Something in his tone makes me instantly suspicious. “Did you tell the reporters where to find me?”
If he did, Iwillfucking kill him. Brigit almost died because of her known association with me; her face showing up next to mine in the news nearly sealed her fate.
“No,” all the humor in his voice flees as quickly as it came. “I might be an asshole, but I’m notstupid. You being spotted at Mingle puts all of us at risk. I’m sitting here wiping all of this shit from the web as quickly as it’s getting uploaded, notjustfor your sake or hers, which, by the way, would be enough reason for me to do it.”
A small kernel of guilt weasels its way into me. Accusing him ofdoing something to harm not only Brigit’s reputation, but our life’s work was a low blow.
“You’re still adjusting, Fomori, so I’m gonna let you have that one,” he bites, falling back into his usual lazy demeanor. “But you and I arefamily, and if you ever accuse me of doing something to hurt you again, I’ll beat the fuck out of you.”
“Is that how family deals with their problems?”
His laugh blares through the receiver so loudly I have to jerk the phone away from my ear.
“Yeah,” he continues to laugh hysterically. “That’sexactlyhow our family deals with problems. Now, I’m gonna need you to get your shit together before this weekend because if you don’t, we’re going to haveproblemsway bigger than Brigit’s hurt feelings because I poked fun at her for trying to sleep with her boss and then suing him because she got fired.”
“You’re an idiot,” I tell him. “Did the court case tell you that she caught him with one of the firm’s partners and they pushed her out together to keep their reputations clean? Or that after she caught them, Ian tried to force himself on her?”
“Hewhat?”
“Oh, no? You didn’t get any of that from your snooping?” I can still feel my blood boiling, but at least I know he isn’t actively trying tohurther. He’s just an idiot.
“No.”
“Theyweretogether,” I explain, redirecting my anger from him to the person who actually deserves it. “I don’t think she’s willing to accept that he took advantage of his authority over her yet, but it’s clear to me that he did.”
“What a scumbag,” he mutters. “Does that mean the bat man is coming out this weekend? That Ian guy has a benefit tonight, but on Sunday he should be home.”
“Skyler,” his name spills out with a disbelieving laugh. “No. We’re not killing anyone.”
He sighs with annoyance, “Fine. We probably wouldn’t have time anyway. Would it help if I apologized to Brigy?”
“I think the best apology you can offer would be to get her name out of the media frenzy,” I rub my eyes with my thumb and forefinger.
Even through the phone, I can hear him knocking his knuckles against the table, “Well, if we’re even remotely clever about it, we can probably take care of that this weekend. A big enough bust would push something as inconsequential as a lawyer being hot off the front page.”
“What are you suggesting?” I ask.
“I’msuggestingwe give the people a little spectacle,” he says, his voice filled with a manic level of excitement. “If we get this shit done for Steele and make sure the media gets wind of it afterwards.”
Hearing Brigit start a movie in the next room, my answer comes out with only her in mind.
“Done.”
Chapter 30
Casa Di Borcha
BRIGIT
My extended staycation at Casa Di Borcha has left me feeling more than just a little bit antsy.
Every single one of my routines and comforts has been stripped away. Truthfully, I’m not sure who I am without them.
Three whole days I’ve been locked up in his house.
A beautiful home, sure, but cold and empty.
I’m surrounded by the evidence of him trying to add some life into it since he’s been home from the hospital.
