“It’s too dangerous here,” Barron says, slipping his cell back into his pants pocket. He stares at Roman. “You know what you need to do.”
The irony of those words is something else.
But he’s right. Not that I’ll admit it. Hamilton is so desperate for me to spy on my brothers he’s resorting to emotional blackmail to force my hand. I don’t know if Denton is responsible for the car accident—it’s something I plan to look into—but I know Hamilton wants to bury my brothers. At least we have that in common. I swore I was going to exact payback from all those who hurt Roman, and I’m only partway through my list.
I couldn’t see it earlier, but I see it now. It’s all coming together. Manningiscorrect—there is only one choice. My brothers showing up here has handed me the opportunity on a silver platter. I’ll continue fighting them, letting them believe I’m going to Rydeville under sufferance and only doing it for Ro. Being closer to Emery will mean I can protect her from whoever Hamilton has sent to stalk her. And getting Ro out of the city means separation from that leech of a boyfriend, which is the icing on top of the cake.
Doing this will also keep Hamilton off my back while I figure out a way to keep me, Ro, and Emery permanently out of his clutches. If he thinks he can threaten me, and I’ll just roll over and do his dirty work without retaliation, he has another think coming. I’ll drip feed him intel. Enough that he believes I’m toeing the line, while I dig around and try to find something touse against him. Maybe the files he wants me to locate will give me the leverage I need.
The more I think about it, the more it makes perfect sense to go to Rydeville.
I’ll be the enemy in plain sight, the spy right under their nose. I’ll distract them with venom while uncovering their little secrets. Then I’ll hand some info to Hamilton and sit back and watch the fireworks explode.
Chapter Eighteen
Emery
“Emery, dear, how lovely to see you,” Bernice says when she opens the door to her palatial home, sporting a flat tone and an even flatter fake smile. “You must be Uma.” Her nose wrinkles as she rakes her gaze over my best friend with barely concealed disapproval.
“In the flesh.” Uma thrusts her hand out and fixes my snobbish aunt with a determined look.
She’s only here for me. Uma could see how much I was dreading tonight after accepting my aunt’s dinner invitation last week, and she instantly offered to come with. I don’t think my aunt was overly pleased when I told her I was bringing a plus one, but she’ll get over it. It’s the first time I’ve been back here since I moved out into the apartment after graduation.
“Thanks for the invitation.” Uma deliberately pushes Bernice’s buttons. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you and your husband.”
My aunt arches a brow in surprise as she stands back to let us inside.
“I know what you did for Emery, and I’m grateful my friend had family who came to her aid,” Uma adds as we linger by the door while Bernice closes it.
“Emery is my brother’s daughter. Of course, we’d be here for her.”
She says that like she really wanted me here when I always sensed she took me in under protest. Bernice was never unkind, but she wasn’t open or warm, and she didn’t spend much time with me, making it clear her interest was only surface level. I suspect it was all about appearances.
“Anything for dear old Winston, isn’t that right, darling?” her husband says, slipping out into the hallway from his study.
Bernice stiffens as he pulls her into a hug, gripping her arm tight. “Not now, Gordon.” She shucks out of his hold, pursing her lips as she narrows her eyes. “We have guests.”
“Such pretty guests too.” Gordon waggles his brows and grins. He’s always been a little overbearing and a tad lecherous at times, but he’s fairly harmless.
“This is my friend Uma,” I say by way of introduction.
“Lovely to meet you, Uma. I hope you girls have settled into the apartment.”
“We have. It’s great. I can’t thank you enough.”
“Nonsense. It was only lying idle anyway,” Bernice says, rearranging the rose bouquet in the vase on the hall table and inspecting it with scrutinizing eyes.
“Well, we’re grateful,” Uma truthfully replies. There’s no way we could have afforded it otherwise. “It’s the nicest place I’ve ever lived.”
Bernice whips her head to my bestie. “I’ll bet.”
What a bitch. “I was going to give Uma a tour until dinner is ready, if that’s okay with you?”
“Suits me,” Gordon says. “I have a bit more work to attend to before we eat.” He disappears back inside his study.
“Dinner will be served in fifteen minutes. Don’t be late,” Bernice says before stalking off, her high heels clicking on the polished marble floors.
“Wow,” Uma says, looping her arm in mine. “Your observations were spot on. She’s something else all right.”
