Page 46 of Nothing to Beat

“There’s no poverty if we’re together, Coy.Our child will want for nothing.Breckenridges have more than money in abundance.”

“Love.”

“Yes.”

“Support not judgment.”

“I see you’ve met us before.”

“It doesn’t matter how low your wage is, if my father is still playing his games, he’ll expect you to make demands on your family.I won’t allow them, or the Breckenridge name, to be exploited like that.I appreciate what you’re doing, but you’ll always have access to their means.Their money and their name.”

“A name can be changed.”

God, it tore at her.The Breckenridges had pride in themselves, not in conceit, but in their integrity.It sickened her that he thought he’d have to renounce that dignity to be with her.She’d move to Mars before letting that happen.

“Your children will have the Breckenridge name,” she said, “whether they’re mine or not.”

He’d demanded she promise no other man would father her children.She’d never make the same demand in return.He deserved love and optimism.The more time passed, the more she feared Alice’s prediction would come true.

Sucking her lips around her teeth, this was the crux of the issue.He’d never give up on her, on them, so there was only one thing for it.She had to do whatever was necessary to take down the Gambattos.

Betray her own blood for the man she loved?Yes, no hesitation.Why hadn’t she done it years ago?

SEVENTEEN

HER FATHER WOULDN’T trust her.That wasn’t offensive, she wouldn’t trust him either and didn’t believe in double standards.Rocking up to his doorstep would more likely seal her in his prison than free her to be with Breck.And appealing to his better nature?Ha!What better nature?If that was even a remote possibility, she’d have done it years ago.

After hanging up on Breck last night, she’d popped back into Porter’s apartment to tell the others she was going to bed.Her decision needed some time to percolate.

The Gambattos could not regain power.Her father couldn’t.She’d lived her whole life believing he got whatever he wanted, that he was the most important figure on the planet.It was hard to cast off that image when it had been ingrained in her since birth.

But this was a new day, time for a new outlook.

His arrogance would be his downfall.Even now, privately or not, she’d bet he believed this whole investigation was nothing more than an inconvenience.He’d have faith in triumph, his own anyway.Joey would lose his freedom.Their father would accept that as the price of doing business.In his own warped mind, Joey deserved to be locked up for being careless, Senior was too important to be taken down.

Joey did deserve prison, but her father did too.

She got up early.Okay, that was a slight lie.Sleep hadn’t come easy.Rather than battle insomnia, she left her bed to go to Roxie’s desk, swiping a few sheets of paper from the printer.A few became a few more; the pen worked on its own, getting as much down as possible.By the time she was done, her hand cramped and light peeked through the curtains.

New dawn.

No one else was awake.Not that she considered that before leaving Roxie’s to hurry downstairs.Knocking on Porter’s front door, she wanted to get in and out before anyone noticed her absence.What time was it?She hadn’t thought to check.Oops.

Adrenaline raced her heart.This was a bad idea on so many levels.It went against the cells that made up her being.It was almost as if basic genetics imprinted an aversion to turning on her family.Out of guilt?Or was it fear?

She knocked again.What was taking so long?Could it be so early Porter wasn’t up yet?Alternatively, it was later and he’d already gone to work.Please don’t say it was the latter.The last thing she wanted to do was walk up to the prosecutor’s office where anyone could see her.The idea was to gain her freedom, not incite her enemies into acting against her and those she loved.

Another knock.Maybe slightly more insistent than the last.Rudeness had its place in urgency.It wasn’t bad manners, more like determination.Yes, determination was a good word.Boy, could she convince herself of anything.

She’d apologize later.Send Porter some expensive scotch or fancy cufflinks, whatever Roxie said he liked.Being friends with the ex wasn’t a bad deal while attempting to keep someone on her side.

There was reason behind the madness; it wasn’t just random insanity.No, she saved that for Breck.This mission had to be completed while she had the gumption to do it.Translated: before she talked herself out of it.If it took a whole day—God knew how long Porter stayed at work.Guys like him didn’t stick to a typical nine-to-five.Something she had experience with.

But it was the weekend.Would he go into work at the weekend?This was a big case, probably a seven day a week deal.If not, sleeping in may be more—

A click prompted her back a small step.Yes!There was someone on the—hair wet, Porter was tying a robe when he opened the door.

“Knew it couldn’t be Rox, she’d never be up this early on a Saturday.”

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