Page 47 of Almost Paradise

“I’ll let you know when he gets here,” I tell him. My mom puts him down and he scampers away with Kyle and Mason, leaving the adults alone.

“We are fighting this, don’t worry,” Audrey says. “And when we’re done, you’re going to have half of his billion-dollar empire. You don’t have to pay me a penny. Not until you get your settlement. If that doesn’t work, let’s just say I have another plan. I’m positive I can plan a perfect murder.”

Ray shakes his head at our cousin.

“Let’s start with that option,” my mom throws in.

“Audrey, you need to stop watching ID,” Ray adds.

We start talking at once until the doorbell rings. We freeze and stare at each other, knowing full well who it is. Carter comes running through the house with both boys behind him. They know they’re not supposed to open the door without an adult, but the charge in the air must be too much for them.

I hear the front door open, and I look around at my family, unsure of what I’m supposed to do now. I planned on telling Drake to go to hell alone or with only Ray as my backup, not with everyone. Ray would simply make him leave whereas my dad will threaten violence. Drake is not the type who would let my brother and father thwart his plans, so I can only imagine the chaos his presence is about to cause.

“He’s here,” I hear Carter say. “Hi, Daddy! Hi, Uncle Wyatt.”

“His lawyer again?” Audrey whispers under her breath.

They find us seconds later. Carter is in Drake’s arms, and Kyle is on Wyatt’s back. Mason walks beside Wyatt, looking up at him in awe. Wyatt is dressed casually in jeans and a pullover. I’m not sure if that’s so he can try and convince us he’s only here as a friend or not.

Drake is in a navy blue suit and white shirt with no tie. Despite how cold it is outside, neither one of them is wearing a coat.

“Mason, can you go get me the bat?” Audrey asks. Mason obeys and comes back moments later. He hands the bat to Audrey. No one else says a word.

“It’s the bully and the fool,” my mom says.

“Which one am I?” Wyatt asks. Everyone ignores him. Drake looks around the room. I’m not sure what he’s looking for, but his brows furrow in disappointment when they land on me.

“Uncle Wyatt, what do you think of zombies versus aliens?” Mason asks.

“He’s not your uncle, baby,” my mom says.

“Well, men,” Wyatt begins, “if you’re ever presented with a choice between zombies and anything, you never, ever choose the zombie. They’re basically braindead dummies walking around.”

“Takes one to know one,” Audrey mutters before giggling to herself.

Wyatt ignores her and continues spewing his nonsense. “Aliens are much cooler. Think about it. They’ve traveled through space and time, probably for millennia, before finding this fine planet. They build cool spaceships. Do you know how hard it is to build a spaceship? Even I, with my genius-level IQ, haven’t been able to do it yet.” He looks at Audrey when he says it.

“Genius my ass,” Audrey whispers, and the boys giggle.

“I’d beat up the zombies,” Kyle says.

“No, Kyle. You don’t ever want to do that. If they bite or scratch you, you’ll turn into one of them. What you want to do is stick a knife in their brain, bringing them down for good. Or you can bash their brains in with something,” Wyatt says. “Show me your room, and I’ll tell you more.”

Mason takes his hand and practically pulls him away. Carter kicks his legs, and Drake puts him down. He runs behind them, giggling along the way.

Once the room is free of kids, I look at him up and down, give him my back and turn to load the dishwasher.

“Where’s your stuff?” I hear him say. “I have two cars outside. We can send for the rest of your things later.”

“You have some nerve,” my dad says.

“Not some. I have a lot, Mr. Nash,” Drake says back to him.

“Don’t get smart with my dad,” I warn him. “Get out.” I hear his footsteps on the hardwood. He gets to the sink and leans on the counter. I eye the knives.

“Get your stuff, and let’s go.”

“Don’t tell me what to do. I’m not going,” I say without turning to look his way. “This is Carter’s home, and it’s staying that way. You leave and take your lawyer slash friend with you.”

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