Page 157 of The Broken Note

“No,” I grab her arm, sensing that there’s something she isn’t telling me. “Spit it out. You know something.”

“No, I don’t.”

She’s shaking like a hurricane now. A mixture of withdrawal and nerves.

“I’m not taking a single pill until you tell me.”

Discomfort etches into her weathered face when she says, “Look, I’m not supposed to know this and you aren’t either.”

I lean closer, my heart pounding and my palms sweaty.

Mom’s throat bobs and she whispers, “I overheard a conversation I wasn’t supposed to. Something about the Cross family, an inheritance and two conditions the heir has to meet.”

As she talks, invisible thorns wind around my body and dig into my flesh.

“What were they?” I choke out.

Mom flinches.

“What were the conditions!” I shriek.

“Whoever gets the money has to be married…”

‘What are those?’

‘Handcuffs.’

‘Marry me, Cadey.’

‘You don’t have to struggle alone.’

I stumble back, my throat closing up.

“… And,” mom adds, “they need to have a son.”

My knees weaken and I’m crashing into the ground. My hands flail for purchase, but I can’t save myself. My mad descent is followed by boxes and boxes of pregnancy tests and morning-after pills thundering to the ground.

CHAPTERFORTY

DUTCH

I’m not much of a songwriter, but being with Cadey has lyrics gushing out of me like blood from a head wound.

Finn and Zane come later and catch me working out a melody with my guitar. I acknowledge my brothers with a chin dip, but I keep playing. I don’t want to lose this thread.

They understand and say nothing until the last note rings through our studio garage.

“Sounds good,” Finn says.

“A little more romantic than our usual sound though.” Zane opens the mini-fridge. I see my twin hesitate as he reaches for his usual beer and then, in a surprising show of restraint, he goes for a soda instead.

“I’m thinking of a rhythmic bass line.” I meet Finn’s eyes. “Less hardcore rock. Heavier on the funk.”

“Don’t think a funky bass line will save you. I know a love song when I hear one.” Zane takes a swig of the soda.

Finn squints at my guitar like an old man who forgot his glasses. “Did you get new strings?”

“No.”

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