Page 98 of Getting Lucky

Lee started to stand, then sat back down, his jaw tightening as he listened to the rest, until Dottie said, “Give Lee his freedom.”

Their father threatened to leave, and Dottie issued her threat to go to the authorities if he didn’t come clean by the end of the year. Then she implored Prescott not to bring Lee down with him. And the recording ended.

Lee was quiet for several long seconds. Then he swallowed. Still staring at the phone, he asked hesitantly, “What did he say to that?”

“After Dottie asked him to save you?” Jack asked, his heart breaking for his brother. Lee might be an asshole, but his entire life was being ripped apart. “Nothing. He got up and walked away.”

Lee’s gaze lifted to Jack’s. “And the woman? Do you know who she is?”

Jack wasn’t sure this was the right move, but Dottie had set this all in motion, and he’d known her for long enough to realize she knew what she was doing. She was right more often than she was wrong. So he pulled the photos out from under a stack of books on the table and slid them toward Lee.

Lee spread them out on the table, staring at them with a blank expression. The photos depicted a couple in the throes of passion, in varying states of undress, but it was obvious the woman was Victoria and the man was Prescott.

“I see.” Clearing his throat, Lee got to his feet. He glanced off toward the living room, and Jack followed his gaze, not surprised that Maisie was nowhere in sight. They’d both agreed that Jack should be the one to handle this. Alone.

Lee started toward the front door.

“Where are you going, Lee?” Jack asked, concerned.

“I need to think.”

“But you don’t have a car. Let me drive you to the hotel.”

Lee started to speak, then clenched his fists and released a bitter laugh. “That is the last place I need to go.”

Jack understood that. “Then let me take you to the house.”

“And tell our sisters about all of this?” Panic filled his eyes. “Do they know?”

“No,” Jack said, catching on to how Lee had called themour sisters. “No. We recorded that last night. I tried to come straight to you to let you know, but you weren’t in any condition to hear it.”

Lee stared absently in the direction of the fireplace. “I’d noticed things that were off, but Dad always dismissed them. Dismissedme.”

The word was bitter, and Jack wondered what kind of emotional abuse Lee had endured trying to gain their father’s approval.

“I’m sorry, Lee.”

Lee’s gaze swung toward him. “Why’d you tell me this? Why not go to Addy and Georgie and have a good laugh over how stupid I am?”

“Addy and Georgie would never do that. They’ll be worried sick. As for me, again, that’s not my style. You may have been an asshole to me, but you definitely don’t deserve this. I don’t know what kind of legal trouble your father’s in, but you can try to save yourself. Maybe go to the authorities and turn state’s evidence or something.”

“Turn on my dad?” Lee asked in disbelief.

“Lee, he’s already turned onyou.”

He stared at Jack for another long second, then nodded. “Right.”

And Lee opened the door and walked out.

Chapter Thirty-One

Maisie’s heart gave a satisfied thump as Einstein padded into the kitchen after Jack. When had Einstein ever left her for anyone? Jack had won him over thoroughly, it seemed.

You and me both, Ein.

Once the brothers were settled in the kitchen, she went upstairs, Chaco cradled in her arms, and headed to her bedroom. She left the door open a crack so she’d hear if the bad news sent Lee into some sort of ballistic rage. Not that Jack would need her help defending himself—those arms would protect him better than the baseball bat behind her bed—but even so. She’d whip that bat out if she needed to. Lee might be Jack’s family, but she didn’t trust him.

In the meantime, she figured she’d call Molly.

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