Page 150 of Down Knot Out
She shakes her head, tears wetting my shirt. “You were the only one who ever tried to help. And you are my little brother. I should have protected you, too.”
I squeeze her tight. “We protect each other now.”
Lunch sits cooling on the table, untouched, and the air is thick with everything that’s been revealed.
Holden shifts in his seat, still wearing his apron, a plate of warm cookies in front of him. “How about some cookies? A little sugar always helps.”
Quinn perks up. “Can I have one?”
“Of course.” Holden nudges the plate toward her. “Take two. Or three. Chloe gets as many as she wants, by law.”
Chloe lets out a small laugh and takes one, the tension in the room relaxing a little.
Holden meets my eyes over the top of Quinn’s head. “We’re going to need help.”
Nathaniel crosses to the window, looking outover the trees. “He won’t stop. Not if he thinks there’s any chance of regaining control.”
“He’s not going to win,” I say, my tone hard.
Nathaniel turns back from the window, face set. “If you want to start collecting evidence, I can reach out to my family’s lawyers. And I can talk to my dad. If he’s not the one trying to sabotage this project, he’ll be pissed that someone he’s in business with is trying to tank his investment.”
“We’ll need every angle,” Dominic agrees.
Quinn finishes her cookies, oblivious to the heavier currents. “Can we go to the lake after lunch?”
Chloe runs a hand through her hair. “Absolutely, princess. You pick the floaties, and we’ll meet you on the porch.”
Quinn skips out of the dining room, leaving the adults to their dark plans.
Holden waits until she vanishes before he turns back to me. “What’s the plan?”
I let out a long breath. “First, we eat. Then we fight like hell.”
After we get back from a dip in the lake, we see my sister off at the docks. Sadie stands beside the watertaxi with her arms wrapped around her stomach, chin tucked into the collar of her jacket.
Quinn fidgets, dragging the toe of her shoe in the gravel. Every few seconds, she peeks up at her mother and away, as if each glance costs her a little more courage.
Chloe waits at the golf cart, hair blowing in the wind like a pink banner. The rest of the pack has retreated to the Homestead, giving us space.
Sadie lifts a hand in a farewell wave, but when it trembles, she stuffs it into her coat pocket. Mrs. Reynolds is already seated in the covered passenger area, staring straight ahead, but I catch the faint softening in her expression when Quinn approaches.
“I packed you a snack for the ferry.” Quinn holds out the bag. “We made extra banana bread for you.”
Sadie crouches and opens her arms. For a heartbeat, Quinn hesitates. Then she rushes forward, head buried in Sadie’s shoulder, arms stiff at first before they wind tight around her mother’s neck.
Sadie inhales, her eyes squeezed shut. “I love you, kiddo.”
Quinn doesn’t answer, but she doesn’t let go fora long time. When she does, her cheeks are damp, and her fingers linger at the lapel of Sadie’s coat.
“I’ll come visit again,” Sadie says. “In the meantime, behave for your uncles and your new aunt, you hear?”
Quinn wipes her nose on her sleeve and nods.
Sadie’s mouth trembles. “And don’t forget to send me a copy of your story when you finish.”
Quinn gives another quick dip of her chin.
Sadie rises and turns to me. “I’m not asking you to trust me, Blake. Not after everything. But maybe, if it’s not too much, don’t shut the door all the way. Leave it open a crack.”
