Page 150 of Delilah In Discretion

“Luca… I know you, son. I know you’re digging yourself far too deep into their affairs.”

I chuckled as I placed my hand in my pocket and walked to the living room.

“You don’t know anything, Father. I’ve done nothing wrong. If anything… the Lockwoods, Masahikos, Porters, and Russels are just getting a taste of reality after comfortably living their lives filled with deceit... Everyone around them worships the ground they walk upon, and we’re supposed to act as if they’re latter-day saints? If the truth is supposed to set us free, why must everything be kept indiscretion?” I asked.

My father remained silent.

I grinned as I spoke into the phone one last time. “Have a good rest of your day, Father… I’ll see you at the dinner.”

Without waiting for him to respond, I ended the phone call and sighed as I looked around the room. Michael’s belongings were still here, and I needed to dispose of them quickly.

“Stephan, get your ass in here,” I yelled, and he trudged his way back in, looking as miserable as ever. “Get rid of Michael’s things,” I muttered.

His eyes widened. “No! You brought him in here. He’s your fucking responsibility!”

I groaned in annoyance. “You need to clean up the place, Stephan... If anyone finds out he stayed here, it’ll all be traced back to you. I mean, he lived with you for his entire time here in the city. If you don’t want to be responsible for housing and feeding Delilah’s unhinged father, then get to work,” I muttered as I grabbed my jacket.

Stephan remained silent, processing my words. Then, for the first time in a few months, he smiled.

“What’s got you so excited? Did you find a nickel or something?” I asked, picking up my keys.

He chuckled. “If I know one thing I despise about the Russels, it’s that they talk... a lot. You may have a shot at bringing them down, but if I know Ivory like I know I do, she’s probably already told Delilah. So frame me all you want... but this shitstorm may just have a fucked-up way of coming right back to you.” He finished with a wave goodbye, and I left without saying another word.

Closing the door behind me, I smirked internally as I walked to the elevator.

It would be unfortunate if that little girl actually said something about my conversation with Stephan the other day. If this all goes down the drain because of a fucking kid... then who knows. Michael wasn’t technically the only person I knew who had nothing to lose. And if I lost it all and soon had nothing to lose...then I’d be added to the list.

Chapter fifty-two

Delilah

Sterling groaned as we gathered in Uncle Blaine’s office to discuss.

“I said I don’t want to go! You rich assholes are just going get me killed, and I don’t want to die early! I have a life to live, you know! I want to travel the world, marry my tiger and have a bunch of tiger cubs running around... Is that too much to ask in this world!”

He screamed, and Kimiko rolled her eyes as she tried to silence him.

Archer sighed, staring over at him. “You’re going, Sterling. End of discussion. With how badly things could go, we need you to be there as support. Comedic relief, if you will. Although, you may have to share it with—”

He was cut off when the door banged open, revealing Uncle Blaine and Uncle Shin.

Uncle Blaine entered the room and sighed dramatically.

“All right, team, listen up!” he began, and I had to hold back a smile. Uncle Shin shook his head as he already seemed to be over Uncle Blaine’s antics.

“This dinner is nothing but a plan to get more intel on Eugene and his connections with Calvin,” Blaine began, and I listened intently.

The only people who know why Michael disappeared after meeting with me are Archer, Kimi, Benjamin, and Nathan. I had to beg Benjamin not to spill the beans so word wouldn’t get around the house, and he was hesitant at first, but he complied... I hope.

We didn’t tell Sterling because… he’s Sterling, and we didn’t tell my uncle Shin and absolutely couldn’t tell my uncle Blaine because… he’s Blaine. We concluded with what Ivory told us, that Luca and Stephan may be responsible for Michael’s appearance, and Eugene is responsible for his disappearance. We still don’t know his ties to Calvin for certain, and we didn’t want to jump to a conclusion.

Archer rubbed the back of my hand, and I looked over at him as he gazed at me with concern. I was still getting over the fact that I’d just witnessed a murder, and he was there every step of the way. Comforting me, making me laugh... feeding me.God, I’m falling for this man.

Never mind falling: I’ve already sunk to the bottom.

“The plan, children, is to remain nonchalant at the dinner. Eugene and Brielle are walking on eggshells, but we should also expect Killian and Calvin to begin an argument probably around minute three or four of the dinner. Daddy Shang will work to diffuse the argument and allow us to attempt to drive the conversation back over to the topic of Eugene.”

Sterling raised his hand in complete confusion, and Blaine pointed to him as if he was a student.

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