Page 63 of Gathered Sparkle

My thumb hovers for a second before I swipe to answer. “Hey, Nico. I’m glad you’re calling. I’m with Koen and—”

“Good,” he answers sharply.Okay. “I wanted to call him next. Put me on speaker, please.”

My brows furrow as I glance at Koen, who’s watching me curiously. I shrug and press the speaker button, holding the phone between us. “You’re on.”

“You okay?” Koen asks, and there’s genuine concern in his tone. It’s not the first time I’ve noticed that Koen absolutelydoes give a fuck about his former best friend, contrary to what everyone else thinks.

Nicholas exhales heavily on the other end. “Let’s just say I had a conversation with Veronica yesterday, and… I think you’re right.”

Koen frowns. “About?”

Nicholas goes quiet for three long seconds. “About Oscar’s death not being a heart attack.”

Koen goes completely still. “What did she say?”

“Nothing outright. But I know her. And… yeah. It makes sense. She did it.”

“And what exactly are you telling me now?” Koen’s jaw tightens, his knuckles whitening as his fists clench. “Why are you calling?”

“I want to help,” Nicholas answers simply.

“With what?”

Koen’s questions are getting more curt by the moment.

“Help… stopping her. Listen, I think she wants to do the same to you and Levi. And honestly, even if you’re a fucking dickhead, and I hate him…” There’s a pause, and then Nicholas adds more quietly, with real fear in his voice, “I don’t want you to die.”

My eyes widen as I snap all my attention to Koen.

What the actual hell?

She wants them dead?

Koen blinks, clearly caught off guard enough to start using full sentences. “Yeah, I don’t want you to die either, man. But what you’re suggesting is fucking dangerous, not only for us but even more so for you.”

“I don’t think so. I’ll play my part. I already told her I want to be more involved in thefamily business.” Nicholas practically spits the words. “She thinks it’s because of Novalee. Or rather,Rosie. Whatever. She thinks I’m in love and trying to impress her, but she doesn’t care about thewhyof it as long as I step up.”

Koen leans back, crossing his arms. “Areyou only doing this because you’re in love and trying to impress her? Because this is going to fuck your life up, Nico. Do you even see that? If we take your mother down, we’re bringing down everything she owns, which, by the way, is also everythingyouown. You would help us ruin your own reputation.”

“Yeah, well…” Nicholas doesn’t miss a beat. “You know I don’t give a fuck about that money.”

Koen glances at me and then to the phone. “I know shit about you now.”

“I’m still the same, man,” Nicholas shoots back. “You’re the one who pushed me away.”

“Just becauseyou—”

“Guys!” I cut in, throwing my hands up. “Can we save the bickering for another day?”

Koen sighs, rubbing his temples. “Yes, Nico, having you on our side would help. Not just because of the evidence. But I don’t know if we can ask you for this.”

“You’re not asking. I’m offering.”

“And how do we do this?” Koen sighs.

“She’s planning to get into business relations with you,” Nicholas says. “She wants to lure you in by playing nice, then strike when you’re vulnerable.”

“So,” I interject. “You definitely shouldn’t get into business relations with her.”

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