Page 217 of Mad As Hell

“Okay. I’ll call him,” Ryan muttered, moving me off his lap to pull out his phone.

“Stop,” Court replied stiffly, his gaze moving to… me. “Brookfield wasn’t the only asset he signed away in those papers we drafted for him. He also gave Maddie his shares of Phoenix.”

My eyes went wide as everyone turned to me except for Ryan, who looked pissed as he glared at Court. “Seriously? You just snuck that in there?”

“It’s what Grandpa wanted,” Court argued. “Ryan, the man is going to—”

“Don’t fucking say it,” Ryan roared, shoving to his feet and stalking to the other side of the room.

I watched him, worry for him tangling with disbelief over this new turn of events. Eventually, I focused on Court. “Why didn’t either of you tell us?”

Court’s lips pressed into a hard line. “Honestly, because no one thought it would matter immediately. It was a last-minute addition. Grandpa wanted to be sure his shares were taken care of. They’re actually for Corinne, but the Phoenix bylaws say we all have to maintain an equal share in the company. The only options to put them in trust for Cori were Beckett, a neutral party, or Maddie. Grandpa trusts Maddie.”

I buried my face in my hands, overwhelmed and unprepared. Whatever decision I made, I was making it for Corinne. Not me, not Ryan… I needed to do what would help her the most.

“I think Ash’s plan is the best,” I finally admitted reluctantly.

Linc snorted in derision and shook his head. “Guess I shouldn’t be surprised you sided with Ryan.”

“What the fuck does that mean?” Ryan exploded, his eyes flashing as he whirled to face his friend.

I quickly stood up and moved between them, but I looked at Linc when I spoke. “The shares he gave me are for Corinne. I picked the option that helps her, and that’s getting rid of Beckett. He’s hurt that little girl enough, don’t you think?”

Linc stared at me for a beat before his shoulders slumped. “Yeah, Maddie. I’m sorry.”

I nodded once, accepting his apology, before stepping back and giving Ryan another look that said I’ve got this.

Ryan rubbed his jaw. “I need to go see Beckett.”

Court grimaced. “If they figure this charade out, we’re fucked. And not in the good way.”

My stomach plummeted. One way or another, this would all be over soon.

I just prayed we were all still standing at the end.

CHAPTER 58

MADDIE

No one had much to say after that. Ash was in his own head, plotting the next steps. Linc and Court spoke in hushed voices, speculating about how their dads would take things. Ryan had gone into the bedroom to talk to his grandfather about our new plan and figure out a safe place to stash Corinne until we knew Beckett wasn’t a threat. At least she was staying with Mr. Harris for the rest of this week.

Bex got off the floor where she’d been sitting and dropped down beside me on the couch. “How are you?”

I faked a bright smile. “Freaking amazing.”

“You’re a shitty liar.” She shook her head.

“I saw my mom,” I confessed. I’d left that part out of the conversation with everyone because, in lieu of everything else, it hadn’t seemed important.

Bex sighed and took my hand. “That bad?”

My eyes drifted shut. “She’s a wreck, Bex. I don’t know what to do. Even if we stop Gary, I guess she goes back to rehab? But who the hell knows if it’ll take. I’m so tired of worrying about her. It’s exhausting.”

She wrapped an arm around me and laid her head on my shoulder. “I’m sorry, Maddie.”

I glanced at her with a smile that waned when I noticed she was watching Court. Knowing now what I did about how close she’d come to dying, it made sense why he’d thrown up walls between them.

But there was no denying they had unfinished business.

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