Page 87 of The Acquisition

"You can tell me anything."

She took a deep breath. "Jana is going to be there."

I took a step back from her. "She doesn't want to see me."

Evie shrugged. "She's hurt. She might not want to see you, but she needs to."

"I thought you were mad at us. I married your best friend. She's basically your stepmother."

She shuddered. "Yeah, I'm not going to lie, that's weird. That wasn't why I was mad at the two of you though."

"Then, why?"

"Because you lied to me. Both of you treated me like I was made of glass. Do you honestly think I didn't see what was building between the two of you for the last year? That I wouldn't be happy for you if being together made you happy?"

I stumbled back and had to grab the wall for support. "I sent her away at the hospital. Told her it was a family matter. She overheard me tell Jenny that she should have been with me."

Evie gasped and put her hand over her mouth. "No wonder she ran away. We were all she had left, and you—" She shook her head repeatedly.

"Took it from her. I did to her the same thing her family had done to her. I cast her out at the first sign of difficulty. She was right to send me divorce papers."

"You need to grovel, a lot," she insisted.

"Easier said than done," I muttered, and then louder I said, "Can't do that if she won't talk to me."

"Then we need to make her."

"How?"

Evie smiled. "Remember when you stranded Beck and me at that cabin?"

I chuckled. "You planning on abandoning us in the middle of nowhere?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Have you seen Jana's shoes? No way she'll be able to walk away from you if we go deep enough in the woods."

I shook my head. "Now you're thinking like a Greyson."

She shrugged. "Like father like daughter. Jana is in New York. Don't you think it's time you went and dragged her home?"

"She'll throw a fit," I pushed back.

"You'll have her on our private jet before she can make a scene. This is your last chance. Don't screw it up. I'll see you in Kentucky."

THIRTY-THREE

JANA

"It's been almost two months and Malcolm's secretary keeps putting me off. I know he's meeting with board members and trying to make back room deals," I complained to Stryker on the phone.

"Then we need to change tactics. Do you have a party dress?"

I groaned. "Please do not suggest what I think you are."

"If you're afraid I'm going to suggest you doll up and go dancing, then sorry to disappoint you. Malcolm is going to Rapture tonight. I don't understand people's constant need to post their lives on social media, but for once it comes in handy."

"I don't have anyone to go with me," I argued. It was a straw, and I was grasping at it.

"Do you need me to fly out and go with you? I don't think it will help you get face time with my brother though. We don't get along."

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