“I’ll go with Kent,” Keanu offers. “It’s not fair to put you and Faye in the middle of this.”
“We’re already in the middle, and things are fucked thanks to my dumbass father-in-law.”
“Mom’s not budging?” Keanu says, and I arch a brow.
“She told Adam he’s no longer welcome at the house,” Kyler explains, and warmth blooms in my chest. It’s a strange feeling. One I’m not accustomed to, because Mom’s go-to reaction to me is to instantly assume I’m guilty of whatever I’m being accused of. Yet she didn’t hesitate to defend me at Easter dinner, and she’s standing her ground. A messy ball of emotion clogs the back of my throat.
“She is furious over how Adam treated you,” Kyler continues, staring me straight in the eye, “and the fact he won’t force Whitney to have the test. Can’t say I disagree though I’ve held back on voicing those opinions to my wife. Faye is disappointed with her dad but making excuses for him ’cause he’s all cut up over his breakup with Callie.”
“That’s no excuse to take it out on Kent,” Selena says, clearing away the half-eaten dinner plates.
“I agree, and so does Faye, but she’s trying not to choose sides.”
“I don’t want to cause trouble in your marriage,” I say, wetting my dry lips.
“This isn’t your fault, and the best way of resolving this is to talk face to face with my sister-in-law. This whole thing is fishy, and I’m sick of Whitney manipulating Faye. She’s a self-centered little bitch who only ever thinks of herself. The only time she calls Faye is when she needs something, and she has made no effort with the twins.”
I avert my eyes because I’ve made little effort with them either. Something I promise myself I will rectify once I handle this situation. “How is this going to work?” I ask, pushing my remorse aside to deal with another day.
“We’ll show up at NYU and give her no choice but to speak to us. She isn’t the only one who can make threats. If she goes to the press, we’ll release that voice message. If she refuses to volunteer for the test, we’ll provide it to the court and petition for full custody of the child once he or she is born. Provided he’s yours,” he adds. “Once it goes legal, there is no way of keeping it out of the public eye. Her reputation will be in tatters. She’ll fucking agree. She’s too self-obsessed not to.”
“Damn.” Keanu whistles under his breath. “Faye will divorce you if you do that,” he jokes.
“Faye will be fucking pissed at Whitney when she hears that message, and she’ll come around to my way of thinking once she calms down. I can’t stand by and watch Whitney hurt my wife and my brother any longer. This is being dealt with now.”
“Thank you.” It feels good to have my brother step in and help me to take back control.
He pulls me into a hug, slapping me on the back. “No thanks are necessary, man. You’re my brother, and I’ll always have your back.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Kent
“Are you sure this is the right location?” I ask Kyler as we head up another flight of stairs in NYU toward the offices.
“You doubt your FBI-agent brother?” He quirks a brow, stepping sideways to let a girl pass. She does a double take, staring at both of us with her jaw trailing the ground.
“Move along. Nothing to see here.” I growl at her, and she scurries off.
Kyler chuckles. “Charming as ever.”
“Fuck off.” I flip him the bird. “I hate being objectified.”
He stares at me like I’m an imposter wearing his brother’s skin. “Since when?”
“Since always. Why the hell do you think I never went back for seconds?”
“You did with Presley.”
“Are you looking for me to hit you?” I snarl, stomping past him down the hallway.
He catches up to me. “I wasn’t implying what you think I’m implying. Presley is the only woman you’ve deemed worthy of spending time with, and you’re just giving up.”
I shove him into the wall. “You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about, and I can’t do this now.” I let him go, breathing heavily.
“I’m sorry. My timing is shit, but wearetalking about this on the plane ride home.”
“Oh joy. Something to look forward to,” I deadpan, looking at the locator app on my screen and following it to a closed mahogany door.
