Page 144 of High Roller

Hunter nods. “Thank you. Our business is done for today, gentlemen. I’ve got three more meetings to get through. Nadine will work out the specifics and we can go from there. A suite at Elysium has already been prepared.”

For the second time in as many days, we leave Hunter’s office feeling like we’ve just left the principal. I understand why Matteo and Owen trust him, but I don’t have as much reason to, so I’m not sure I’m convinced that it’s a good idea to just run with his plan. Yes, it involves doing what I wanted to do, which was to have Lili file for divorce, and the specifics are better than what I’d come up with, but the timeline is too accelerated for my taste. But the power and influence he has over this town, this country really, is unmatched, so I also recognize how pointless it is to ignore him and do our own thing.

All I want to do right now is go home to both of my girls. It’s getting harder to imagine life without both of them together, and it’s clear they’re head over heels for each other, maybe even more than they are for me.

“I’m heading home,” I say as we head out the door to our cars. “Grace is in class until four, and that will give me time to talk to Lili about the plans.”

The others nod in agreement, and I slide behind the wheel of my car and point it in the direction of home. It’s a long drive because I didn’t want to live in a cramped neighborhood of annoying rich people.

Despite having money, I’ve never felt like I belonged in the world of money and power.

At home, I peek into the office where Grace is listening to a lecture. She smiles at me and gives a little wave, so I blow her a kiss. “I’m going to take Lili to the den for a chat. Join us when you’re done.”

She gives a thumbs up, and I go in search of Lili.

She’s curled up asleep in the den with a book on the floor next to her as if she fell asleep reading.

I pick up the book and sit on the end table as I crouch to sit on the floor next to her. Picking up her hand, I stroke my thumb across her knuckles.

“Hey, Spitfire,” I whisper against her ear. “Wake up. We need to talk.”

She stirs and opens her eyes, a smile tugging at her lips. “Hey, I didn’t mean to fall asleep. Did Grace get logged on to her class?”

I brush a wayward strand of hair from her face.

“She did. We need to chat.”

“That doesn’t sound good.” She sits up, and I lay my head against her knee. The way she runs her fingers through my hair is comforting, and I could fall asleep here, but I know we have to talk about Hunter’s plan.

I walk her through what Hunter wants to do.

“So, because Hunter is the one helping me, you think Finn won’t come for you even if we have our public meeting after the divorce? I’m just not sure about that, Victor.”

“I understand that. And we can put some time between the divorce and the meeting. Phineas is just poking his nose around and threatening Novak and that’s not good for anyone. What do you think?”

“I think if that’s what everyone else wants to do, I’ll go along with it. I’m ready to be done with that family even if it costs me. And it’s only a little faster than your initial timeline.”

I know she’s worried about how going this route will affect her finances, and her relationship with her own family, but the stories I’ve heard about her father make me pray I never meet him. Still, I understand the influence family can have on a person, so I don’t say anything.

“We’ll do what we can to mitigate the impact on you. And you’ll be better off in the long run even if you don’t want to stay with us.”

She frowns. “I want to. But I don’t know if it’s best for you and Grace. My life is going to get messy for a while, and I don’t want to cause problems.”

“We’re going to get through this together, Liliana. Grace wants you in her life. I want you in our lives. But only if you want to be here.”

“Can we figure that part out later?”

It’s painful to hear her hesitate, but I mean it when I say I don’t want to hold her here if she doesn’t want to be here. Grace is growing attached, and I would rather not watch her get her heart broken.

“Of course, sweetheart. I’m waiting on a call from Hunter’s assistant to hammer out timing on everything.”

“I need better clothes if I’m going to do this. There is a certain standard I’m expected to live up to, and it’s important to get there.”

“We can work that out.”

We sit and talk for another half hour until Grace comes to find us.

“Do you need me to come back later?” she asks when she finds us looking serious.

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