The bedroom was cold compared to the steam-filled bathroom. When the three of them exited, they found Adria sitting on the bed.
“Bryson, we need to talk,” she said, looking around. “All of us really.”
He waited.
“You say you didn’t know that your father was working with Alessandro?—”
“I didn’t,” he said quickly.
Her eyes were soft. “And I believe you. But with Cole coming, that means there might be some real evidence against him.”
Why did she have to look at him like that?
Adria moved towards him and touched his arm. “I want to know how you feel about that?”
Anger bubbled in him. Bryson didn’t even know what he was angry about. Taking a step back, he pulled away from her touch.
“How am I supposed to feel? He’s a piece of shit. Why should I care?”
She shook her head, and Kaydon said, “Bryce, it’s okay to have feelings about it.”
“Yeah, we all understand how complicated those feelings can be,” Seth said.
Bryson’s skin itched. He fought the urge to bolt from the room. Why wasn’t anyone listening to him?
“It’s not complicated. If he fucked with the Triune, I’m not stepping in the middle of that,” he said, making sure to look everyone in the eye.
“Trust me, the world would be a better place without him,” he said.
“We could look into other things,” Adria said.
“What the fuck for!” he yelled into the room, stepping towards her. “I’m sick of this dancing around the truth shit. Everyone thinks I care, but I don’t.”
Adria didn’t step back. And Bryson got right in her face. He watched Kaydon move to stand between them, but Adria waved him away.
“Your father was a piece of shit, too. You gonna tell me you’re not glad that he’s dead?” Bryson spat.
She balked. “He died of a heart attack. It’s a little different. I don’t think you understand the gravity?—”
“No.” He poked her in the shoulder. “It’s you that doesn’t understand the gravity. You’re too fixated on roses and honey to notice what’s right in front of you.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Which is?”
“Your mother. Is. Lying to you.”
She pressed her lips into a line.
“We don’t know that,” Kaydon said.
Bryson shot him a look. Big surprise.
“Seth, tell her,” Bryson said, knowing Seth would back his play.
Adria turned to Seth, and he opened and closed his mouth several times before saying, “I do think it’s weird that she lied.”
Adria threw her hands up. “It’s complicated. She kept things a secret to protect me.”
“To protect you from what?” Bryson said. “Knowing that she was sleeping in an eight-billion-dollar bed every night?”
