Page 46 of Fortune's Control
“She’s also right. Lilah has no family, or at least none worth speaking of. We do, Sophie. Do you really want to go the rest of your life angry with me?”
“You dumped me on strangers,” she spat out.
“Family. I couldn’t take care of you.”
“Because you went off to see the world. You could have left me with Lainey’s mother.”
I enlisted before our parents died, and canceling that kind of contract wasn’t possible. I wasn’t the first person to join up with family obligations. “She was a single mother of two kids, and they lived in a trailer park. I know it was difficult for you.”
“You have no idea how difficult it was,” she hissed at me. She moved from behind the headstone and approached. “You’ve been this way our whole life, Shane, ever since I was a baby. Mom declared me old enough to date, and you scared off every boy in the county.”
“I let you date Jack.”
She held up a finger. “One, note your choiceof words. Two, you didn’t deny it at all. Three, you imply Jack does what you say, and you know what? He does.” She held up three fingers. If we kept going, she’d move on to her other hand. “Four, you don’t get to boss me around anymore. I’m a grown woman now, Shane.”
“I don’t boss people around.” My friends would all take Sophie’s side on this one. Hell, so would Lilah, and most everyone else. “Much. My choices also paid for your college, saved our house, and created a trust in your name.”
“It’s unused.”
“I know. Use it. That money is for you.” I sat down to give my leg a rest. “Use it to make your dreams come true.”
“I’m working on that part.”
“Do you want to share any of it?” I asked.
“Not a single damn word, because you’ll try to talk me out of it.” Sophie paced in front of me.
“Even more reason to tell me. And sit down, you’re making me nervous.” She frowned. “It’s a request, not a demand.”
She sat. “I like your wife.”
“Lilah said the same about you. You came home to meet her, didn’t you?”
Sophie’s lips twisted into a wry smile. “I planned the trip before learning about her, but I will admit I moved up the dates.”
“Is this trip for your secret plans?”
“The ones I decided not to share with you. Yes, those secret plans.”
I tried again. “I won’t steer you away from whatever you’re planning if you tell me what it is.”
She scoffed. “Neither of us believes that.”
Dean’s contact helped before, and I could get him to do thesame again. “We can talk more about it later.”
“You don’t quit.” Sophie stood, shaking her head. “Why did you marry her?”
“I asked you first.”
“Okay, fine. I’ll talk first. Diane called it love at first sight, but we both know it wasn’t. Did you know Lilah thinks it’s temporary? She thinks you did it out of pity.”
I looked past Sophie’s shoulder rather than acknowledge the accusation. It’s not correct, but it’s also not wrong. “She witnessed a murder. That’s why she’s in town.”
Sophie drew back on her heels. “She did what?” Her shock faded as concern settled in her features. “Will you tell me the rest?”
I caught her up, skipping the part where I asked Dean for assistance. “She stays here for now.”
“And after?” Sophie glanced at my left leg. “Lilah doesn’t know, does she?”
