Page 74 of Just Between Us

She stepped into my embrace, and I dropped a kiss to the top of her head, leaning into the way her mere presence centered me. I pulled a stool out from the island. “Sit here.”

She complied, and I slid the brown notebook toward her with a nod. “Check that out.”

Her dark brows furrowed, and she flipped open the notebook. Her eyes scanned my aunt’s handwriting as she flipped through the pages.

Her fingers paused and her eyes flew to mine. “Where did you get this?”

I crossed my arms. “Bug gave it to me.”

Her eyes went wide, and she went back to reading the entries. “Royal, there is a lot of incriminating information in here. I recognize some of these dates, and if they are what I think they are, it’s proof that your father was manipulating the businesses for his own gain. This isbadbad.”

I cleared my throat and ground my molars together. “Yeah, well, shitty business practices are the least of our concerns. I got a strange pocket dial, so I went to check on Bug, and I saw him—he ...”

My fists clenched. I couldn’t even force myself to say it out loud.

Veda’s hand flew to her mouth as she started putting the pieces together. “Oh god, Royal. I’m sorry. Did he hurt her?”

I shook my head. “She’s fine.”

“Are you?” she asked.

I didn’t even know how to answer that question. “I saw his treatment of her, and it was the last straw. I’m done.”

Veda flipped through the notebook again. “She’s been secretly keeping tabs on him foryears?”

I swallowed hard. “Looks like it.”

Veda softened. “You need to talk with your siblings about this.” She held up the notebook. “If any of this shows that your father was engaging in unethical or illegal business practices, the entire company will suffer. If there’s any hope to untangle that, you’ll all need to stick together. This will cause serious waves.”

I swallowed again and nodded. It wasn’t just the notebook I needed to tell my siblings about, it was also the memory I’d had of our mother—a memory I wished had stayed buried.

Sticking together wasn’t exactly our strong suit, and I wasn’t entirely sure the Kings could survive it.

TWENTY-TWO

VEDA

I really,really,do not want to be here.

My palms were damp, and I ran them down my sides. It had been a week since Royal had given me the notebook Bug had been keeping on Russell King. There was a lot of untangling to do and several things that would likely turn out to be nothing, but my gut told me there was something vital within those pages. Royal had finally found a time when everyone could get together, and despite my protest, he insisted I be at his house when he spoke with his family.

Nervous energy had my toe tapping and my heart pumping. I looked around at the faces of Royal’s siblings as they gathered in his kitchen.

MJ was sitting on top of the island, her legs swinging. Abel stood with his arms crossed and a dark, brooding look on his face. Whip yawned and leaned against the island next to MJ. JP’s hands were stuffed into his pockets with a bitchy look on his face. A quiet knock sounded at the front door, and Royal opened it. Sylvie smiled softly and quietly slipped inside.

JP looked at his watch. “About time.”

I scrunched my face at him.What a dick.

“Leave her alone, JP.” MJ shot him a dirty, yet playful, look.

Her palms raised and slapped against the outside of her thighs. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

“You are.” Royal nodded and threw an arm around her shoulder and pulled her into a side hug. “Looks like the band’s back together!”

She smiled and affectionately shrugged him off. Her bright eyes turned my way, eyebrows raised. “Plus a new member.”

My shoulders bounced. “Tambourine,” I joked.

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