Page 48 of Quarterback Keeper

Melanie sent a sneer Liam’s way. “And continue my life however I wanted. But… it’s not worth my happiness.”

“Just your happiness?” Banked anger burned hot under my skin, but I refused to give it free rein. I sensed a solution to our problems, and I supposed it was in the envelope she’d brought.

“Fine. You, too, I guess.”

Ares snorted.

“I don’t know you, like, at all, so your feelings haven’t factored in as much as my messed-up dilemma.”

I glanced at my nosy roommates, who weren’t even pretending to play their video game anymore. Frankly, I could use the support. “Let’s go in the other room.” I left the kitchen to join them, and she had no choice but to follow.

“So, you’re willing to ruin his life for access to your trust fund?” Liam started immediately.

“I’m guessing your girlfriend isn’t too happy about it,” Ares said. “Bet you can kiss that relationship goodbye.” He tossed a handful of salted almonds into his mouth.

“Maybe she isn’t worth it to you, but Kylian’s fiancée is, and you’ve been fucking that up ever since you forced your way into his life.”

I mentally high-fived Liam for that. “Why not hire a lawyer for the trust? You might be able to fight him and get it released.”

“That’s what my girlfriend said. Since Samantha is a paralegal, she has access to high-powered attorneys who can answer some questions. I’ve asked her to look into it, but in the meantime, I wanted to fill you in on what I know about our dads and what’s driving them to push for this marriage.”

“What do you know that I don’t?” I was all ears.

“Our dads’ campaign and development deal of the century is based on that old saying, ‘Keep your enemies close.’”

“They’ve done business together before.” It was starting to make sense. “I didn’t know they had a development deal in the works.”

“Yes, on both counts. The business they were previously involved in was a shady deal from about twenty years ago. They were business partners and scammed their investors out of millions of dollars when the deal went belly-up. It was almost a scandal, and my father paid a boatload in hush money.”

“So that’s why they’re both pushing so hard on the marriage. It connects them on another level.”

“That’s a warped viewpoint,” Ares injected. “Thinking that marrying you two will keep the other in check.”

“Exactly,” Mel answered. “But their egos must think it’ll work.”

“Sounds like they’re cut from the same cloth.” Liam leaned back on the couch, his arm extending along the cushions.

“That works in our favor. If they don’t recognize that they’re the same person, we can leverage the information against them. We have it, right?” I tapped the envelope, and her fingers curled tightly around the edges.

“We do.”

“I’ll need to see that.”

She shrugged. “I’ll show you, but I’m keeping the original copy. It’s my insurance to fight against him. I’m only letting you in on it so you can do the same on your end. I don’t know whatyour dad has over your head, but it must be just as bad, if not worse, for you to agree to their scheme.”

I wasn’t going to share about my mom. I nodded instead. “He’s got enough leverage to work with.”

She flipped the envelope and lifted the flap before pulling out several papers. “This shows the business name”—she tapped her nail against the appropriate place—“here. You can see both of their signatures. If you follow the shell company’s history, that’s where things get more interesting. I have digital copies of as much as I could find, some from the internet.”

“What will you do with it?” My mind raced, and a plan began to form. But I wouldn’t do anything until I talked things over with Mom.

“I’m still deciding. It might depend on what Sam finds out from the trust lawyer she’s been talking with for me. I need bank statements, an account, something, and I don’t have it. What I have is damning enough, but will it take them down for good?” She shoved the papers back into the envelope then stood. “All I ask is that you keep me posted, and I’ll do the same.”

I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. “I want copies.”

She handed over the envelope. “That’s what these are. I wanted to make sure you were as invested in stopping them as I am before I gave them to you.”

“Trust me, I’m all in, and I’ll keep you updated. I might be able to find the missing data we need.” I walked her out then turned to find smirks mirrored on Ares’s and Liam’s faces.

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