Page 103 of Trust My Bodyguard

“This isn’t a get-together.” I feel small and shaky on the inside. Like a little girl before her parents when she’s done something wrong. I thought I’d be brave and bold, but seeing him now, I just feel sad. But I harden my voice. “I’m here for the money. That’s all.”

“Well, I have a lot to say to you.” Nothing exists in his eyes. No guilt. No apologies. Just blank. “Sit, so we don’t draw attention to ourselves.”

He has no idea how much attention is on him. I reclaim my spot on the bench, and he takes the space beside me.

“How did you find out about the money?”

My gaze cuts to him. Really? No question about Iris or me. He doesn’t care whether we live or die. He only cares about money. “Anyone with eyes can see how greedy you are. It wasn’t hard to connect the dots to you. You should have taken better care, but I know that’s alien to your nature. Hell, you haven’t even asked how me and Iris are doing.” I’m going off script, but I can’t help it. Luke is a slimy snake, and it’s about time someone told him.

Nick says something in my ear. Probably trying to get me to calm down.

“Whoa. Why are you being dramatic? You’re here. You’re fine. I’m sure Iris is, too. The label will take care of her. She’s talented. She’ll make back more than I’ve taken. This is just my reward for sticking by her side this whole time.”

I stare at him, shock preventing me from speaking a word. I almost can’t believe I once wished I was half as adored and doted upon as Iris was. Now, I see she was nothing but a commodity to my parents. And when they’d gotten what they wanted, they abandoned her.

“You’re a shitty father.”

He frowns. “Would a shitty father take care of you until you were adults? Would a shitty father stay with your cheating mother just to give you a home?”

I shake my head to dislodge the tears clouding my gaze. Silly me. This is who I wanted to see me and support me. I was so naive.

“Answer me, Ivy!” he yells.

My body tenses.

“Stay calm, Angel.” Nick’s voice grounds me. “Chatterbox is on the move. Make him sing. Quickly.”

I spin on him. “Your words mean nothing to me. Everything you claim you did has been done a thousand times over by fathers around the world and none of them have treated their kids like shit in the name of claiming a reward.”

He scoffs, shaking his head. “I worked for what I took. When reality hits you, you’ll understand. Your measly social worker salary won’t be able to keep you afloat. Then you’ll see I had a good reason for what I did.”

“Thanks to you I never have to worry about that, do I? You’re going to give me the money you stole from Iris.”

“Not all of it.”

“But I bet it’s a lot, yeah?”

His eyes orb like he sees something I can’t. “She was a money-making machine,” he chuckles. “Just one show had fans spending thousands of dollars to see her. Imagine that over the course of years. It was glorious. Then she wanted to give all the money to charities and whatnot. Stupid. So I took it.”

“From Iris,” I say.

His brows furrow. “Yes. Where’s your head? Think we’re talking about Mother Theresa?” He waves a hand. “Enough chit-chat. You said you want a cut, or you’ll go to the cops.”

“We got a confession. We’re locked in,” Nick says. “Well done, Angel.”

They have all they need. I don’t have to play this game. But it’s too much fun now knowing he’d get arrested. “I do.”

“You also know that it’s substantial.”

“Do I?” I study my chipped nails to feign nonchalance. “Give me a number.”

“You don’t need a number. We are not partners. I’ll pay you and we’ll never speak of it again.”

“You will?” I glance behind him. Brody and two other men, most likely cops in civilian clothes, head toward us.

“Any amount you want.” He blinks. “Well, not any amount. We can agree on an amount, and I’ll send it to you. No questions asked.”

“There’s an alternative.” Brody and the men are so close now. I turn to my father. “What if the cops take you and all the money?”

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