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“Thanks for believing in me.” His friends had put a lot of faith in him. The pressure he could handle—it was the disappointment in himself he hated. Make sure you stay focused, Meniere. You have to earn their trust.

“We’re seeing the hard work you’re putting in for this project. Proud of you, man.”

Michael’s words humbled him. Now if he could just get Jason and Michael in the same room with River without a family feud happening,thatwould be something to be proud of. “I’ll check in tomorrow.”

Michael didn’t want to let Riot off the call, purely for selfish reasons. He wanted to make sure he was okay. “What are you doing today?”

“Moving out of Laurel’s.”

Well, that’s new.“Finally.”

***

When he walked into the living room, Riot was met by Laurel waving a magazine in his face. He slapped it away and pointed at her telling, her to get out of his face. He had been digging around the damn house for the past week trying to find anything that would help River prove Laurel had forged the damn will years ago.

River said last night she was past all of it, she had moved on. It was Laurel who couldn’t move on. The bitch hadn’t even loved Cypress, it was all about who had the money. Or who had the info that could be sold to the highest bidder. Cypress had protected Jason and Michael. Riot had protected Cypress even after he was gone. It was a vicious cycle that needed to come to an end.

“You’ve been seeing River Wile behind my back.”

The last thing he wanted to do was have an argument with Laurel about River. She didn’t care what he did or where he went. She just wanted him under her thumb, and at every turn she manipulated him—until six months ago when he hit bottom, waking up with her in his bed. He was naked and she was draped over him. An empty bottle of scotch and an open bottle of pain pills lay on the bedside table. He couldn’t remember a fucking thing—not drinking more than a glass of scotch, not taking a single pill. He never believed he screwed her. He wasn’t a man who functioned sexually when drunk and high. That was the day he walked into an outpatient rehab and from then one he hadn’t had another drink or taken a pain pill.

Snatching the magazine from Laurel, he read the headline:Everywhere River Wile goes is Johnny Meniere—Have the two old flames rekindled their romance? Is it a heated night on the town for these two?The cover photo was of them at Jason’s party.Shit, that was last night… that was fucking fast. “Why can’t you leave things alone, Laurel?” He was so done with her. If he could just find the damn will that she forged he would be gone.

“Why were you with her?”

Damn social media, always in everybody’s business. “I ran into her at Jason’s party. What does it matter?”

“She doesn’t deserve your attention. She left you.”

“No, for the last time, she didn’t. I pushed her away after the accident. I couldn’t face her.” Riot needed to keep his cool before he told her everything he knew. What did it matter? He had moved his shit out weeks ago after getting back from Texas. That’s how little Laurel paid attention to him. But Riot wanted to trip her up and have her confess to what she had done with texting River.

“You, you didn’t do anything wrong. She distracted Cypress the night before. They were arguing. It’s her fault he’s dead.”

Riot watched large tears puddle in her eyes. Damn bitch was good at turning on the waterworks. “They weren’t fighting. I was there with Cypress when he talked to River.”

“You don’t know everything.”

“It was an accident. Cypress and Fisher should have boxed for new tires, but—as always—they pushed their luck. Fisher’s tire blew and the fucking wreck happened. Cypress wasn’t the only one who died. Fisher’s wife and family lost someone too.”

“What about me?”

“What about you, Laurel?”

“I was devastated when Cypress died.”

Riot laughed at her words. “Laurel, the only thing you were devastated over was the fact that the money train ended. You know it, I know it. Fuck, everyone knows it.”

“You go near River again and you will be cut off.”

“Laurel, I’ve never spent a dime of what you so generously have tried manipulating me with. Everything you have is because you stole it from Cypress. Don’t you forget that little detail?” He watched as she tried changing directions in the conversation. It wouldn’t work this time. “The only reason I’ve remained here is to keep you from leaking things to the media.”

She watched him head for the door. “Where are you going?”

“I’m done.”

“Don’t say that, baby. Come on, let’s just sit down. I will make us a drink.”

“You know what, Laurel? I haven’t touched a drop of booze or a pain pill in over six months. It’s funny how every time I turn around, you’re handing me pills and or a drink.” He closed in on her, realizing what he should have already known. She had been keeping him drugged so he would stay. “You are a lying whore. I’m out of here.”

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