Page 52 of Break

I once thought that too, but the Greystone family,myfamily, has a reputation for being cold and heartless. We don’t see people. We see debt and dollar signs.

When Mason sold BanditFX, he, Kerrington, Landon, and Gage made a lot of money. I’m the opposite of that. I buy and convert, but don’t see a dime. The Greystone Family Trust does. Yes, I can pull from it whenever I’d like, but that hasstopped. When Mason blew up the gala and we got out of our “arrangement”, he got to live his happily ever after with no recourse. I self-sabotaged with the two men in my arms right now, and my life blew up immediately afterwards. I haven’t taken a penny from the accounts since. All I have is my biweekly paycheck, which has made my current lifestyle unsustainable.

“My father is forcing me to move to Japan.”

Saying the words out loud makes me feel like shit. I’ve just turned a wonderful afternoon into a drama fest. That seems to be all I know how to do.

But I need to talk to someone about it. I could have vented to Leah and Mason, but I don’t want their pity, and I don’t want to disrupt the great thing they have going. And as for talking to my best friend Grace, Mason’s sister, she’s going through her own shit right now and to pile on more misery isn’t fair. So, her telling me Kerrington and Landon would be at Mason’s this week was perfect timing.

“I leave in ten days.”

They’re exchanging looks again. They do that a lot. I can’t imagine knowing someone well enough to read their expression and know what’s in their heart. But these two do it all the time. I want a piece of that. To belong and be understood.

“For how long?” Kerrington asks.

“Until I get in line.” I think I’m going to be sick. I’m pushing thirty, single, with no degree or direction in life. I just do what I’m told and will bend over backwards to make someone else proud. My life sucks. “So basically, I’m fucked. I’ll be in Japan for the rest of my life.”

I try to laugh it off, so it doesn’t hurt so much.

“Get. In. Line.” Landon acts like the concept is so foreign, he has to repeat it again and again for his mind to make it click. “You’re one hell of a talented businesswoman and you’ve made the Greystone Foundationhugeover the past five years. What the fuck more do your parents want from you?”

I don’t have an answer for that. I just know I ruined what was left of my reputation by being with Kerrington and Landon at the club and going back to the hotel with them that night. My father called me a whore the next day and my mom stays clear of me most of the time.

“I’m sorry.What?” Landon shoots up from the bed.

Oops. I guess I said some of that out loud. I hadn’t meant to.

“Your parents are pieces of shit. No wonder they’re best friends with Mason’s family.”

“Landon,” Kerrington chides. “They’re still her family. Watch your mouth and tone.”

“Fuck that!” He paces back and forth at the foot of the bed. His jaw clenches and face turnsredder and redder.

Now I feel horrible.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.” I don’t know why I opened my big dumb mouth to begin with. “Can we turn back time again and just start at the part of the day where you were blowing my back out on the corner of the bed, Trick?”

He’s not amused. “Don’t belittle your fucking feelings or your worth, Nicole.” He runs his hands angrily through his hair. “Why don’t you just leave?”

“And go where?”

“Home with us!” he shouts.

“It’s not that simple.”

“Yes.It is.” Now he’s good and mad.

Kerrington stiffens. “Landon.”

“What?” He tosses his hands up. “How are you not enraged by all this?”

“I am. But she doesn’t need anger right now. She needs peace.”

I think I need both. Some terrible part of me finds it nice to see Landon so angry on my behalf. No one else has ever been so enthusiastically furious over me before. But Kerr is right too. I don’t want to be swept away by fury. I want peace and silence. Comfort.

“I don’t understand why you won’t just tell everyone to kiss your fucking ass and leave them.”

My mood sours quickly. “Because I can’tjust walk away from everything.”

---