Page 41 of Severed Rivalry
“At least we’re not boring.”
“Ha.” That came from deep inside and would’ve been a laugh if my squishy face could’ve handled more. “She has a daughter.”
Ayla’s mug is aloft when the smile takes over her face. “Best. Day. Ever.”
“You can’t corrupt her. There’s more to the story than I know, but deep down, I know it’s not good. You two together could devastate the eastern slope.”
“I like her already.”
“I should’ve stayed silent. The wired jaw should’ve been my clue. It’s as if the universe was trying where I was failing.” My words fall on deaf ears.
“When do I get to meet them? Well, see Sariah again and meet her daughter. What’s her name?”
“Renée.”
“How old is she?”
“Thirteen.”
“What does she want to be when she grows up?”
I shrug.
“What did you want to be?”
My eyes lock with hers, suspicious. “A forest ranger or a park ranger. Both seemed like getting to hang out all day in the mountains and hike and get paid to do it. Why do you ask?”
“Because the question came through from your girl last night while I was setting up your phone. I hadn’t gotten all the settings back to what you had, so I saw it. And I realized our age gapmeant I wouldn’t have known the you that had fun goals and dream jobs.”
I don’t know that I knew that kid either. I was hellbent on being what was expected. We all were.
Well, except Liam.
“We both did things as we were told. You have a damn accounting degree.”
“Ugh, don’t remind me.”
“Then you’re not going to like this.”
She scrunches her nose and braces.
“I need an audit. Forensic shit… on Murphy Enterprises. We know Dad was dirty, but I need to know how dirty and when. I also need to know if I’m on the hook legally and financially for anything. Do I need to sell my house? Do I have any assets? What will be seized by the feds?”
“Fuck.”
“Yeah.”
“I mean, Fuck, I hate accounting.”
That smile returns, and I can feel the lifting of some of the heaviness off of me. “You’ll do it?”
“You’ll owe me.” She points a finger at me on the hand that holds her mug.
“Anything up to, but excluding, Eleanor.”
“Ellie is mine anyway,” she starts and lifts her chin when she sees me try to interrupt. “No. I’ll make this a good one. A really good one. Hmmm.” She taps her raised chin. “What do I want? What do I want?”
I could hire somebodyI think to myself, but few would care as much as my sister. None have anything at stake like she does.
