“Yes.” I explained Elise’s ultimatum—leave town with my mom or she’d expose Mom for corporate espionage tied to King Enterprises and Dunn Industries. Then I told her what happened afterward on the balcony with Luke. How he promised he had my back. Mine and my mom’s.
Avery leaned forward. “So, what happened?”
“We went to the beach.”
Her brows lifted.
“We went over the plan he hatched on the balcony.” I admitted most of it, but not the part about Edwardo’s alleged mob ties. “Tomorrow, we’re going to confront Elise at school. We’re done. No more hiding.”
Avery’s fingers curled around her mug. “You think she’ll follow through with her threat?”
“I know she will.” The certainty didn’t shake. “But Luke thinks it won’t go anywhere.”
Avery leaned back slowly, absorbing everything. “Okay,” she decided after a moment. “But that’s a gamble with your mom, isn’t it?”
Despite everything, a small laugh escaped me. “It is. But Luke always has a plan.”
“That he does. And I’m sure Jax, my brother, and Theo will be in the mix as well. And I’ll keep my eyes open,” she continued. “If Elise breathes wrong, I’ll know.”
“I don’t want you dragged into this.”
“You don’t have that choice.” Her gaze held mine steadily. “You’re my person.”
Emotion pressed against my ribs. We sat there for a while longer, conversation drifting back to safer ground—classes, professors, the upcoming game. College. Luke’s focus during practice Saturday morning, which Jax had apparently narrated in excessive detail.
“Luke nearly checked Logan through the boards,” Avery added with amusement.
My stomach dipped slightly. “Logan’s causing problems still?”
“Of course. And with a big attitude.”
That unsettled thread pulled taut again. I didn’t like Logan at all. He was Elise’s minion, but even worse, I felt like she didn’t quite have a firm hold on his leash. And the thought of him going rogue made my blood run cold.
When we finally stood to leave, the fog had begun to thin. Pale sunlight filtered through in streaks, illuminating the damp boardwalk outside.
“Text me if anything happens,” Avery insisted, pulling me into a hug.
“I will.”
“And, Mila?”
I pulled back.
“Don’t let Elise win.”
I nodded. The walk home felt lighter than the one to the café. The threat had disappeared, but I didn’t feel alone inside it.
When I pushed open the door to our rental, my mom’s voice floated through the small space.
“Yes,” she was saying into her phone. “I understand the timeline.”
I stilled just inside the entryway.
The blinds were half drawn, slicing the living room into bars of light and shadow. Her back faced me, shoulders rigid beneath a soft gray sweater.
“No,” she continued. “That’s not where he kept it.”
A pause.
