Page 107 of Win Big

If I can’t be with Everly, maybe I should think about what Heather’s saying. Hank, wherever he is, would be happy that I’m taking care of his family. Or would he be pissed? I don’t really know, and I guess I never will, but I think I need to live life for the living. It would make sense. It would help assuage my guilty conscience and make up for my failings.

But my insides are rebelling, my gut churning, my lungs burning. I know what I should do... but can I?

22

EVERLY

Our second familymeeting is at Théo’s place, because it’s a little more central for everyone coming from different directions—Harrison from Pasadena, JP from Long Beach, Noah and Riley driving up from San Diego together. This time Lacey joins us too.

When I walk in, Lacey focuses on me and her forehead creases. “Are you okay?”

I nod brusquely. I’d rather eat my own foot than tell her about my broken heart with the whole family here, especially my three brothers.

She clearly doesn’t believe me, but lets it go. For now.

“Okay, check in time,” I announce, sitting at Théo’s dining table. “What have you all learned?”

Théo slaps some papers on the table. “Here. This should answer some questions.”

“What’s that?” I eye the papers.

“The lawsuit.” He shakes his head.

“Whoa.”

“It’s public information. I don’t know why we didn’t think of just looking at it sooner.”

I make a grab for it, but JP gets it first. “Okay, Théo, give us a synopsis.”

“Here’s the deal. Grandpa didn’t steal the money... exactly.”

I stare at him.

“He borrowed it. He used the money to fund the purchase of Steve Holbrook’s share of the Condors. He wrote out the loan contract and agreed to pay interest using installments.”

“That’s not stealing!” My eyes pop open wide.

“But...” Théo holds up a hand. “He didn’t repay it as per the stipulations in the contract. According to that”—he gestures at the papers JP is now scanning—“they tried to talk to him about it and even sent him written notices, but he still didn’t pay up. So they sued him.”

“He failed to timely cure such defaults and accordingly... the entire balance of the note would become immediately due and payable,” JP reads.

We all fall silent.

My mind whirls. Well, this isn’t as bad as outright theft, but... I swallow.

“Mom knows about this,” I say, my voice scratchy. “She wouldn’t tell me anything, but I know she knows.” I relate my conversation with my mom.

“I talked to Aline,” Lacey adds. “She wouldn’t say much either. She thinks it’s a ‘misunderstanding,’ but she supports Matthew and Mark.”

“Obviously,” I add.

“But she doesn’t believe your mom had anything to do with it,” Lacey adds. She meets my eyes and smiles.

“She’s been coming to pretty much every meeting with Grandpa,” Théo says. “And I saw her meeting with Kate.”

The chief financial officer of the Condors organization.

I wrinkle my nose. Why would that be?

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