Mom’s a tyrant, but Dad? He’s a total softie.
Tears drop over his cheeks as he sees the yellowed skin under my eyes. Leftovers from Talon.
“It’s all my fault. I should never have trusted him… I was sure I was doing the right thing for you. And I failed you, my firecracker. I’m so sorry.”
“I understand, Dad.”
Dad’s a bit naïve, too trusting sometimes. And toward the wrong people. I know he meant well, but…he didn’t protect me. Not like Aiden would have.
He pulls me close for another suffocating hug and guides me into his office.
I sink into the soft pink swivel chair in the back as he kicks his feet up on the desk. Our usual positions. Hands behind his head, he casually places his blond hair back into place and studies me like I may break.
“Is Aiden treating you okay?”
“Dad!” I roll my eyes. “Yes. Better than okay.Better than anyone. He’s the man I’m going to be with.”
As if he’s suddenly afraid of me, he drops his legs and hunches over the glass top. “Ashlyn, I think he’s playing you.”
Exasperated, I only half listen. “What do you mean?”
“He gambled his way into nearly half the casino,” Dad says. “Underground fights. Blackmail.Forty percent, firecracker. Enough to burn us down.”
I stare at him, the words landing like a heavy weight.
“Forty…percent?” I whisper.
My pulse drums in my throat as I sit up. He once said he’d destroy my father’s empire, but I never thought he meant it literally.
Aiden Cardell doesn’t need shares in a casino. The only reason he’d take them…is to hurt me. To hurt us.
Nausea claws up my throat as the realization settles.What if the whole thing—our games, our heat, our everything—was him setting up the win?
Is he capable of something like that?
Absolutely.
“I don’t think…”
Why would he build me a house from my drawing, though? Get a tattoo of my handwriting? Of thekeyhe’d used to open my journal?
“I’m going to pack.”
Dad stands, smoothing out his sleeveless T-shirt. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? You don’t want to stay with us? I have the guards on high alert. No one can get in here.”
He means Talon…andAiden.
Nodding, I swallow and think about needing a moment. One in my old room, my old bed. To think. Make sure I can count all my cards.
“I’ll stay tonight and then decide.”
“Good idea,” Dad says, walking with me toward the stairs.
As I reach the threshold of my bedroom, my phone dings with a text.
Scout
So, uh… Can I call you? I don’t want to type this stuff.