“She is in a fragile state, right now.” Blair shakes her head in a poor mimicry of sympathy. “Frankly, now that we’ve learned what’s been going on around here with your family… it’s understandable why she’s spiraling. She’s been surrounded by chaos for weeks.”
“Is she all right?” I ask instantly. “What happened to her?”
“Physically, she’s fine. But mentally…” Blair shakes her head, lips pursed. “I’m afraid she has some soul-searching to do. Yesterday at the Exeter graduation, she completely devolved on the stage in front of hundreds during her speech. It was humiliating.”
My brows pull in. “For her or for you?”
“That is a very rude comment to make, young man. Especially given that we came here to help you.”
“You want to help me,” I say dubiously. “Why?”
They exchange a look.
Vincent steps forward. “We understand our daughter has a certain… fondness for you. But I think we all know that teenage romances rarely last. You two are simply on different life trajectories.”
I snort. “You mean in two separate tax brackets.”
“Josephine is destined for great things. She shouldn’t be bogged down by…” Blair trials off, gesturing vaguely at me. “By the many issues you’re currently facing. Your recovery, your family drama…”
“Not to mention the heap of trouble you’re in with the law.” Vincent’s voice is blunt. “You’ll need a good lawyer to make those drug possession charges go away. I happen to have one on speed dial. And that’s not even taking into account my personal connections to local law enforcement. I could make things significantly easier for you.” He pauses for a long beat. “Or significantly harder.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“Quite the opposite,” Blair soothes, oozing civility from her every pore. “We’re making you an offer.”
“Which is what, exactly?”
“We plan to take Josephine away for the summer — overseas, to Europe, so she can get some hands-on experience at VALENT before she starts classes at Brown in the fall. If she likes Geneva, she may even defer a year. Stay on at the company to really get the hang of things.”
My heart has turned to stone inside my chest. “Geneva.”
“Switzerland,” Blair clarifies, as if I have no idea where Geneva is. “Leaving tonight. It’s a done deal.”
“If it’s such a done deal, why the hell are you here talking to me?” I hiss. “Shouldn’t you be packing?”
They’re silent.
“Let me guess… Jo isn’t so thrilled about this new summer vacation arrangement.”
“You know our Josephine. She can be quite stubborn.” Blair sighs. “Sometimes, she doesn’t know what’s best for her. She needs a little push in the right direction.”
“Stop talking in circles,” I growl. “Tell me what you want from me.”
It’s Vincent, who finally speaks plainly. “Cut off all ties with our daughter.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” Vincent levels me with his best hardball stare — one I’m sure he wields effectively in board rooms. “Give her some incentive to leave Manchester — and the mess you’ve made — behind. Break her heart, if you have to. Whatever it takes to get her out of this town, before the blowback from your family implosion is spattered all over her bright future.”
“Screw you,” I hiss. “Get out of my room.”
“Don’t make up your mind so fast, Archer.” Blair takes a few steps closer to the side of my bed. Her eyes are the same shade as her daughter’s, but they contain none of Jo’s warmth. “It seems your brother is still missing. When they find him, he will undoubtedly be going back to prison. You along with him, if you’re not smart. As for your parents… unfortunately, we can no longer offer them employment at Cormorant House in good conscience.”
I jerk against my handcuffs. “My parents have nothing to do with this—”
“Oh, but they do. They failed to inform us that their ex-convict, drug-addicted son had been released on parole. They concealed the fact that our daughter was in the crosshairs ofgang violence, of all things.” She presses a hand to her heart. “Much as it pains me to let good help go, I don’t have much choice in the matter.”
Good help.