be caught.
Feeling like a spy, I grab a thumb drive from my laptop case and start downloading as many files as I can that have anything to do with the Oakley lands, newly surveyed property boundaries, and zoning.
Once I'm done, I make sure those pages are buried halfway through the stack of open tabs, with her favorite shopping website open on top. Dropping the thumb drive in my purse, I hear Kayla open her door, so I snap the laptop shut.
I walk into the hall and hand it to her. "It should be fine now. Ansel got the update to install."
"Great." She turns back to her apartment without even thanking me. Then she looks over her shoulder. "You didn't go looking through my laptop, did you?"
