Page 76 of Ruthless Redemption

I glower.Glare.“I have to speak to her.” I start toward the house.

“Don’t.” He grabs my wrist. “Not while you’re worked up. Stay out here a while. Breathe. Don’t go to her until you know what you’re going to say because I’d place good odds on her already having a watertight defense prepared for her actions.”

“Oh, God.” My shoulders slump. “This is ridiculous.”

“I haven’t even told you the best part yet.” He releases me and bends over to grab his surfboard. “For the sake of being entirely transparent, she woke me early this morning because she wanted to give me pointers on how to win you back. Isn’t that cute? She approves of me despite the family I was born into.”

“I bet a history lesson on the Butcher Boys of Baltimore would change that,” I mutter.

“But what if it only made me more of an idol in the eyes of your knife-threatening offspring?” He starts for the house. “It’s a crazy world,amore mio. Who would’ve known your daughter would be my biggest support?”

I bite back the need to scream. To shove. To slap.

But I’ve done all that before without relief. I’ve snapped. I’ve fought. I’ve fucked.

All the things I hope will ease my suffering never do. The mindlessness only continues to build. And I sure as hell won’t give Hunter front-row tickets to my breakdown while he remains on his own at the gate. Watching. Judging.

Matthew passes him, then continues through the yard while the breeze whispers through my hair, the pain of my failures building to new heights.

I force my chin high and follow, ignoring Hunter’s narrowed gaze as I approach.

“Everything okay, Lay?” he taunts. “It seems like you two have problems.”

“You’re the only one who’s going to have a problem if you don’t get out of my face.” I stop to stare him down, but his superior expression doesn’t falter. “You’re not welcome here.”

“It’s my job to keep an eye on you.”

“No. Not anymore. Not after Cole disowned me.” I keep my voice strong, my shoulders stiff. “When the jet takes off this morning, I want you on it. I already know you were here before Stella arrived, but you’re not sticking around once she leaves.”

His jaw ticks. “I’ll need to call Torian to—”

“I don’t care what you have to do. But you’ll take off with everyone else.” I push through the gate, stalk onto the deck, and hustle inside before my tough exterior evaporates.

I lock myself in my private bathroom and slump against the counter as I hyperventilate.

I need to talk to Cole, but I don’t have a phone.

I have to arrange closer surveillance of Stella and Tobias, but I don’t have any money.

Shit.

I pull on jeans and a woolen sweater while laughter and conversation echo down the hall. I chastise myself for not keeping a closer eye on my daughter while the clink of cutlery signals the family meal being eaten without me. And I fight the desire to continue hiding while I put on a bare hint of makeup and a spritz of my new expensive perfume.

Maybe I shouldn’t address Stella’s actions just yet. Maybe I should let her think she’s gotten away scot-free while I do some snooping of my own.

“Fuck.” I grip the counter and scowl at my reflection in the mirror. The eyes of a traitorous failure don’t spark any bright ideas on how to handle this.

I’m clueless. And running out of time.

I force myself to leave the bedroom, hoping enlightenment will strike me with each passing breath. I paste on the flimsiest fake smile before entering the open living area where everyone is seated at the dining table.

Everyone except Matthew, who is nowhere in sight.

“I saved you some bacon.” Stella pulls out the vacant seat beside her. The one that also happens to be next to my sister. “But you’re right. Bishop did try to eat it all.”

“I’m a growing boy.” He shoots her a grin from across the table.

“You can never trust men to be chivalrous when it comes to food,” Sarah mutters. “Believe me, I know.”

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