“This family, the Montgomerys.” Wasting no time, I rattle out their address as I merge onto the highway. “My source tells me they’re late on their semiannual taxes.”
“You want me to help them out? Freeze the payments, cut the interest? Whatever it is, I got you.”
His eagerness doesn’t surprise me. After all, I restored a miniature portrait Raymond’s grandmother had painted. When a pipe burst and flooded his mother’s house, every painting was soaked beyond repair except that one.
He said the payment I’d asked for didn’t feel like enough.
Today, he’ll learn what else he can give me.
“No.” Elowyn’s panties burn a hole through my jeans. A reminder of what I lost. What I never had to begin with. “Expedite the eviction.”
“Consider it done.” The speed of his reply is infuriating.
Even though I’m the one benefiting from his corruption, bile creeps up my throat.
Hard not to, when I remember that Barclay’s wealth and status once meant that, at the drop of a hat, he could’ve had me locked up for good.
I bite down on the urge to call Raymond every name in the book. Telling him he’s a dirty piece of shit would get me nowhere.
“I’ll flag it for the next docket and handle it through my channels,” he blabbers, completely unaware of my mounting anger. “You want me to keep you updated?”
“What I want is for it to be ready by tomorrow night.” Her legs spread, and her mouth framed around the wordplease. I want that even more. “And a text when the notice is pinned on their gate. From you, personally. Don’t involve anyone else unless absolutely necessary.”
“Will do.” He clears his throat. “I—um, on another subject. My mother, she can’t stop talking about your work. Asked me to thank you in person. Since we’re friends now, could you drop by for dinner?”
Friends. Ha.
I haven’t had any for years. No one will be in a position to exploit me ever again.
“I’ll have to pass, but…”Deep breath. Got to play this game like the rest of these assholes do. “Next time she needs any artwork restored, it’s on me.”
“Oh, that’s—thank you.”
Before the call can slip into personal territory, I hang up.
Calm settles over me as I press my foot to the gas and push my SUV for all it’s worth.
There’s no turning back. Like it or not, Elowyn will accept my offer.
4
ELOWYN
When I was a young girl, waking up in the middle of the night was like stepping into another world.
One that often belonged to Mom and me, until Duncan moved in. I’d usually find her upstairs in her room, up late reading. She’d smile when I appeared in the doorway of her and Dad’s bedroom, get out of bed, and together, we’d go downstairs.
At the kitchen island, she and I would share tea and chat about anything.
Mostly about the importance of family.
As in Barclay.
Keep an eye out for your brother. Don’t let him get into trouble. You’re my smart, brave girl. I trust you.
To this day, I embrace that role. I really try to love it too.
Tonight, though, it isn’t working, and that realization fills me with guilt.
