Page 103 of Chasing Lynda

The more I think about it, the more anxious I get.

Bennett offers a possible explanation. “Maybe they have news about Monroe? Chrissie’s father is the District Attorney after all.”

I grind my jaw. “Right. That would make sense if my ex had ever helped me in any way; but if Chrissie didn’t give a shit about me when we were together, beyond what I could provide for her, I doubt she does now.”

I look at my brothers, feeling better that they’re here because I know they’ll always have my back. “Whatever the fuck is going on, let’s get it over with. But before we talk about anything, I’ll take great pleasure in kicking Mitch’s ass all the way back into wherever the fuck he crawled out of.”

Carter claps me on one shoulder in a supportive but cautionary gesture. “Let’s try to stay calm, Dodge. If anything not to fuck up your shoulder even more than it already is.”

Bennett agrees. “If we need to escort the asshole off the premises, let me and the guys handle it. Whatever is going on, Chrissie has showed us for the umpteenth time that she doesn’t have a brain under those fake extensions. I don’t know how could she ever think that bringing Mitch here would be a good idea.”

Zane nods. “Agreed. But let’s use our words before we start talking with our fists. Let’s not give that bitch the satisfaction to know that she got to us.”

“Right.” I sigh. “I guess I’ll try to take the high road, at least for Mom’s benefit. But if that asshole even fucking opens his mouth, all bets are off.”

I offer my hand to Lynda and I’m surprised when she takes a step back. “What’s up, sexy girl?”

She lowers her eyes, looking uncomfortable. “I—your parents don’t know me, Dodge. If you guys need some privacy for whatever’s going on, I really don’t mind.”

I weigh in her words for a moment, appreciating how considerate she is to worry about how I feel. That fact makes me like her even more than I already did. My ex for one, would’ve never thought about putting me first. “No, Lynda. Whatever they want to say to me, they can say in front of you and the guys. Come on.”

Her smile tells me that I must’ve said something right, and I find comfort in the way she squeezes my hand in hers.

I inhale sharply, squaring off my shoulders and straightening my back as I knock on the door to my father’s study. I lower the brass knob without waiting to be invited in, bracing myself for whatever this is.

Dad isn’t sitting at his imposing mahogany desk.

There’s a boardroom style table at the opposite end of the roomy study and that’s where everyone has settled in. Bennett’s father, our family lawyer, is sitting at the head of the table with my parents at either side.

“Any luck getting in touch with your sister?” Dad asks, and I shake my head, wondering what the fuck happened. If this was about the fire, I don’t think they’d need Callie to be present.

I lower myself in the seat next to Mom’s and drag Lynda down to sit next to me; the guys fan out in the remaining available spots on my same side, leaving my ex and Mitch opposite us.

As Bennett’s dad opens his leather organizer, I can’t hide my annoyance. “Basil, can you please tell me why are we here? And especially why they are here? If this is a family matter, I don’t see why—”

I stop in my tracks when I notice the way Basil Fletcher sighs, as if it personally caused him great pain to deliver whatever news he’s been entrusted with.

My eyes flit to Chrissie; in a moment of weakness, I had confided in her about my family’s financial problems telling her about Dad’s gambling. I withheld the details about his embezzlement but that was when I thought that marrying her was the solution to all my problems.

Before I knew that she was doing Mitch behind my back.

Chrissie’s smile makes all my hackles rise and the fact that I don’t know why she’s here increases my discomfort.

When Bennett’s dad explains, I realize that this is even worse than I thought.

“Dodge, we’re here to talk about your trust fund. Like I explained to you a few months ago, your grandfather put a condition on the release of the funds to you and your sister.”

I nod, avoiding Chrissie’s gaze. I hadn’t told her that I had proposed to her when I caught wind of the fact that my shoulder injury was career ending. She didn’t know that she was a means to an end. “Yes, I’m well aware of what the terms of that condition are. To gain access to that trust fund both Callie and I need to be married by the end of this summer.”

Basil confirms what we all already know and I wonder why Chrissie finds it so amusing; sure, we had an on and off relationship for years; proposing to her to save my family’s financial future and to keep Dad out of jail wasn’t my finest moment, but seriously her amount of gloating is excessive. I think fucking Mitch in my bed was enough of a statement even if, somehow, she found out why I’d proposed.

I’m caught in my own thoughts and Basil’s words are as unexpected as a bucket of cold water.

“Remember how I told you that the sub-clauses of your grandfather’s will dictated that should you and your twin sister fail to fulfill the main clause, the funds in their entirety—liquid assets, shares and bonds— would go to an alternative heir?”

I nod, feeling a wave of nausea constricting my throat and the feeling is worsened by the way Chrissie’s smile widens.

“Basil,” I grind out. “Don’t tell me that you’ve found the other heir?”

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