Page 28 of The Forever Rule

Dorian and Hudson were both in jeans, Hudson’s having a hole at the knee. And probably not as a fashion statement, most likely because it had torn at some point, and he hadn’t bothered to buy another pair. Theo was in slacks, but a Henley with his sleeves pushed up, tapping his finger just like Hudson, clearly wanting to get out of here as well. Ford had on cargo pants, and a tight black T-shirt, and looked like he had just gotten off his shift. He owned a security company with his husband and a few other friends, and did security for the Cages when he could, though I knew he didn’t like to work with family often. And I knew it wasn’t because of us. No, it was Father—even if he had officiallyretired. It was always Father.

And he was gone.

“Can’t believe the asshole’s gone,” I whispered.

Ford’s brows rose. “Look at that, you calling him an asshole. I’m proud.”

“You should show him respect,” Mother said as she came inside the room, her high heels tapping against the marble floors. I didn’t bother standing up like I normally would have, because Melanie Cage looked to be in amood.

She didn’t look sad that Dad was gone, more like angry that he would dare go against their plans. What plans? I didn’t know, but that was my mother.

She came right up to Dorian and leaned down to kiss his cheek. She didn’t even bother to look at the rest of us. Dorian was Mother’s favorite. Which I knew Dorian resented, but I didn’t have to deal with mommy issues at this moment.

No, we had to deal with father issues at this point.

“I’m going to go get him,” Flynn replied, turning toward the door. “I’m really not in the mood to wait any longer, especially since he’s being so secretive about this meeting.”

As I had been thinking just the same, I nodded at Flynn though he didn’t need my permission. However, just then, the door opened, and I frowned when it wasn’t just Mr. Winstone walking into the conference room.

I stared as an older woman walked through the door following Mr. Winstone, and four women and another man with messy hair and tattered cut-up jeans that matched Hudson’s walked behind them.

The guy looked familiar, as if I’d seen him somewhere, or maybe it was just his eyes.

Where had I seen those eyes before?

“Phoebe? What are you doing here?” Ford asked as he moved forward and gripped the hands of one of the women.

“I was going to ask the same question,” Phoebe asked as she looked at Ford, then around the room.

Those of us sitting stood up, confused about why this other family—because they were clearly a family—had decided to enter the room.

“We’re here to meet the lawyer about my father’s death, Ford. Why would you and the Cages be here?” she asked, and I wondered how the hell Mr. Winstone had fucked up so badly? Why the hell was he letting another family that clearly seemed to be in shock come into our room? This wasn’t how he normally handled things.

Ford was the one who answered though—thankfully—because I had no idea what the hell was going on.

“Phoebe, we’re here for my dad’s will reading. What the hell is going on?” he asked. Phoebe looked around, as well as the others.

I stared at them, at the tall willowy one with wide eyes, at the smaller one with tears still in her eyes as if she was the only one truly mourning, and at the woman who seemed to be in charge, not the mother. Instead she had shrewd eyes and was glaring at all of us. The man stood back, hands in pockets, and looked just as shell-shocked as Ford.

But before Mr. Winstone or anyone else could say anything, my mother spoke in such a crisp, icy tone that I froze.

“I don’t know why you’re acting so dramatic. Youknew your father was an asshole. He just liked creating drama,” she snapped.

As I tried to catch up with her words, the older woman answered. “Melanie, stop.”

This couldn’t be happening. Because things started to click into place. The fact that the man at the other end of this table had our eyes, and that everybody looked so fucking shocked. I didn’t know how Ford knew this Phoebe, and I would be getting answers.

“We had a deal,” my mother continued, as it seemed that the rest of us were just now catching on. “You would keep your family away from mine. We would share Loren, but I got the name, I got the family. You got whatever else. But now it looks like Loren decided to be an asshole again.”

“What are you talking about?” the shrewd sister asked as she came forward, her hands fisted at her side.

“Excuse me,” I said, clearing my throat. I was going to be damned if I let anyone else handle this meeting. I was The Cage now. “Will someone please explain?”

“Well, I wasn’t quite sure how this was going to work out,” Mr. Winstone began, and we all quieted, while I wanted to strangle the man. What did he mean howthe hell this would work out? What was this?

This seemed like a big fucking mistake.

“Loren Cage had certain provisions in his will for both of his families. And one of the many requirements that I will go over today is that this meeting must take place.” He paused and I hoped it wasn’t for effect, because I was going to throttle him if it was. “LorenCage had two families. Seven sons with his wife Melanie, and four daughters and a son with his mistress, Constance.”

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