Page 76 of Reign By Wrath

“Feeling’s mutual,” she returned. “But that’s not why I won’t let you near Grandpa. You can’t see what’s right in front of your face, Sinclair.”

My brows snapped together. “What does that mean?”

“Have you asked yourself where I got my info? Worthless husbands sleeping around. Ava’s father raping and impregnating his sister. How would I know any of that stuff?”

“How did you know?” I asked, glancing at Victor. He was scrolling through the club site with his brows all the way to his hairline.

“I was given that information and told I had to use it. Use it to help Daddy’s campaign, to keep me on top, to keep the Burkhardts on top.”

“Wait. Are you saying your grandfather told you to fuck with people’s lives just so you could—”

“No,” she sliced in. “My grandpa didn’t know about any of this until you told the world. Half of the stuff I’m being villainized for, I did under Grandmother’s orders.”

“Your grandmother,” I said quietly. “You mean Alistair’s mother. The coldest, most unforgiving taskmaster that ever wielded a Mastercard.”

“That’s putting it nicely.” A sharp edge crept into her voice. “My dad and grandpa weren’t even mad at me when they heard about the texts. They knew I couldn’t have done all of that on my own. Now they’re furious at her, and she’s furious at you.”

I started. “Me?”

“She hates you. Everyone is telling me that I can’t strike back at you because of the code. Everyone except her. Grandmother doesn’t consider the housekeeper’s bastards as part of the family. She wants me to put down the Dreg that ruined our reputation.”

My stomach twisted, shooting bile up my throat. Her grandmother—my grandmother—said such horrible things about me?

Saylor went on. “My grandpa did put a lot of time and money into hunting down the Rogues, but if he found anything on them, he’d have exposed and turned them in. Everyone would know about it already. But the person who would’ve kept the information to herself until it could be used to her advantage—”

“—is Grandma Burkhardt,” I finished. “She’s who I’d have to speak to, and she wants nothing to do with me.”

“Now you’re getting it.”

I was quiet while I thought. The idea that there was some deep, unrevealed secret about Everton that I could use in the fight against Everleigh was a long shot.

But I saw her face when I lied about her long-lost sister. Then I saw her face when I threatened to hurt her. Maybe there were no other sisters out there, but her grandmother could be sitting on damning information that she ignored because Everton died years ago. It didn’t matter to him anymore, but it could matter to his daughter. If she knows anything, I need to know it too.

“Put me back on the list, Saylor.”

“Did you not hear anything I said?”

“You said I’m dealing with Grandma, not Grandpa. That’s fine. She can hear what I have to say just as well. From what you’re saying, it sounds like she has a few choice things to tell me too.”

I sensed her hesitating. “This is my price if you want the keys to your kingdom back. What’ll it be?”

“Fine, Sinclair. You want to be a Burkhardt so badly, it’s time you learn what it takes. Be here in twenty minutes.”

***

VICTOR DROVE UP TOthe gate and stopped. I leaned over him and smirked in Frank’s eyes.

“How are you, friend? Luna Sinclair to see Saylor.”

Frank gave no reaction. “Good evening, Miss Sinclair. You are welcome inside, but your guest must remain out here.”

Victor shut off the car and handed me the keys. “Do what you need to do, babe. My folks’ place is down the hill. Pick me up there when you’re done.”

I kissed him goodbye, then took his place. The gates screeched open, beckoning me inside the Burkhardts’ paradise. Frank must’ve called ahead to tell Saylor I was here because she stood before the grand double doors, waiting for me to pull up.

“Where is it?”

“Hello to you too, Saylor. That’s a nice beret. Where did you—?”

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