“I’m in agreement with your brother on this,” Kai says, cupping my face. “You are not to involve yourself in that. Don’t even ask Charlie any questions, because we can’t trust he won’t relay them to his father.” I’m opening my mouth to protest when he cuts me off. “If I can set my feelings aside over your fake engagement, then you will do this.”
“I’llsee what I can find out,” Drew says, “but you’re leaving it alone.”
We’ll see.
“Then we’re back to our initial plan,” I concede. “Trying to dig up dirt on Dad we can use, and I have an idea.”
“Okay.” Drew drains the last of his water, tossing the empty bottle over the table and into the trash can. “What is it?”
“So much of this is tied up with the elite, and rules, and the past, and there’s got to be something there we can use against him. Atticus gave us lots of valuable intel at the ballroom, but certain things about both of their relationships with Mom don’t add up. I have questions, and there’s only one person who might answer them.”
“Trent’s mom,” Drew says, catching on fast. Sylvia Montgomery was best friends with Emma Anderson and our mom from the time they were toddlers, and she’s the only person who knows what really went down.
“No fucking way,” Kai interjects, and Xavier laughs.
I roll my eyes to the ceiling. “Enough with the caveman routine, or we’ll just continue going around in circles.”
“You’re not going near that asshole.”
“Agreed.” I smile sweetly at him. “Sylvia attends a shrink in town every Tuesday at five p.m. I’ll wait outside and force her into talking to me.”
“I thought she never left the house,” Xavier says, remembering stuff I told him previously.
“She rarely does, but anyone unfortunate enough to live with those two bastards would need psychiatric help.”
“Okay, fine,” Drew says, looking at his watch and standing. “That sounds like a good place to start.” He shoots me an apologetic look. “We’ve got to go.”
“We’re not finished talking.” I’ve got a bunch of other questions.
“I have something I must do, and I can’t be late,” Drew cryptically says.
“Do you think the evidence Mom uncovered proving Dad murdered Kai’s mom is at Parkhurst?” I ask, blatantly ignoring his last statement.
Drew shakes his head. “My belief is Dad never found it. I think it’s still hidden wherever Mom put it.”
“Any ideas on where that could be?”
He shrugs. “Your guess is as good as mine.”
“We have to find it.”
“And fast,” Kai says. “Because if they elect your father council president, then it’s useless.”
“Let’s put our thinking caps on,” Drew agrees, removing his jacket from the back of his chair. “And then join heads and see if we can come up with some options.”
“Wait,” I call out, as he strides toward the door. “There’s one more thing I need to know.” I stand, needing to be upright for this. Kai rises, watching me closely. “How long have you two been working together?” I ask, my gaze dancing between Xavier and Drew.
Xavier’s alarm is clear for everyone to see, and air whooshes out of Drew’s mouth, confirming my suspicions. You’d think I’d be numb to betrayal by now, but I’m feeling their treachery in every part of my being.
Every single person in my world has betrayed me, and I’m feeling more alone and vulnerable than ever. Even Jane has let me down although I’m not so emotional that I don’t understand it wasn’t by choice.
The only person I can truly count on is myself.
The others must earn back my trust before I’ll fully believe in any of them again. Saying they’d die for me proves nothing, because it’s just words. Their actions in the weeks ahead will prove whether they are sincere
Until then, my survival is in my own hands.
And I’ll be making decisions that benefit me.
