Page 100 of Revenge (Corrupt Empire 3)

Chapter Twenty

Aiden

Avery looked back from the front seat at James who was sat in the back. We’d picked him up on the way to lunch.

“Why do you look so miserable?” she asked.

“It’s nothing.”

I looked in the rear view mirror. His arms were crossed over his chest, expression sullen as he stared off out the window.

“Don’t be such a big fat baby. Is it because we’re meeting Tilly?”

“No, it’s not that.”

“James…”

He turned, looking at me directly before his eyes fell onto his lap. Avery twisted back around in her seat. She reached out and put a hand on mine. I wondered what that look he gave me meant.

“He already knows about the shit with your family, James,” Avery said after a long minute.

“Oh well thanks, now the whole fucking world knows.”

“Hey, don’t be like that.” She turned back to him. “He’s my husband, what do you expect me to do? Lie?”

She hadn’t told me much about them. Just heavily implied that James’ father, Zachary Benson, abused his kids. I should’ve been surprised but living in the world of the super-rich had tainted my view of them. Too many people with skeletons living in their cupboards.

“No… I just… never mind.”

“Seriously, what’s wrong? Did they do something?”

“You know I mentioned they were having a weird conversation about a girl? I overheard more shit last night. Then Dad found me outside his office and well…”

“What did he do?”

“I think he would’ve beat me if Dante hadn’t intervened.”

I stiffened. A grown man beating on his own fucking kids sickened me. Especially since his kids were adults.

“Fuck,” I muttered.

Avery gave me a sharp look before turning back to James.

“What did you overhear?”

“Just a name. They kept mentioning the girl in relation to the name Stewart. Like I think he’s talking about one of his clients. It might well be the guy he sources tartan from in Scotland. I mean he’s called Mr Stewart.”

“What girl?” I asked without thinking.

Avery turned to me.

“James overheard them talking about some preparations being made for a girl, but that it was still a year away.”

“Sounds a bit sketchy.”

“It is,” James said. “Fuck knows what they’re involved in. I just don’t know why Dante stopped him. Like he’s been such a fucking dick to me and yet he still defended me to Dad. I don’t get him.”

Avery let out a long sigh. She knew all about family drama. So did I. Fucking families were a nightmare.

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