Page 9 of Hartley

JJ glanced in my direction.

I shook my head. “It’s not my story to tell.”

JJ launched into the story about his father. The reasonJordan killed his wife. Why he let JJ believe for most of his life that his father was a horrible man. Basically, how Jordan lost the first and second loves of his life to protect his son. Perry and Peyton already knew about Malik. When they put the pieces of Jordan killing his wife and later Malik together, the bigger picture truly formed.

Instead of saying anything, Perry stood and went to the side of the room, where he had a small selection of liquor and crystal glasses. He poured himself a decent amount of scotch, then tipped it down his throat like it was a shot. More was poured into the glass before he returned to the table and sat down.

“You’re not going to pour me any?” Peyton asked. “All the times you’ve offered me a drink and when I truly need one, you don’t offer?”

Perry scoffed. “We both know you won’t drink on the job.”

The room fell silent, the latest revelation sitting on Perry’s and Peyton’s shoulders. Nothing but the sound of air moving through the vents was heard.

After drinking the second glass, Perry placed it on the table, folded his arms, then dropped his head onto them. “I should have stayed in bed today,” he muttered.

“It’s hard trying to reconcile the man you always thought he was with who he truly is, isn’t it?” JJ asked his cousin.

“I still don’t like him,” Peyton muttered.

“No one’s asking you to have flowers and a card with an apology delivered,” I stated. “But you all walk around like Jordan is the evilest man in the world.” Peyton’s lips parted, but I pushed forward before he could speak. “Yes, I know he does awful shit and I’m not excusing that. At his base, Jordan loves his family and would die for every one of us. Well, maybe not you, Peyton, but you get my point.”

“Hartley, why are you here?” JJ asked. “I doubt it was to be part of the Altair family therapy session.”

“Right. I have a reason. Jordan doesn’t know I’m here.”

Perry whistled. “That should go over well when he finds out.”

“If you think I’m afraid of him and his growly attitude, you’re wrong. It’s quite the opposite.”

His nose scrunched up. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“Nope, but now you know. Anyway, having Ava in our lives is bringing a shit ton of guilt back to Jordan’s shoulders. He worries he won’t be who she needs. That she won’t be protected. That he’ll fail her and not know how to help raise her. Basically, he’s thinking about the ways he thinks he failed you, JJ.”

JJ reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He tapped away on the screen and returned it to his pocket. “Give me a minute. This is a lot. I just had to relive my father confessing everything to me and hearing about his guilt.”

A minute was about all it took before there was a knock on the door.

“Let him in,” Perry called.

The door opened, and Greer stepped in, closing it behind him. He surveyed the room, his eyes landing on me before going to JJ. Greer walked over to him and crouched by his side. “What happened?”

JJ reached for Greer’s hand, gripping it tight. “Vail was granted custody of Gil’s sister’s kid, and my old man has resurfaced guilt from being a shitty father.”

Greer blinked. “It’s nine in the morning. I’ve only had one cup of coffee.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Wait,” Peyton cut in. “Did you tell Greer and Dexen about Jordan?” he asked JJ.

“They were there when he confessed it to me. So was Vail.”

“Everyone knew but me?”

Perry raised a finger from where his head still rested on his arms. “I didn’t know.” His voice was muffled. “Pretty sure Dom doesn’t either, since he tells us everything.”

Greer shrugged. “It wasn’t my story to tell.”

“Exactly why I was glad JJ told it,” I stated. “Now, what are we going to do because I didn’t come here for nothing. I have my own work to do.”

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