Page 43 of Darling Beasts

“Dad!” I gasped.

“I am literally screaming.” Bea hit her vape pen again.

“What?” Dad said, and Ivan launched into a whole thing about how these ideas were already used, by the other side. Yes, even immigration.

“We should go back to housing,” Talia said. “Some fixes could be tackled at the federal level. For example, private equity firms are a huge reason for escalating home prices. Banning hedge funds from owning residential real estate could be done through Congress.”

“I don’t want to cool off the housing market,” Dad said. “And I absolutely cannot piss off Wall Street. Okay, we’re done.”

Dad began to pack up his things. That was it? We were ending the meeting without a plan? I should’ve been relieved to exit the hot seat but somehow was not. The article felt like something that would come back later to bite me in the ass.

“Thanks for your time, everyone,” Dad said. “I’m certain you’ll find out a way to get this campaign back on track. And if you could be more careful around the media...” He shot me a look. “I sure would appreciate it.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Talia

Talia found Gabby on the basketball court, practicing free throws. The Jindo snoozed on the ground nearby.

“There she is,” Talia said as a ball clattered through the hoop. “Standing strong at five-foot-one, two-time all-conference point guard Gabby Gunn!”

“I wassecondteam all-conference,” Gabby said, shooting again. “I did make first team for volleyball, though. Tore up the small private school league.” She fetched the ball and pivoted toward Talia. Her eyes were red. “Am I about to be fired?”

Talia shook her head. Although she remained thoroughly bewildered that Gabby could screw up so badly in such a short period of time, she also knew her sister didn’t mean to make anyone sound like jerks. “It wasn’t your fault,” she said.

“It was a little my fault. I was just trying to get Dad some press. I promise I didn’t say any of those awful things.”

“The Elvira–Tony Soprano thing was pretty funny,” Talia allowed. “I know you didn’t want this to happen, and Dad’s not blameless. Maybe if he was around more, or contemplated stuff in advance, you wouldn’t have been forced to wing it. Sometimes I worry he’s not totally locked in.”

Gabby snorted. “Ya think?”

“Like, big surprise, someone is calling you on your shit. You can no longer get by on a smile and good name.”

“Formerlygood name,” Gabby corrected her.

“Also, his rant about Ozzie not being here?” Talia took the ball from Gabby’s hands. “Old news. And what’s he even complaining about? That’s called dodging a bullet.”

Gabby glowered. “Kind of a low blow,” she said. “After what was written about him.”

“The insults were uncalled for, but that doesn’t mean I’m wrong. Shit’s always going on with the kid.” To wit, Ozzie was at the moment attempting to weasel Spencer into buying some or all of his watch collection. Talia knew she was right about their brother’s money problems, even if Gabby refused to acknowledge it.

“Anyway...” Talia began to dribble, quite terribly. “Don’t make fun of me. I’m more of a tennis girlie.” Lips pressed together, Talia lifted onto her toes and released the ball. It made a perfect arc, landing cleanly through the net. “Yes!” She pumped her fist.

“Typical Talia,” Gabby said. “That’s why you’re LMP. Little Miss Perfect.”

Talia spun around, grinning, her ponytail swishing across her back. “Beginner’s luck,” she said. Talia enjoyed being good at things, even things that didn’t matter, and although she was far from LMP, she liked when other people saw her that way.

“Thanks for saving me at the end of the meeting,” Gabby said as Talia passed the ball.

“Yeah. Well. Daddoesneed to stand for something. And I like the housing angle. Raj has been incredibly helpful. I’m jealous he’s managed to use his law degree in a meaningful way.”

“Raj is great,” Gabby said, rushing the words. “Anyhow. I’d better get back to HQ. Before the campaign goes to hell without my careful oversight.” She tossed the ball into a gray plastic storage bin. “Thanks for being so chill. Let’s never speak of it again.”

“There is something bothering me,” Talia blurted. “Aboutthe article.” Gabby froze. “I’m sorry, but I have to bring it up. It’s the Mom stuff. Saying it was suicide when she had cancer. Why did Kyle Sperber get that impression?”

Gabby opened her mouth but stopped, dropping a pause so heavy it practically made a sound. “But...” Her voice got very, very small. “Thatwashow she died?”

“Yeah, no, technically. But only because she had cancer and didn’t want to fight it anymore, and...” Talia said a bunch more words as Gabby stared. “It’s the emphasis.” She was shaking now. “Like, why did it need to be in there? I guess I’m wondering... what you told her? I know you and Ozzie... you guys haven’t ever really forgiven Mom for taking her own life.” Talia cringed as she said this, but there was no stopping her now. “Why wouldn’t you talk tomeabout it, instead of confessing to some reporter?”

---