“Oh my god,” Grace says and starts to cry instantly. “Mom.”
“Fuck,” Gavin says, his hands on his hips as he starts to pace. He stops, blows out a breath, and looks to the ceiling. Then he looks at me. “I’m an asshole.”
“You’re not the asshole,” I say. “Henry is.”
“Come on, Dutton, you're just looking for attention,” he repeats. “I tell ya, he catches wind that he's not going to be the next in line to run the company and he'll spread any kind of?—”
“Save it, Dad. You can't gaslight me into this anymore. I'll tell them to go to Mom. She knows just as well as I do. Your choices could take this lodge out of business.”
His laugh is deep and dark. “No one cares what the owner of a lodge is doing.”
“They do in a small town,” Grace snaps. “Now, tell me, Dad, is this true?”
“Just admit it,” Gavin chimes in.
Henry’s gaze bounces from me to Gavin to Grace and back to me
“My choices are none of your business.”
“Oh my god,” Gavin says.
Grace immediately stomps her foot. “Are you fucking kidding me?” Her outburst shocks both Gavin and me, but I don't let it distract me.
“Here's what's going to happen,” I say, stepping forward. Having my siblings back me up has given me the courage I need. “You're going to announce the next person to take over.”
“Oh, you still think it's going to be you? Tell me, how are things with Brooke, huh? I've always been curious. Is she just as easy as her mother?”
Red.
All I see is red.
“What did you just say?”
“I asked if she was just as easy as her mother,” he repeats, a gloating smile on his face. “Of all the women, Brooke’s mama was by far the easiest to get into bed. I’m sure her daughter is just like her.”
I lunge for him, his shirt bunched in one of my hands while the other pulls back, fist curled ready to punch him in the face.
Gavin grabs me before it can happen though.
“Are you fucking kidding me! You sick bastard. She was a married woman with kids and a husband, and you just never fucking cared, did you? You never cared about hurting anyone if it gained something for you. You’re a sick son of a bitch, and as much as I don't want the media to get wind of this, I hope they find out what kind of man you are and hang you out to dry. Rot in hell.”
He steps toward the door, a grin on his face that I want to remove with my bare hands.
“Get out!” I yell.
He pauses in the doorway, lets out a chuckle I’ve heard before, and finally leaves.
“Look at me,” Grace says, her red splotchy eyes meeting mine. “Breathe, Dutton.”
I jerk my hands free from Gavin's hold and drop into my desk chair.
Holy shit.
“He … fuck,” Gavin snaps and then closes my door. “What the fuck do we do now?”
“This is all so messed up,” Grace says, pacing the room.
“What do we do?” Gavin asks. Grace doesn't reply; they’re both watching me.
