Page 64 of The Prodigal

“I won’t ask you again,” I grit out between clenched teeth.

“You don’t need to.” She cocks a brow and grins. “Because I’m not going anywhere but into that seat next to you.”

I’m going to kill her—everyone, say goodbye. The revenge plot ends here, with my foot up Eden’s sarcastic ass.

“Oh, hang on.” She holds up a finger and reaches into her—my—jacket, pulling out something black.

Shit.

“No!” I rush to open the door and forget the fucker is locked. “Do not answer that phone!”

How could I have been so stupid to forget my phone in my jacket pocket? I should have just looked at her soaked T-shirt clinging to her tits. But nooo. I was trying to be somewhat of a fucking gentleman.

“I swear to God, Eden, I will throw you back into the river if you—”

A sinister smile crosses her face, and I know in that moment that Eden Da Luca is about to pay me back for locking her out of the car.

“Thank you for calling Remington’s phone. This is Eden Da Luca. How may I help you?”

Finally, I manage to calm down enough to unlock the doors. “Give me the fucking phone.”

I’m not playing with her ass. She has no business answering my phone like a shitty receptionist.

“Oh, hi, Mrs. Potter.”

I stop cold.

No.

“Hang up the phone,” I whisper hatefully as I lunge for Eden, but she’s able to sidestep me and switches the phone to her other ear. “Oh, no. He’s fine. Just sitting in the car pouting, but I’m sure you’re used to such theatrics.”

She laughs like she and my mother are best friends sharing a funny joke at my expense.

“He fell in the river—apparently, you can’t get him wet because it washes off the attitude. It takes him a little while to get it back.”

That’s it.

I love my mother, and I wanted to protect her, but unfortunately, she will have to live with the trauma of hearing me kill Eden on the phone.

“What river?” Eden turns, her eyes widening.“You didn’t tell her where you were?”she mouths.

Me not telling people my business should not come as a surprise to her.

“Too late now,” I say, extending my hand for her to continue. “Go ahead and finish breaking her heart.”

It won’t break Ramsey’s heart. Likely, my father is the one who orchestrated her calling me in the first place. She is always considerate about giving me space. My father? Not so much. And considering he’s called me well over a thousand times in the past few days, I’d say he’s gotten pretty desperate to reach me. He knew if anyone could get through to me, it would be my mother.

But had Eden not answered my phone to be a little shit, I would have sent my mother to voicemail. There’s a reason I’ve been avoiding calls from my family. They are nosy, and they have the financial means to find me and figure out what I’m up to. And right now, I’m not ready to have that conversation with any of them. For all they know, Eden and I are out here attempting to give them a grandchild.

“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Potter. I thought Remington would have told you that I asked him to give me a ride to Nevada.”

No. No. No.

Fuck, Eden. Just shut up.

“I have…an uncle there who needs my help, and my car’s been acting up. He was just doing me a favor. Please, don’t blame him.”

Well, how fucking sweet that she’s trying to shoulder the blame. But my family and I don’t work like a normal family. Not only am I a grown-ass man, who gives zero shits about taking off without telling them where I am, I also don’t mind being an asshole to protect them.

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