Page 81 of Relentless (The Titans of Founder's Ridge 2)

“For over three hours, then?” My eyebrows raise. “Why wasn’t I informed about this? It’s my life she’s tearing to ribbons. It’s my reputation she’s smearing all over the tabloids.”

“We just didn’t want to upset you.” Isaac gives me puppy dog eyes that usually work but not this time. “We figured you had too much on your plate right now.”

“I’m not included in this ‘we’ he keeps using,” Levi grabs my hand. “I warned them that you’d be pissed about not being included.”

He shrugs off the accusatory looks he gets from the other three men in the room.

I look over at Isaac. “You know better.”

I look at Dad. “So do you.”

I look at Frank. “I don’t like being excluded from decisions involving me. If you want me to take a spot here when I graduate, you have to trust me. I’m not going to back down from my mother, she’s not going to break me.”

I can feel Levi’s support at my back, but he’s still not off the hook. I turn to look at him, “You are in just as much trouble. Sure, you told them I wouldn’t like it, but you still participated. You could have given me a heads up.”

I let my eyes travel over each of them. “I deserve a seat at the table when it’s my life and my problems being discussed. I know it affects each of you, but I’m not going to let my life be run by some misogynistic boys’ club. If you can’t handle the femme energy,” I point over my shoulder, “get the fuck out.”

Dad and Isaac both look chagrined, they know they messed up. Frank looks equally amused and full of pride. Levi is looking at me like I’m snack and he’s ready to devour me.

“Now,” I pull a chair out and sit between Levi and Isaac, “what is the plan?”

“I’ve started the defamation lawsuit.” Dad leans back in his chair and stretches out. “I don’t know where she’s hiding out so who knows when she’ll be served.”

“I hired a private investigator,” Isaac adds. “I should have information by the middle of next week.”

“I talked with our building security, and they’re going to direct your driver to a back alley for the time being. That’s where you’ll be dropped off and picked up. Do not get out of the car until one at least one of our security is there to escort you, even if you and Levi are together.” Frank gives Levi a serious look.

Levi looks right back at him with a smirk, and I know whatever he’s about to say will be provocative. “Don’t worry, no one wants my future baby mama safe and healthy more than I do.”

Both Dad and Isaac whip their heads in our direction. I haven’t gotten around to filling them in on the status of our relationship.

“I’m not pregnant.” I answer their unspoken question, and a flash of relief crosses both their faces. “Levi and I are together though.”

“We’re living together. I transferred to Yale and got us an apartment for the year.” Levi drops his hand to my leg. “We’re both living with Con and Lilith for the summer.”

Dad opens his mouth to say something but stops. A tense silence fills the room. Luckily Frank ends the silence by announcing that he has a meeting to get to. Dad pulls me aside and asks if we can speak privately for a minute, so we stay behind in Frank’s office.

“I’m worried you are moving too fast with Levi,” he says as soon as the door closes, and we’re alone. “You’ve been doing so well and moving forward with therapy. I don’t want you to back slide between the stress of your mother’s bullshit and this new relationship.”

“I understand that, Dad.” I grab his hands and squeeze them, imploring him to trust me. “But you have to understand that Levi and I have been end game for each other since we were eleven years old. I know it’s been a messy ride, but it is our ride, and it just makes sense. No one makes me feel like he does. No one loves me as deep as he does.”

We stare each other down for a minute, his gaze boring into mine for some reassurance. He clenches his jaw and nods when he finds what he was looking for in my eyes. He wraps me up in a hug that squeezes the air out of my lungs and lifts my toes off the ground.

“I just love you. I don’t want you getting hurt ever again,” he says into my hair.

“I know.” I hug him back just as tight. “I love you, too. I can’t believe you and Frank were in the same room without fighting,” I say when he sets me back down.

“Yeah,” he grins, “me too. Frank cares a lot about you though. It’s been obvious all these years watching him come to your meets and take you out for dinner occasionally. I can’t hold a petty grudge against someone who loves my daughter like his own.”

“What did happen between you two?” I ask as we walk into the hall.

“Ah, that’s a story for another day.”

* * *

“I’m so excited for this,” I almost squeal as Lilith and I get into the Range Rover with Claire. “I’ve been dreaming about getting you in a wedding dress since the first time we went shopping back in Founder’s Ridge. Your body was made for a mermaid gown.”

“I literally have no idea what that means,” Lilith says unenthusiastically.

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